News 12 Refuses to Include All 3rd Congressional District Candidates in its Debate

HUNTINGTON, NY (10/15/2012)(readMedia)-- After being invited to debate the Democrat incumbent and the Republican challenger for Congress on the north shore of Long Island, Libertarian Party candidate Michael McDermott was told that he would be excluded from the October 23 debate by News 12 on the grounds that "the Libertarian Party is not a serious party, recognized by the State of New York."

McDermott qualified for the ballot as a Libertarian by submitting a petition containing over 4200 voter signatures to the Board of Elections this summer. Nevertheless, News 12 has advised his campaign that it refuses to include him in a debate between the major party candidates for the same office.

Mark Axinn, Libertarian Party State Chair, stated, "News 12 has refused to allow the electorate, which overwhelmingly supports having more choices, the opportunity to hear from all of the candidates on the ballot."

Libertarian candidate Michael McDermott stated, "It was the Democrats and Republicans who have caused the huge mess our country is in and it is shameful to prevent the fine people of the Third District from hearing a differing opinion than that of the parties that are responsible for eroding our most precious liberties guaranteed by the US Constitution."

The Libertarian Party was founded in 1972 and is the third largest political party in the United States. There has been a concerted effort to keep the Libertarian Party platform of individual liberty based on the US Constitution out of debates including the refusal to include former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson in the Presidential debates between President Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney.

-30-