Speaks Out

Recently, third-party candidates such as Ralph Nader and
Pat Buchanan have been excluded from the presidential debates. How
do you feel about this issue? John Adair
Fourth-year Communications "The only forum that the candidates have
right now is through the debates. And clearly, their money speaks
for themselves. Here you have Nader and Buchanan who need to get
their views out, but they don’t have the money or the
publicity. I think it is a bad thing that they are not there at the
debates to introduce their ideas." Victoria
Hightower Second-year English and political science "A
third-party candidate doesn’t have a chance because
they’re not as publicized as everybody else. Plus, they
don’t have similar representation in the Senate or enough
support to get electoral votes like the major parties. I think that
they should definitely be included. I would vote for a third-party
candidate, but I don’t think they have a chance."
Carolyn McCoy Fourth-year Political science "I
think our country would be a lot better if we had a third-party
candidate. It’s unfortunate that Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan
don’t get to speak their (minds). The debates would give them
a better chance of getting into the campaign legitimately.
We’re dominated by these two parties that gravitate towards
the center; a third party would encompass issues that more people
are concerned about." Ben Talei Second-year
Microbiology and molecular genetics "I think all third parties
should go to hell because all they’re doing is bothering us.
They’re coming up with a bunch of campaigning that has no
support; they should get the message. I think that they’re a
complete waste of time, not to mention a waste of money. I’m
not going to vote for them." Joe Manko Fourth-year
History, political science, sociology "I love third-party
candidates; I’m a Green myself. I think it’s
unfortunate that the system is structured as such, but I think
it’s impossible to change. People will always think that
they’ve wasted their vote on a third-party candidate, even
though it is important that their views get out there. They bring
in a diversity of opinion that’s different from the
mainstream." John Boyden Computer programmer
Astronomy department "I’d like to see the third-party
candidates like Nader and Buchanan included. If there’s 17
other parties, then that would be too many. There’s a lot of
things that the two major candidates agree on, things that I
don’t approve of. I’d like to see them take on
corporations a little more since they have too much power. Gore and
Bush are not addressing this issue; Nader would." Speaks Out
compiled by Jonah Lalas, Daily Bruin Senior Staff. Photos by Dave
Hill, Daily Bruin Senior Staff. Web Adaptation by Christine Tan,
Daily Bruin