2008
Missouri LP
Candidates

Contact:  Jeanne Bojarski, Communications Director
Phone:    816 561-3596    Fax:   816 561-3596
E-mail:    MoLPComms@aol.com

Exclusive Senate Debates a Disservice to Voters

Kansas City, MO  10/4/2000 -- Missouri voters have a choice of six candidates 
for US Senate in this election.  But they won't find out about those choices 
by tuning in to the series of debates announced by the two major party 
candidates yesterday.

"Its a shame after all the efforts of dissatisfied voters to open up the 
election process in Missouri," said Missouri Libertarian Party Communications 
Director Jeanne Bojarski.  "As alternative parties became established during 
the 90s, it was encouraging to see most debate sponsors and broadcast media 
making a point of including all candidates.  That showed they were concerned 
about informing voters.  This year the media have allowed the major parties 
to get away with censoring alternative viewpoints."  

"Its especially disappointing to see KCPT and Southeast Missouri State 
University ignoring their trust to inform the public.  Ironically, KCPT is 
holding a town hall to find out why voters aren't interested in elections --
why should they be when real alternatives are excluded?  We'd also expect 
KMOX and KFVS-TV to be more sensitive about including candidates 
disenfranchised voters worked hard to get on the ballot," she said.

Libertarian Senate Grant Stauffer is eager to participate.  "At the Missouri 
Press Association forum, I raised issues the major candidates ignore or 
misrepresent, such as the fact that the Social Security "Trust Fund"
consists of nothing but IOUs to be paid by future taxes.  Ashcroft's 
"lock-box" is meaningless.  So is Carnahan's plan to "save" the surplus.  
Both were criticized yesterday in an editorial by Kansas City STAR board 
member Thomas McClanahan for failing to acknowledge that there is no way to 
save or invest under the current system," Stauffer said.  "I make them 
uncomfortable by citing the facts."

"They quibble about who raised taxes more while governor or who was more 
eager to pour money into a failing public school system or counterproductive 
War on Drugs that is really a war on minorities and citizens' constitutional 
rights.  They don't talk about how Missourians' homes and businesses are 
being confiscated through illegal use of eminent domain and handed over to 
developers who make campaign contributions," Stauffer said.  

"I offer a positive vision of a much smaller government that sticks to its 
role of enforcing the rule of law.  Missourians would get much lower taxes 
and much greater freedom of choice -- choice about how they make a living, 
educate their children, and arrange for health care and their own retirement. 
 Its too bad I won't have a chance to challenge my opponents on these basic 
issues in the broadcast debates," he said.  "Voters want change but they 
aren't getting the facts they need to make an informed decision this 
November."  

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