CNN hosted a presidential debate on June 27, but established rules that block a major player in the 2024 presidential election. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running as an independent, which means he must play by different rules than the two parties that have had a stranglehold on American politics for generations. However, CNN did not allow him to participate in the debate on a technicality.
CNN set a polling threshold of 15% in at least four approved national polls for an independent candidate to be permitted to participate in the debate. Kennedy reached that number in only three at the time of the deadline.
There is another criterion that would have gotten him into the exclusive debate. He just needed to be on the ballot in enough states to be able to mathematically reach the minimum 270 electoral votes necessary to win the election. CNN set a deadline of June 20 to meet either of those criteria. Most states do not even open the window for independent candidates to submit petition signatures for ballot access in time for the June 27 debate.
Petitioning Proceeds
The Kennedy campaign has started petitioning and collecting signatures in every state in which the window to petition is open. Only two states have not opened their window yet: Wisconsin and Louisiana. Kennedy currently has ballot access (with verified signatures) on enough states to reach a significant number of electoral votes. He has the signatures in many other states, but they have not yet been verified. With all signatures verified, his potential electoral votes would be 348, well above CNN’s 270 threshold. Alas, he is out. At least for this debate.
He still needs help to get signatures in some states. Click here to volunteer to help Kennedy gain ballot access.
The Faux Debate
This CNN debate was not about the issues. We know the issues. We have lived four years of issues with both of these jokers. This debate was about how well these jokers — these two jokers — could field questions, stay on topic, and deliver blows to their opponent. If on-the-fence/Biden-leaning voters wanted to see anything, it was probably that their candidate would be at least somewhat robust (he was not). If on-the-fence/Trump-leaning voters wanted to see anything, it was that Trump was ready to attack while remaining reasonably respectful (and he was).
Anyone paying attention to politics for the past couple of years is not surprised that Biden got pretty well dominated. After all, Joe is decrepit. But the manner of the thumping is what stands out. Trump was only moderately brash. Yes, he repeatedly called Biden the worst president in history (let’s face it, he has a point). But he did not resort to the “Crooked Hillary,” and “Small Hands Rubio,” and “Low Energy Jeb,” style of comments that got him to the White House originally. He stuck with the message of “what I did was good (minus the pandemic)” as compared to “what Joe has done is bad (including the pandemic).”
Joe stammered. Joe struggled. Joe looked bewildered. But mostly Joe stayed on track. Critics say he “looked tired,” but aren’t we all? Critics say his voice was weak — but he is also juggling two wars that have the world on the brink of nuclear armageddon, so cut the guy some slack, right? From a campaign perspective, the problem Joe faces is that he needs to take EVERY opportunity to show voters that he is up to the task. That is a tough argument to make after this debate.
The Real Debate
With the help of social media platform X, Kennedy simultaneously broadcast an alternative version of the debate in which a moderator permitted Kennedy to provide a two-minute response to each question that the other candidates answered. This is the debate America deserved. This debate was worth watching because we got a real alternative to the same ol’ song and dance that we get from the two elderly candidates.
Interestingly, Elon Musk’s decision to permit The Real Debate broadcast on X is in defiance of CNN. But Musk says that, "The public has a right to see Presidential debates however they would like." It should be interesting if any legal battles play out as a result.
The Highlight
The most eye-rolling moment of the Faux Debate was the two old-timers whipping their “golf clubs” out to challenge each other about their handicap on the links. RFK Jr, who is famously ripped, laughed and expressed that he wanted to get in on a fitness competition, to his audience’s delight. Asked by his moderator about his fitness, he said he hikes every day and does not eat processed foods.
Due Credit
One aspect of the Faux Debate that moderates and conservatives were concerned about ahead of the showdown was the moderators. The moderators, CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash (both famous for defaming Trump in the past), were expected to display their undying service to the liberal propaganda machine. And you know what? They… didn’t?? But this was a certainty?? They were actually quite fair, despite the two idiots on stage refusing to answer half of their questions. So, we salute you, Jake and Dana! But don’t get used to this.
The System at Work
In a blatant display of loyal service to their party, The New York Times promptly followed the debate by posting a defense of Biden and a misrepresentation of Trump’s representations of Biden. As an example, consider the following quote from The New York Times:
“And in a wild misrepresentation of facts, Mr. Trump claimed falsely that Mr. Biden “encouraged” Russia to attack Ukraine, even though Mr. Biden has consistently tried to rally support for Ukraine and his administration took active steps to warn President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia not to invade.”
Come on! U.S. intelligence knew this was coming (per NPR in 2022). The Conversation reports that the “Ukraine war follows decades of warning that NATO expansion into Eastern Europe could provoke Russia.” And rallying support for Ukraine is not at all the same thing as ending the sacrifice of young Ukrainians so U.S. weapons manufacturers could improve profits. That’s the thing about the internet — there is a lot of truth out there if you are willing to dig for it. The truth is Biden joined several of his presidential predecessors (including Trump) in provoking Russia into a military escalation.
You know what neither candidate, nor The New York Times, discusses — what is in it for us? What is so valuable about Ukraine that it is worth risking nuclear annihilation? Nobody really thinks this war is between Russia and Ukraine. Everyone knows it is between Russia and the U.S. We are in a hot war with Russia, which is why Russia now has warships less than 100 miles from the Florida coast.
There is always something in it for the U.S., else the U.S. does not fund billions of taxpayer dollars to support a war effort. If the U.S. is the benevolent humanitarian nation that [whomever is president] says we are, why are we not dedicating billions to end the crisis in Sudan, where 25 million people need lifesaving aid while facing widespread sexual assault and violence? You already know why — because there is little in it for the U.S.! But a war in Ukraine, where we don’t have to sacrifice American lives to weaken Russia? We can’t pass up on that, can we? Can we, President Biden? Does any of the pro-war rhetoric have you convinced that avoiding peace is in any way good for the U.S. or Ukraine?
That is the system at work.
Can We Meet in the Middle on the Presidential Race?
If you have been reading our articles for any length of time, you know that we here at Meet Me in the Middle believe in solutions that have some hope of success. The Real Debate offered one candidate that brings the promise of solutions that have a hope of success. The Faux Debate delivered two candidates that dodge the major issues, and there is no meeting in the middle with those two jokers.
There is only one candidate who has a hope of bringing people together. And CNN excluded him from the June 27th presidential debate despite reaching 15% in multiple major polls.
Bringing It On Home
The current and former presidents spent a couple of hours in service to the mechanisms and institutions that keep people divided. Kennedy broadcast his response to each debate question with little division in his message. He did not spend his time pointing fingers. He talked about taking a path that will deliver us from the horror of the past several presidents.
If you watched the Faux Debate, you know that Biden was atrocious. And, as sharp as Trump was relative to his debate opponent, he did little to unite the people. These two will only divide people more. Right now, we need unity. Unity begins with YOU! We have no chance for unity without independent thought and independent voters.