PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION IS BEING UNFAIR! Pa. Candidate for Governor Being Discriminated Against!

GREEN Party candidate for Governor of Pa. is NOT being invited to a Gubernatorial Debate! UNFAIR Practices by Newspaper Association!

You are probably aware that the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, will conduct a gubernatorial debate Tuesday, January 29. You may not be aware, however, of the criteria that are being used to determine which candidates may participate in this debate.

According to Kara Beem, coordinator for the event, participation will be limited to candidates seeking the nominations of parties that represent at least 35 percent of registered voters in Pennsylvania. This number is absurdly high, and will exclude all independents and third party candidates forever (35% x 3 would be 105%, a mathematical impossibility). The Republican and Democratic parties only slightly exceed that percentage in Pennsylvania, and in most states that have partisan voter registration, one or both of those parties would not qualify. This criterion ignores the growing importance of independent voters and those affiliated with other parties, as well as the fact that candidates for statewide office traditionally draw many votes from members of parties other than their own. In fact, it appears

that the criterion was added after the decision was made to invite only the Republican and Democratic frontrunners.

Ms. Beem's original invitation went out to four candidates. One has since dropped out. That means there is now a slot for Michael Morrill, the Green party nominee.

Newspapers are supposed to report on the news, not manufacture it.

Please contact Ms. Beem (717-703-3000) at the PA Newspaper Association and tell her to stop censoring the Green Party and let Mr. Morrill in the debate.