Russia Today and Al-Jazeera to broadcast US third-party presidential debates

Although you would never know it from mainstream media, there are presidential candidates other than Obama and Romney ruunning for the presidency of the US. Two of them, Libertarian Party Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, are on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win the presidency.

There will be a debate among third-party candidates at the Chicago Hilton on October 23. Ironically the US event will not be covered by major US networks but by Al-Jazeera and RT. It will also be broadcasted on YouTube by Ora TV. Foreign networks have more interest in US politics than the mainstream US media. However, C-Span is considering whether it should cover the event. The event is being offered by the Free and Equal Elections Foundations together with RT America and RT.com. Next thing you know, the Republicans and Democrats will complain that third party candidates are being promoted by foreigners to destroy US two-party democracy.

The organizers were fortunate in being able to bring back Larry King from retirement to moderate the debate. Thom Harman of RT will be one of a few hand-picked journalists to question the participants. Besides, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party, and Virgil Goodeof the Constitution Party will take part in the debaate The Free and Equal founder, Christin Tobin said: “The previous debates between President Obama and Governor Romney have failed to address the issues that really concern everyday Americans. From foreign policy, to the economy, to taboo subjects like our diminishing civil liberties and the drug war, Americans deserve a real debate, real solutions and real electoral options.”

Larry King, who retired from CNN last year, said that he found the opportunity to test the wits of third party candidates a truly exciting opportunity. There is an hour pre-debate discussion on RT at 8:00 PM EST, with the debate, moderated by King, starting an hour later. For more see this article.