Let Abel Collins Eat Cake (And Debate)
Jim Langevin and Michael Riley will soon take the stage for a televised congressional district 2 debate hosted by WPRI. How that debate will go is yet to be seen. But WPRI has made one thing perfectly clear: Independent candidate Abel Collins is not invited.
It seems the local media outlet has decided that Collins is not “electable” enough to be welcomed at the debate. However, Collins will only be electable when voters are given the chance to understand his platform. Oftentimes third-party and independent candidates will poll low until they're given the chance to debate. In fact, the most successful third-party bid in recent memory came in on the national level from a candidate who was allowed to debate. When Ross Perot took the stage with Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush in 1992 and defined his campaign to millions of Americans he later won 18.9 percent of the vote, a number still unheard of in third-party/independent politics.
While Collins is a concerned citizen running for Congress as an independent, he also has plenty of leadership experience. His record includes fighting for social, economic, and environmental causes as well as working to improve our states public transportation system. This work and community activism has surely allowed Collins to sharpen skills needed to represent the people of Rhode Island's second congressional district. Why won't this proven track record get him into the debate?
Voters continue to lose faith in the two-party system. Therefor, this not a good time for either major party to play election 2012 as left vs. right. The engaged voter now wishes to distance themselves from divisive partisan politics. With this ever increasing loss of faith in government many people find the idea of concerned citizens seeking public office to be very refreshing.
Apparently, WPRI isn’t impressed.
RMA
11:04 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
WPRI is run by Fox that"s why!
Govstench
11:15 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
This is another example of the media interferring with the election process. Channel 12 is wrong for excluding this candidate from the debate. Whether he is electable or not, he is still a citizen and has a voice. He should be heard and the people should be allowed to get to know him. The independents should be rallying to get this guy on the air. Talk about censorship!
NKGOP Watch
12:29 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Gov, Agree! Everyone should have a voice. That guy just may have a really terrific idea or ideas!
MeanE
5:06 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Agreed! That's why Johnson and Stein should also be included in the Presidential debates.
Leave RI
12:15 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
They should have it on MS-LSD cable..then only langevin will be invited
Peter A. Filippi III
5:17 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
As the Republican Mayoral Candidate for Johnston as part of my comprehensive platform, our communities should provide forums for candidates during the election process. Log onto http://patch.com/B-crC5 and view "the People's Platform", Peter A. Filippi III
Ted Geisel
11:22 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
If Langevin or Riley really wanted Abel there they could make it happen. Just tell WPRI they aren't going if he isn't included. It's all grandstanding though. WPRI wants to maintain the status quo. Who are Abel's votes going to come from? People that would vote for a democrat or a republican?
If you made it on to the ballot you should be included in the debates, it's as simple as that.
WaterLion
9:03 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Able should be there
NK Parent
10:56 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Agreed -- Collins should definitely be invited to the debates. Shame of WPRI, Langevin, & Riley. What are the other candidates worried about if he's "unelectable"?
Langevin has lost my vote for not standing up to this behavior.
Kathy DiPina
10:57 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
@Ted....you're on target. He's on the ballot...it should be simple. I called both WPRI and WJAR 2 weeks ago requesting that he be included in both debates. When Jim Taricani had the debate, Langevin and Riley did not show up. I'm not sure if you saw that one but Mr. Taricani was obviously not happy that Abel was the only one there. Langevin seems to have changed over the past few weeks and is willing to debate Abel, yet WPRI is saying it's an editorial decision and the candidates opinion doesn't count.