This story originally provided by Graffiti

May 21, 2004

Open Debate Critical to Democratic Ideals

By Gary Zuckett

"Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the U.S. media." Noam Chomsky

One must read between the lines in the newspaper these days to learn that the governor's race now has three candidates on the ballot this fall. One Charleston paper's headline was "And Then There Were Two." The other also portrayed the two major party candidates in a one-on-one face-off. The one candidate not mentioned by either paper just happens to be the only one who is pro-choice, pro-environment, anti-death penalty, and has new out-of-the-box ideas on economic development.

The Republican and so-called Democrat were actually candidates number two and three to be placed on the ballot. The WV Mountain Party www.mtparty.org had already elected and certified its candidate, Jesse Johnson, for the ballot over a week before. Regardless, news media continue to report only on tweedle dee & tweedle dum.

Do a search on any state newspaper's web page for all THREE gubernatorial candidates and you'll discover what the media does best - intrinsically they help create and shape the news as they report it.

I searched the Charleston Gazette web site and got 13 hits for the Republican, 20 hits for the Democrat, and ONE for the Mountain Party candidate in the week before & after the primary. Whatever they report on is "newsworthy" and what hits the cutting room floor (or now dragged to their computer's trash bin) is not. "Sins of omission" degrade the quality of news reporting as much as factual errors. Voters deserve better information from the media they rely on for their news than they are now receiving.

Neglect is the most insidious form of censorship. Why not give all candidates who appear on the ballot an equal voice in the media and let the voters decide who has the best ideas? Democracy demands nothing less.

In this so-called two party system where the parties are constantly looking more and more alike, ignoring alternative voices in the race enables the front-runners to continue the banal mudslinging and ignore the issues. In this atmosphere the media are then so desperate for a story they succumb to reporting on the race like a sports event - seeing who can put up the best commercial or spend the most money blah, blah, blahing the airwaves.

Just the factor of a third choice in the race tempers the mudslinging as both sides realize that the one standing out of the fray gains the best chance of picking up votes.

At this writing the Libertarian Party has delivered what they hope will be enough certifiable signatures to get their candidate in the governor's race. It may end up a four-way race. The more the merrier.

The Broadcaster's Association goes even farther in pre-digesting the news. In their 2000 gubernatorial debates only the Republican and the Democrat were allowed on stage. The Libertarian and Mountain Party candidates were shut out. A call into their office reveals they have no intention of doing anything differently this year - unless the courts force them. We'll see.

What's a third party to do? If candidates can't get their message out in print or on TV there is no way for voters in large numbers to be swayed to vote for an alternative candidate. Hummm, I guess the Republicrats have this one figured out. If they can keep citizens voting for the same corporate-controlled candidates (no matter which party label is pasted on the forehead) then its business as usual ad nausium.

If you really want be an informed voter who knows about all the candidates that will appear on the fall ballot, I'm asking each of you to join in a statewide letter writing and call in campaign. Whenever, you see or hear a political story for which you know a Mountain Party or Libertarian candidate is running, (but not mentioned) please contact the editor of the paper, or call the assignment editor of the TV or radio station and voice your concern. It doesn't really matter whether it is the gubernatorial race, second congressional race or any other race, the point is to make sure the media knows that you, the public, wants to be aware of all its choices-not just the ones they choose to tell us about.

Points to remember:

*Feel free to write or call multiple times.

*In addition to letters to the editor, write specifically to reporters of those stories and urge them to be more responsible journalists...be persistent.

*Point out to editors, reporters, and journalists that by not reporting the ballot sanctioned third party choices; they are hindering the democratic process.

*Point out that statistics from the polls a week prior to the primaries indicate that people weren't particularly pleased with the choices they were being offered. Democrats were 43.2% undecided and republicans were 76.9% undecided as reported in the WCHS-TV 8/Gazette poll.

The media always postures itself as an impartial reporter of the news. Lets make them live up to that standard and really report on all candidates who appear on the ballot.

A robust debate with fresh ideas will draw more voters to the polls and invigorate our democratic process. Lord knows we need it.