Table for Two? Libertarians Dine Alone
[ Patrick Tuohey ]The Chamber of Commerce has declined to invite Libertarian Senate candidate Jonathan Dine to the next debate, meaning only Rep. Todd Akin and Sen. Claire McCaskill will appear.
Missouri state law dictates that political parties who—for two consecutive elections—fail to run a candidate or to garner 2% of the statewide vote lose their place on the ballot. Missouri's Libertarians failed to meet that threshold in 2008, but Dine received 3% in 2010, keeping them on the ballot this time around.
Dine didn't make much of a difference in the 2010 debate, and he hardly made a difference in the previous 2012 debate. His only media-worthy contribution was, "I promise to keep the Republicans out of your bedroom and the Democrats out of your wallet," a Libertarian stand-by for at least 25 years. At least that's when I first heard it.
Libertarians are sure to see this as evidence of the violence inherent in the system two-party control. Yet a Libertarian wouldn't complain about a private institution deciding itself who to invite to a debate, right? Wrong. According to St. Louis Public Radio:
"Debates should be about candidates debating the issues in an un-scripted manner," Dine said. "The people of Missouri deserve to hear all the candidates talk about all the issues so they can make an informed decision."
The taxpayer funded radio station will interview Dine on Friday morning to answer the same questions asked of McCaskill and Akin. We can only assume that, out of principle, he won't listen Thursday night so that his Friday morning answers are un-scripted.
10/17/2012 4:42:13 PM
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