Equal Coverage

The media have an attitude that it is pointless to cover a political candidate who “isn’t going to win.”

This circular reasoning seems to forget that many voters rely on media coverage to help them evaluate the candidates.

When a qualified candidate is ignored, the media do a disservice, both to the hard-working candidate and to the voting public, fed up with the status quo.

Voters are growing increasingly frustrated with the “DemoRepublicrats.”

There is almost no difference between the older parties. Who would have ever thought a Republican governor would lead the calls for a big tax increase?

It’s no wonder so many voters stay home on election day.

With the failing policies and watered-down ideology of the older parties, newer parties are growing and gaining influence.

In the 1990 election, San Diegan Jim Bates lost his seat in Washington due in part to the Libertarian Party and Peace and Freedom Party efforts.

Each of these newer parties pulled more than double the number of votes Jim Bates would have needed to stay in office.

In the 38th District State Senate race, the newer parties drew a full 33% of the votes. These are very significant showings, especially in light of the almost universal media blackout of newer party candidate coverage.

Nationwide, more than 100 Libertarians have been elected. Not one of them has ever voted for higher taxes of bigger government, not even as part of a compromise.

Yet the public still thinks “read my lips” Republicans are the ones opposed to tax-and-spend mania, because the media are not keeping us fully informed.

The newer parties have something very different to offer if only they could get their messages to the public.

Now that Democratic presidential hopefuls (who “don’t stand a chance”) are being covered, I call on the media to give fair and equal coverage to all ballot-qualified parties and their candidates.

The fresh innovative ideas offered by the younger parties can only enhance the political process.

MARVIN SIMKIN, San Diego