Libertarian, Green candidates to debate immediately before Bush-Kerry event
WASHINGTON -- The Libertarian and Green candidates for president will
hold a debate on Thursday featuring something the Bush-Kerry debate will
lack: a small-government perspective.
"If you like gigantic government spending, towering deficits and the
festering war in Iraq, tune in to the Bush-Kerry debate," said Fred
Collins, campaign manager for Libertarian Michael Badnarik. "But if you
want to hear an all-American argument in favor of limited government,
shrinking the deficit and ending the war in Iraq, the third-party debate
is for you."
Badnarik and Green candidate David Cobb will face off on Thursday at 5
pm in Miami, just hours before the first Bush-Kerry debate. The third-
party event will be held at the Holiday Inn Ballroom, 1350 South Dixie
Highway in Coral Gables, across the street from the Bush-Kerry event,
which begins at 9pm.
Immediately after the Bush-Kerry debate, Badnarik and Cobb will offer
rebuttals to the older parties' answers. They will also take unscripted
questions from the audience and from correspondents for Pacifica Radio
Network, which will carry the event live.
The most noteworthy aspect to the three upcoming Bush-Kerry debates is
something Americans won't hear, Collins predicted: An argument in favor
of smaller government.
"When asked about health care, Bush may brag about how he created the
largest expansion of socialized medicine in history with his
prescription drug plan," Collins said.
"When the issue of education arises, expect him to reminisce about how
he collaborated with Sen. Teddy Kennedy to write the most bloated
federal education bill in history.
"In response, Kerry will either quibble over the details or trot out his
own plan to 'help' Americans by seizing more of their money. No real
debate there."
When it comes to foreign policy -- the topic of Thursday's debate -–
don't expect either politician to question the biggest, most destructive
government program of all, CollinS said: war.
"The war in Iraq -- which has claimed over 1,000 American lives and cost
hundreds of billions of dollars -- is George Bush's favorite government
program, and despite Kerry's last-minute backpedaling, the fact is that
he voted for it," Collins said.
"Both of these politicians have a record of aiding and abetting all
government programs, foreign and domestic. And they're going to happily
tell you more about it on Thursday."
And that's why the debate between Badnarik and Cobb will be so
refreshing, Collins said.
"Michael Badnarik will present small-government, free-market solutions
to problems with education, health care and the environment," Collins
said. "He'll also explain why a foreign policy of neutrality and non-
intervention will make America safer from war and terrorism."
The Green Party candidate will advocate more government involvement in
certain areas, while staunchly defending many civil liberties and
opposing the war in Iraq, Collins said.
"That means that Americans who want a robust debate over the size and
power of government can get it on Thursday -- as long as they skip the
Bush-Kerry snooze-a-thon and tune in to watch the Libertarians and
Greens instead."
The debate will be sponsored by two nonpartisan student organizations,
the University of Miami's Council for Democracy and the Miami-Dade
College Student Senate, and by the Maryland-based Center for Voting and
Democracy. The center is chaired by John Anderson, the 1980 independent
presidential candidate, who will present an opening statement prior to
the debate. |
