Statement by Nancy Neuman, League of Women Voters on the Presidential Debates
Nancy Neuman, President, League of Women Voters, October 3, 1988
http://www.lwv.org/press-releases/statement-nancy-m-neuman-president-league-women-voters
After the 1984 election, the League decided that it would go ahead with plans to sponsor a full series of primary and general-election presidential debates in 1988. In early 1987 -- our site selection process and other planning already under way -- the chairmen of the two political parties announced plans to sponsor their own series of debates. They had set up a commission, they said, and they thanked the League for all we had done and urged us to step aside.
We did not.
Since their press conference that day, the League has argued that an organization set up by the political parties is not an appropriate sponsor of presidential debates. Obviously, the political parties have a huge stake in the outcome of debates and elections. And obviously, a political party will not be party to an event that puts its titular head at risk.
Under partisan sponsorship debates will become just another risk-free stop along the campaign trail.
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www.OpenUpTheDebates.org
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