by David Giza

Created on: November 14, 2008

The United States people would vote for third and independent candidates in large numbers if the political news media covered these people as much as the Democratic and Republican candidates running for office. They use the tired, old excuse that these people can't win so what is the point of covering them?

This is an example of gross negligence and irresponsibility regarding reporting. The American voting public has a right to know what all candidates stand for and against concerning issues. Simply put, the American public has a right to know.

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke about how American Jews support a Palestinian state and a two-state solution to the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis: ''By a 46-to-43 percent plurality American Jews coontinue to support the creation of a Palestinian state. Other polls show even higher support, among Jewish Americans, for a two-state solution.'' (From www.votenader.org/issues/foreign-policy/peace

The Democratic and Republican parties ignore the wishes of thousands of unaffiliated voters by appealing to the extrems of liberalism and conservatism. Most people are political moderates and want solutions that would benefit America. They don't care whether the idea is left-wing or right-wing. It doesn't matter whether it's liberal or conservative. If the idea has merit and will benefit the country as a whole; the majority of the American people would support it.

The news media hardly even mentioned that Ralph Nader was running as an independent candidate for the presidency. The only major coverage that Nader received from the news media was when he announced his candidacy. Also, the media is controlled now by corporate interests and since Nader is a consumer activist and a staunch critic of corporations; it isn't surprising that there is a media blackout regarding his views and candidacy.

Chuck Baldwin was the presidential candidate for the Constitution Party. This political party started in 1992 as the Taxpayers' Party. They advocate an extremely limited role for the federal government concerning business regulation. They also believe in strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution and all of its amendments and clauses. They are a Christian dominated party. Since many reporters don't believe in God, they weren't covered much.

Cynthia McKinney is a former African-American Congresswoman from Georgia. She was the Green Party's presidential candidate in 2008 along with running mate Rosa Clemente. Besides advocating for an environmental, sustainable culture, they speak directly to inner city youth primarily African-American and Latino. They speak for the rights of undocumented workers. They speak for people living in the shados of cities that the major news media would like America to ignore.

These three candidates for president were on the ballot in most states along with Libertarian candidate Bob Barr. The main difference between Barr and Baldwin is that Barr and the Libertarians aren't as religious as the Constitution Party faithful. Barr once referred to Baldwin's vision as theocracy not democracy or a republic.

If the news media covered these candidates as much as they did Obama and McCain, it's possible that one or more of them could have challenged the Democratic and Republican parties. The television and radio networks could have provided free advertising for all candidates so everyone can get their message out to the people. Third party candidates can be viable if the election laws of ballot access are changed on a state-by-state basis and the news media does their job by covering the candidates.

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