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Melissa Joan Hart says Gary Johnson should be in the presidential debate, even though he didn’t qualify to participate. On Friday, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that the Libertarian candidate did not poll high enough to be included.
Johnson’s polling average was at 8.4 percent, below the 15 percent threshold for inclusion. Also excluded was the Green Party’s Jill Stein, who is polling at 3.2 percent. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump more than satisfied the requirement, and were formally invited to participate in the September 26 debate.
But Hart doesn’t think that’s particularly fair. She posted on Instagram, “Incredibly disappointed that the Commision [sic] for Presidential Debates has excluded Libertarian @govgaryjohnson and Green Party candidate as well from the debate next week. We deserve to hear from all candidates and the media is determining who we hear about and who we don’t. #disgusted.”
The actress also re-posted Johnson’s own Instagram message. “Am I disappointed by the CPD’s decision? Absolutely. Am I discouraged? No way. Challenging the rigged game is precisely why we are running,” he wrote.
The candidate also released a statement in which he noted, “The CPD may scoff at a ticket that enjoys ‘only’ 9 or 10% in their hand-selected polls, but even 9% represents 13 million voters, more than the total population of Ohio and most other states. Yet, the Republicans and Democrats are choosing to silence the candidate preferred by those millions of Americans.”
Johnson vowed to “be on the debate stage in October.” Indeed, the Commission will recalculate the polling averages before the second debate, making it possible for Johnson and Stein to be included then… should they meet the threshold requirement.
