An Open Letter from a Concerned Citizen
‘Tis a Sad Day
for Democracy’
Once again the self-appointed ‘Media Elites’ have excluded a
qualified candidate and important voice from the Republican
Debate. This time the target is Governor Gary Johnson.
I n 2008 it was Ron Paul who was banned from the debate
in Milford, after the ‘media elites’ at Fox News decided the
long-time Texas congressman wasn’t a ‘serious’ candidate.
Fast forward to 2011 and the ‘media elites’ at the Union
Leader, WMUR, and CNN are perpetrating the same
injustice on former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson
who, despite being an officially-declared candidate, is not
invited to Monday’s debate at St. Anselm College.
Long before there was a Tea Party
there was New Mexico’s ‘Governor Veto’
During his two terms as governor (1994-2003) Gary Johnson
arguably ran the tightest fiscal ship in the nation. He vetoed
over 750 bills–more than all 49 other governors combined–
while cutting taxes 14 times without a single increase.
Long before there was a Tea Party, Governor Johnson was
a trailblazer for other fiscally conservative governors that
followed. But the national media doesn’t get out to New
Mexico much, so American voters still know precious little
about the man known as ‘Governor Veto.’
Which begs the question– if serving two terms as the
governor of America’s fifth largest state (geographically)
doesn’t qualify someone for a candidate’s debate, then what
does? Especially when you consider the debaters include
persons who A) have never been elected to public office,
and B) have not yet–and may not–declare their candidacy.
(Suggestion-- Due to their elected stature, members of Congress
and governors should be exempt from polling criteria.)
Governor Johnson’s exclusion is an affront to the
intelligent and independent-minded voters of the ‘Live
Free or Die’ state, who should reject attempts by media
‘kingmakers’ to dictate for them which candidates are
or aren’t legitimate. In the 2008 Milford debacle, er,
debate, voters were prevented from hearing Ron Paul–
arguably the strongest voice for fiscal sanity in that election.
Governor Johnson recognizes the ‘War on
Drugs’ for what it is -- a collossal failure
And in 2011 it seems New Hampshire voters will be
deprived of hearing yet another strong voice-- a voice that
calls not only for fiscal sanity, but sanity in immigration
policy and especially for sanity in our insane ‘War on
Drugs’ which has wasted hundreds of billions of dollars and
resulted in the explosive growth of inner city gangs, tens of
thousands of murders along the Mexico border, and over
2.3 million American citizens in prison--more than any
country in the world, including Communist China and Russia.
Ironically, this is ‘deja vu all over again’ for the fellow who
had the gumption (some pundits called it ‘naivety’) to
run for governor as a complete and utter political novice
with a public name recognition of precisely 0%. Indeed,
citizen Gary Johnson had never run for so much as local
dog-catcher when he put his hat in the governor’s race.
But New Mexicans are an inclusive bunch, and they not
This message was written and paid for by Kerry Welsh, an individual, and was not authorized by any
candidate or candidate’s committee (or any other organization for that matter). www.kerrywelsh.com
only welcomed Johnson into the race, they even–gasp!–
allowed him on stage to debate the ‘legitimate’
candidates. Gary Johnson promised the voters of New
Mexico that he would run the state government like he
ran his own business, which Johnson started as a one-
man handyman operation during college and grew into a
construction industry behemoth with over 1,000 employees.
After shocking his better-known ‘legitimate’ opponents in
the Republican primary, Johnson did the ‘impossible’ by
toppling the incumbent Democratic governor-- no small
feat in a state that registers 2-1 Democrat. And four years
later ‘Governor Veto’ won reelection with 55% of the vote.
Alas all good things must come to an end, and Governor
Johnson was term-limited in 2003. And while he happily
and quietly returned to private life, the governor hasn’t
exactly been ‘resting’ on his laurels.
The Governor has conquered many challenges
from Mt. Everest to Mt. Washington
Far from it, Governor Gary Johnson has been taking on
personal quests far more challenging than mere politics.
In recent years the governor has climbed the world’s
highest peaks including Mt. Everest, finished several
grueling ‘Iron Man’ Triathlons, and built his dream home
in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico with his own
hands. And perhaps most impressive of all, shortly after
announcing his candidacy in April on the State House
steps, the Governor set out to conquer one of the Granite
State’s toughest challenges– a notorious Mt. Washington
ski run known as ‘Tuckerman Ravine’– which he handily
accomplished despite dangerous icy, white-out conditions.
Gallup Poll has Governor Johnson on par with
Santorum, Hunstman, Bachmann & Pawlenty
The most recent national Gallup Poll shows Governor
Johnson tied with Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman at
2% support, with a 4% margin of error. This puts the trio
in a statistical tie with Michelle Bachmann (5%) and Tim
Pawlenty (6%) and trailing just four declared candidates
(Romney, Paul, Gingrich and Cain). That’s exciting news
for Governor Johnson, whose national name recognition
of just 18% remains far below the others. Imagine how
quickly his support will grow as more voters learn about the
governor. But that can’t happen unless the ‘media elites’
allow voters to hear from all the candidates, including
Governor Gary Johnson!
Contact CNN, the Union Leader, and WMUR if you
agree Governor Johnson deserves to be heard
If you think Governor Johnson deserves a place in the
debate let the media know it! CNN (404) 827-1500,
Union Leader (603) 668-4321, WMUR (603) 669-9999.
For if Governor Gary Johnson isn’t on stage Monday
at St. Anselm College, it will be a sad day indeed for
democracy in New Hampshire.