The other day, I wrote a post chastising the League of Women Voters for planning a debate that included only Governor Cuomo and Republican candidate Rob Astorino. I thought it was unfair to exclude Howie Hawkins, who is running on the Green Party ticket.
I received the following response from Laura Ladd Bierman of the League of Women Voters of NYS:
The League of Women Voters of NYS, with its partners from WABC/TV, Univision and The Daily News, has been negotiating with the gubernatorial candidates to organize a televised debate in NYC. Based on the state League’s policies, the debates would have to include at least Cuomo, Astorino and Hawkins for the state League to be a co-sponsor. While two other debates have been offered to the candidates by other sponsors, our offer still stands.
I was misinformed, and I apologize to the League of Women Voters for my error. Thanks to the LWV for offering to sponsor the debate. Governor Cuomo refused to debate Zephyr Teachout, his primary challenger. I hope he accepts this offer to debate Astorino and Hawkins.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Apparently Cuomo accepted a radio debate without consulting Astorino (or anyone else):
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/09/8553550/challenged-debate-cuomo-pulled-fast-one
Hello All,
I appreciate the LWV for attempting to bring some democracy to the debate debate 🙂 I am of course a strong Howie Hawkins supporter, but I also think the Michael McDermott (the Libertarian Candidate) who is also a very valid candidate, on the ballot, and who represents a legitimate political party should also be in the debate. The issue is about democracy pure and simple. The Democrats and Republicans have been trying to subvert that process for years on the state and national level. It should be a law that all candidates for any office agree to debate all the other candidates who are legally on the ballot. If they refuse, they should be disqualified from running.
I agree.
In the last presidential race, Green party P and VP candidates Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala were actually handcuffed to metal chairs in a warehouse for 8 hours to ensure that they could not even attend one of the debates (at Hofstra) — as spectators. They had tickets, no less, but were hauled off and detained for the duration. And of course, neither Obama nor Romney said a word about it.
As you say, all candidates who are on the ballot should be included, not just the 2 or 3 top ones.
Also, I could be wrong, but it looks to me like NY LWV actually had a belated “memory-jog” regarding their own debate policy.
One of the sponsors (NY Daily News) initially (sept 11) made no mention of Hawkins here, for example
Also, this (posted Sept 12) indicates that Hawkins was initially NOT included, and actually chastises the sponsors for not making the criteria for inclusion clear.
“WABC-TV, New York Daily News, Univision, and the League of Women Voters of NYC have offered Gov. Cuomo and Rob Astorino a prime-time debate. In 2006, when Hawkins was the Green Party’s anti Iraq war alternative to Sen. Hillary Clinton and Republican John Spencer, the League of Women Voters withdrew their co-sponsorship from a WABC debate because Hawkins was excluded. The sponsors so far have failed to meet the legal standard of having clear criteria for inclusion in the debate”.
Also, there is this (from NY Daily News, sept 27)
“The Daily News, along with Channel 7, Univision, and the League of Women Voters, had pushed the governor to agree to a debate. But the governor’s campaign would only do it if it included not just Cuomo and Astorino, but also the candidates from the Green, Libertarian, and Sapient parties.”
It’s not clear to me who really got Hawkins into the debate, but it’s pretty clear that he was not initially invited.
I remember when Jill Stein ran against Mitt Romney in MA.
I can understand why our two major parties don’t want additional parties in the debates. Fear.
The link you posted of her at Hofstra is disturbing. Especially as we learn about the protests in Hong Kong this week and their demands for a true democracy – maybe we should be taking notes.
At least the League of Woman voters is taking a stand.
I think we need at least 4 parties.
Just to make it clear.
The League of Women Voters now has nothing to do with the Presidential debates so had nothing to do with the fact that Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala were excluded (and handcuffed!).
They used to sponsor those debates but quit when the two major parties effectively excluded other parties..
There is an important principle exemplified by this blog posting. Please read to the end of this comment.
Two previous postings on this website.
April 5, 2013: An Apology to Michelle Rhee.
April 6, 2013: Why I Apologized for Something I Did Not Say.
From part of the 4/6/13 posting:
[start quote]
Let me explain my apology for a term I did not utter or even hear.
A reader on this blog asked me my reaction to the ethnic slur made referring to Rhee. I wrote a comment, then decided to say it louder in a post.
I don’t play by the same rules as Rhee. She goes around the nation insulting teachers and trying to persuade the public to support reactionary legislatures and governors who take away their right to have a collective voice, cut their pensions and their health benefits, and remove any job security from them. That’s wrong and I will say it’s wrong again and again.
But I won’t condone the use of ethnic or racial slurs.
My rules include civility, courtesy, fairness, and reason. Is it fair that someone who makes $50,000 to give a speech for one hour attacks teachers who make that much in a year? Is it fair that she belittles people whose jobs are so hard and so valuable to society?
[end quote]
The above posting, in part:
[start quote]
The other day, I wrote a post chastising the League of Women Voters for planning a debate that included only Governor Cuomo and Republican candidate Rob Astorino. I thought it was unfair to exclude Howie Hawkins, who is running on the Green Party ticket. …
I was misinformed, and I apologize to the League of Women Voters for my error.
[end quote]
Compare the public conduct of the owner of this blog to that of John Deasy and Michelle Rhee and Steve Perry and Paul Vallas and Bill Gates and Chris Christie and the rest of the edubullies and edufrauds.
Then ask yourself: what distinguishes a supporter of a “better education for all” like a Diane Ravitch from an “education reformer” like John Deasy who used the power of his position to unjustly punish and fire Ms. Patrena Shankling?
Setting aside for a moment the intricacies of policy and position and philosophy: a sense of decency and fair play and responsibility. Coupled with the courage to admit one’s mistakes.
We could learn much from some of those very dead and very old and very Greek guys:
“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” [Sophocles]
Thank you to the owner of this blog for walking the talk.
😎
Can I “like” this post?!
I don’t think Cuomo will risk a debate. According to the polls, he is leading by a HUGE margin of 53.4% to 28.8% (for Astorino) while Hawkins is polling 9% statewide.
A debate might reveal Cuomo’s real politics. His lead in the polls has made him more arrogant than usual.
But and this is a BIG but: Over half (52%) of Cuomo’s voters said they may decide to vote for someone else.
He’ll definitely debate Astorino. Its a general election, the incumbent will debate the challenger.
Does Cuomo have to? Is it the law in NY state? If not, what do you think would happen if Cuomo broke with tradition?
I hope you don’t mind the questions.
Television debates may not be what they once we’re, but people still expect to see at least one of them in a general election. If he didn’t debate, it would be a news story, especially against the backdrop of his complete blowoff of Teachout in the primary. He’d be reading more rather than fewer stories about how he’s arrogant or complacent or afraid. That is a completely avoidable situation that would threaten to turn his victory margin into a “surprisingly close” when what he wants is a blowout. Plus Cuomo is a great debater. He also believes he’s a great debater. Plus he only has to do a few debates and he’ll be able to largely dictate the terms. I’m not a political strategist, and maybe I’m totally off base, but this all seems pretty obvious to me.
Then let’s hope Cuomo decides to blow off the debate and the other two candidates debate.
Wonder how Mario Cuomo feels about governance in NY nowadays.
booklady,
I don’t think narcissistic sociopaths have feelings. They are too busy being impressed every time they look in a mirror.
Just an FYI, Cuomo has agreed to 2 debates this far. One will be a televised debate in Buffalo, with ALL THE CANDIDATES (including Howie but also the Libertarian, Michael McDermott). This televised debate may be carried also by Public TV affiliates. The other debate is apparently (as of yet) only on the radio and only with Astorino and Cuomo. The Hawkins campaign has been working around the clock to influence this unfair and undemocratic treatment of legitimate candidates. In fact, the reason all the candidates have been included in the Buffalo debate is due to persistent communication with the Astorino campaign. Thus far there are no dates set for the 2 debates but mid October is being looked at. The Hawkins campaign is asking that EVERYONE write letters to the editors of their local papers to demand that Howie and ALL the candidates be allowed in ALL the debates and that all the debates be televised. It is especially important to make sure that the FIRST debate is the televised one in Buffalo, so that a president can be set for inclusion of all the candidates. The Hawkins campaign and supporters will be making our voices heard loud and clear and may even engage in physical protests at various locations if need be, so stay tuned. Also, Howie will be on the Brian Lehrer show on WNYC on October 10th. Please listen and call in to demand that Howie be allowed in all the debates. This is important because WNYC is one of the sponsors of the current plan to keep Howie out of the radio debate that they are sponsoring!
Go to http://www.howiehawkins.org for all updates. And, please give a donation no matter how small!!
Hopefully the debate that includes all the candidates on the ballot will be posted on YouTube so it can be embedded in Blog posts to reach a wider audience.
New Jersey League Women Voters co-sponsoring panel discussion re Common Core Oct 2, 7 PM at Ridgewood, NJ Public Library. Many panelists, including Mark Biedron, President NJ State Board of Educ/Co-Founder The Willow School, & Dr. Sandra Stotsky.
Testing lobbyist Sandy Kress wants to use Common Core tests to create two high school diplomas, one for “college and career ready”, one for ….I don’t know, the people who can’t work or go to college? Might be hard to get a job after high school if your diploma says you’re not “career ready”.
http://educationnext.org/diplomas-must-recognize-college-career-readiness/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EducationNext+%28Education+Next%29
They never should have told parents the Common Core tests weren’t “high stakes for students” because the truth is they don’t know how states will use the tests. They never knew how states would use the tests. They don’t control that. States can use the CC tests any way they want, and SOME states will use the CC tests in incredibly dumb and reckless ways, just as some states use all standardized tests in dumb and reckless ways now.
How does Sandy Kress make money for his clients with a state that mandates a lesser high school diploma goes to those who can’t pass the Common Core tests?
One way he could do it would be to offer programs that grant “credentials” (post-high school) that families have to pay out of pocket for. Lesser state-paid diploma plus “credentials” offered by private companies that cost families out of pocket?
We’ll have to stay tuned to see where the scam is embedded 🙂