Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Green Party Senate Candidate Chris Lugo Urges Inclusion in Senate Debates...

I agree with this press release and believe that these debates should be opened up to the third party candidates. --Space Ninja

http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/16122/index.php

by Anna Thompson
Email: annathompson32@yahoo.com (unverified!) 18 Sep 2006

Nashville, TN: Green Party of Tennessee candidate for US Senate Chris Lugo is urging the League of Women Voters and other organizations sponsoring debates in Tennessee to open up the debates to all candidates on the ballot,"This is a democracy and the only way the voters can know who they are voting for is if they have a chance to see them and hear them. It is of vital importance in this important statewide election that the media not exclude candidates and thereby hand the elections over to the campaigns with the most money."

The League of Women voters has scheduled a debate between Democrat Harold Ford Jr. and Republican Bob Corker on October 28th in candidate Chris Lugo's home town of Nashville. The Green Party of Tennessee has been fielding candidates for office since 1996. The National Green Party has been in existence for almost three decades and has elected officials in over 250 positions nationally and is running hundreds of candidates this year. In Tennessee, the Green Party is fielding candidates in two Congressional races as well as the Gubenatorial and Senate races.

"The voters deserve a chance to hear from the candidates. This public forum is an opportunity for Vanderbilt University and CBS News as well as the League of Women Voters to live up to the promise of the Constitution of the United States. We cannot have fair elections if the candidates are excluded. "

Unlike Corker or Ford, Green Party of Tennessee Candidate Chris Lugo represents a clear distinction for Tennessee Voters. Chris Lugo supports and immediate withdrawal of armed forces from Iraq and supports other liberal issues which the Democratic Party of Tennessee has abandoned, such as Civil Rights for Gays and Lesbians. Additionally, Lugo has not resorted to immigrant bashing or fear mongering as part of his campaign this season. "I stand fully behind the rights of immigrants. I believe they deserve the dignity and respect that they have earned as persons who have come to this country to work and to live the American dream."

Other issues which the Democrats and Republicans have avoided this campaign season, such as protection of First Amendment Rights and Universal Health Care are part of Lugo's platform. Chris Lugo is the only candidate running for office in the Senate campaign who supports implementing universal health care to address the needs of Tennessee's 600,000 uninsured, including over 300,000 who were kicked off of Tenncare this year.

"I will debate Harold Ford Jr on Meet the Press. I will debate Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker in Chattanooga. I will debate them in Nashville. I am ready to show that there is a choice for voters in Tennessee this election season. Americans are tired of the war in Iraq. They want a quick and speedy end to the war. Tennesseans want health care, they want a clean environment, they want a politician who will address the environmental crisis of global warming. Tennesseans want a candidate who will look to the future, and will provide real solutions to the problems we are facing."

Contact: Chris Lugo for US Senate
9 Music Sq So #164
Nashville, TN 37230
chris4senate@gmail.com
www.chris4senate.com
615-593-0304

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