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California Democratic Governor Candidate Requests Spot On CBA Televised Debate
Based on his past vote getting ability Mike Schmier, running for Governor of California, has formally requested the California Broadcasters Association to include him in a televised debate. He fears he will be left out under rules that don't take into account his recent past accomplishments as a candidate for Attorney General. The CBA is to chose the final six participants Monday, September 8.
EMERYVILLE, CA - California Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Mike Schmier, has formally requested that he be included in the forthcoming California Broadcasters Association debate now planned for airing on September 24. Writing to the CBA board of directors and management, Mr. Schmier outlined his reasons for being included in the public event. As a statewide candidate for California Attorney General only one year ago, Mr. Schmier received over 17% of the vote in the primary election and believes this fact has earned him the right to be included. "Reality is evidenced by votes not by notoriously unreliable polls, which are guesses at best, especially in such a short time frame since the August 9 candidate filing deadline," he stated in his correspondence to the CBA this past Friday.
Although the CBA chose its own criteria for selection of six participants early on, the qualification system it designed has failed. No candidates have met the standards set for the two remaining seats. Mr. Schmier further requested a "...valid explanation, in writing, why some who have not demonstrated vote getting power equal to mine, were chosen for the roundtable conversation ahead of me." The CBA debate panel apparently includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom McClintock, and probably Peter Uberroth, all Republicans; and Cruz Bustamante, the lone invited Democrat. "This is very lopsided and robs Democratic voters of a free choice. I wonder if the criteria are more about money spending, power preservation, and fame. Skyrocketing 'celebritocracy' cannot be allowed to destroy the substance of democracy," claims the candidate. "Being famous for being famous just isnt enough, " he added. Mr. Schmier's campaign theme calls for a "California Reality Check" and he points out that this is not a movie or an episode of "The West Wing."
| | - Schmier said that he agrees with the United States Supreme Court that, "...candidate debates [are] of exceptional significance in the electoral process. Deliberation on candidates positions and qualifications is integral to our system of government, and electoral speech may have its most profound and widespread impact when it is disseminated through televised debates." Broadcasters are now, by law, holders of the "public trust" charged to exercise their "public responsibilities" according to the "Fairness Doctrine." Questions for the roundtable members are coming from the people, not from a debate moderator. The CBA earlier invited viewers to send questions via postcard and chose various respondents to be videotaped asking their questions. The event will be held on the campus at the California State University, Sacramento, a publicly funded institution, and will be available in Spanish and closed captioned. It will be available to all 962 California radio and television stations along with broadcasters across the nation.
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| | - have had a brief telephone discussion with a key member of the CBA staff and he was encouraging to the point of saying I made a good argument for my inclusion. I'm hoping the rest of the selection committee will agree when they meet to decide on the final two seats. They may simply decide to leave them vacant like the KTVU-2 Fox television debate did last week. I think that was irresponsible and unfair to the voters of California. I expect the CBA will do otherwise and include me and at least one other similarly qualified candidate," he concluded. - Mike Schmier for Governor -- 510-652-5450
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