Independents Will Not Be Included in Debates

KLVX-TV Las Vegas and KNPB-TV Reno "public" television stations in Nevada have adopted a policy designed to exclude all Independent American Party and other Third Party candidates from their scheduled debates. Supporting this policy which discriminates against minority parties is the Las Vegas Review Journal identified by KLVX as co-partners of the debates.

"Any partially tax payer funded institution like ‘public’ television should not purposely exclude minor party candidates by their discriminatory and biased policies. If we were a party of a different color I doubt that KLVX and KNPB would be so blatant about forcing us into the back of the public television bus," stated Janine Hansen, Executive Director of the Independent American Party.

"Our founding fathers never envisioned tax dollars funding the twin party monopoly and excluding

the opposition," stated Mary Ann Polish acting State Chairman of the Independent American Party. "They would turn over in their graves to think that only the majority has the right to be heard and that the minority must pay taxes to support them. It sounds like King George has reappeared on ‘public’ TV."

"The policy is so arbitrary and capricious that none of our 47 candidates can qualify, and of course there is no criteria the Republicrats have to meet. They are automatically included," stated Joel Hansen legal counsel for the Independent American Party and candidate for Clark County District Attorney.

Part of the discriminatory policy states, "The candidate received at least 5-percent of the vote for that office in the last general election." "In other words our candidates who have received over 5% running in another race in the previous election do not qualify for the debate. I received over 5% in the statewide race for Attorney General, but because I am now running for Clark County District Attorney I will be excluded from this evening’s debate on KLVX!" continued Joel Hansen.

"Out of our 47 candidates only 11 have ever run for political office before. Therefore 36 candidates are automatically excluded by this prejudiced policy," stated Mary Ann Polish. "In fact, it appears that only one of our candidates would qualify, but no debate is being held in his assembly race."

"I received 27% of the vote when I ran for State Assembly," stated Christopher Hansen candidate for Secretary of State, "but because I am not running for the same office I am arbitrarily excluded. How convenient! No wonder we oppose tax funding of discriminatory tax hogs like public TV when our own tax dollars are used to keep us silent"

"The Independent Americans are the only opposition candidates on the ballot in 15 races in the state including 3 State Senate races, 3 Assembly races, 3 county clerks, 3 county recorders, 1 county assessor, 1 public administrator, 1 county treasurer; but even though we are the only opposition party on the ballot we don’t qualify according to their exclusionary policy," remarked Doug Brozyna candidate for Washoe Assembly District 25 and Washoe County IAP Chairman.

Janine Hansen said, "As Executive Director of the Independent American Party I asked Mitch Fox at KLVX if an Independent American were the only opposition candidate listed on the ballot if that candidate would also be excluded from debates." He said, "We use a lot of criteria, some of it isn’t written. I don’t know" (if they would be included)."

"Even though I previously ran for Congress and received more than six percent of the vote, I would not qualify under their tortured policy because I did not run for Congress in the last election. How many Republicans and Democrats besides those running for re-election run for the same political office year after year? This policy is specifically designed to exclude us," stated Janine Hansen candidate for Congress Dist. 2. –Continued-

"In Nevada over 138,000 voters have chosen not to affiliate with the twin parties. How does ‘public’ television serve their desire to know about all the candidates? I haven’t spoken to any voter who feels that it is fair to exclude any candidates from the debates. The public is truly served only when all candidates are included and have the opportunity to be heard," stated Mary Ann Polish.

"Even if we met their ridiculous policy percentages we could still be excluded because policy point number 5 requires "establishing a campaign headquarters and staff…and generating media coverage." It’s interesting that no Republican or Democrat is required to meet this or any other criteria. All of the candidates who are on the ballot including the Independent Americans have already met the criteria set forth in the Nevada Revised Statutes written by the elected representatives of the people in Nevada. When will ‘public television’ and the Las Vegas Review Journal follow the only fair and equitable criteria including all candidates who have qualified for the ballot?" said Janine Hansen.

"I suppose in the arrogant ‘wisdom’ of their discriminatory policy KLVX and KNPB ‘public’ television would have excluded Abraham Lincoln from their debates, because he was a third party candidate and would not have qualified," concluded Janine Hansen.

The debate will also be broadcast on KUNR radio and are being advertised by the Las Vegas Review Journal.

For further information contact: Joel Hansen 702-385-5533, Janine Hansen 775-284-4427, Mitch Fox KLVX 702-799-1010.

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