Bill Wohlsifer, Libertarian Party of Florida’s Candidate for Attorney General, Writes About Exclusion From Debates

Sent to us for publication on IPR:

IN AS MUCH AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE ALL NEWS THEY SEE FIT TO PRINT, and in as much as I respect a private enterprise’s right to invite to their annual pre-legislative session Press Planning Day the mainstream media and the Republican and Democratic candidates, exclusively, I have only one problem with this event. Sure, it is offensive to me to be told that I am not invited and not welcomed. Frankly, I am not accustomed to such blatant rejection, but do not take it personally. After all, it was my decision to run for public office and my decision not to run as a Republican or a Democrat. The fact that I am a fully vetted and approved candidate by the Libertarian Party of Florida, a 17-year member in good standing of the Florida Bar, and that I am conducting 1 of 4 active campaigns for Florida Attorney General (the other 3 candidates are invited) does not bother me. No, not at all, because I respect free market capitalism and the right for a private enterprise to set its own agenda. I really do.

Indeed, the courts agree. Even sitting U.S. Congressmen and former Governors can lawfully be excluded from debates (Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul, Gary Johnson). Although they appear to be public forums, these are private events. As stated, I respect the rights of private enterprise and have no intention of imposing myself where I am not welcomed. I politely asked and was politely told that no third party candidates are invited to meet the press, including you, Mr. Wohlsifer. Again, I respect that decision and appreciate the AP’s courteous conversation and explanation. What bothers me is that their event is taking place at my Capitol Building. Your Capitol Building. The taxpayers’ Capitol Building and with the talented services of our taxpayer-funded Capitol Building personnel, and heat, and electricity.

Why does the AP not rent a conference room at one of the many fine downtown hotels? This could be a revenue generating event for local business proprietors such as the Doubletree or the W or Hotel Duval or the Sheraton that would also generate revenue for their staff, parking attendants and food and beverage suppliers. I’m just saying that the AP, the heavily funded Republican and Democratic candidates, and the mainstream press should not get to have it both ways: They are holding a private event on public property with no consequence for their selective exclusion of third party hard working candidates. Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor, and I are to pay the same qualifying fee to the Secretary of State as our major-party opposition candidates pay and are held to similar election and campaign obligations, yet we are both excluded from this segregated event; not for anything we did, say, or stand for, but because, according to AP criteria, we “have not raised enough money to demonstrate candidate viability” in the sole opinion of the Associated Press. The exclusion is highly prejudicial.

So, when you read the coverage of Florida’s gubernatorial and attorney candidates, and sitting House and Senate leaders that will be published during and after the upcoming legislative session please remember that the coverage is the result of a planning strategy set to occur on January 29, 2014, at your Capitol Building. The purposeful exclusion of fair and balanced news coverage that you will encounter in the Spring of 2014 will not be occur then, it is occurring tomorrow.

Bill Wohlsifer (LPF) candidate for Florida Attorney General 2014. Please Share. The truth needs to be told.

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Bill Wohlsifer, Candidate
Committee to Elect Bill Wohlsifer Attorney General
1100 East Park Ave Ste B ★ Tallahassee FL 32301
Tel: (850) 219-8888 ★ Fax: (866) 829-8174
[email protected] ★ www.Wohlsifer4AG.com
Mention FL AG race on twitter @wohlsifer
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Florida’s First Libertarian Candidate for Attorney General