Diversity abounds at debate of 'alternative' party candidates

From left, U.S. presidential candidates Michael A. Peroutka, Constitution Party; David Cobb, Green Party; Walt Brown, Socialist Party; and Michael J. Badnarik, Libertarian Party, prepare to debate on Oct. 6 at Schwartz Auditorium in Rockefeller Hall. Nicola Kountoupes/University Photography

By Roger Segelken

For Cornell political scientist Ted Lowi -- the long-time champion of third parties to enliven American politics and the moderator of the 2004 Third Party Presidential Debate, Oct. 6, in Rockefeller Hall's Schwartz Auditorium -- it was the chance to showcase the diversity of opinions from Socialist, Constitutionalist, Green and Libertarian candidates speaking before television cameras and an engaged student audience.

And the candidates -- Michael A. Peroutka, Constitution Party; David Cobb, Green Party; Walt Brown, Socialist Party; and Michael J. Badnarik, Libertarian Party -- didn't disappoint, disagreeing vehemently on all but one issue, but tackling all issues raised.

Just don't call them "third party."

Not even mentioned during the debate was the most well known third-party candidate who ran for president in 2000 as a Green and returned, to the dismay of some, as this year's Reform Party candidate. Ralph Nader had declined an invitation from Cornell's Mock Election 2004 committee, the student group that organized the series of debates and other pre-election events on campus this fall. Instead, Nader spoke the following night, Oct. 7, to a State Theatre audience in downtown Ithaca.

The Cornell debate was recorded for subsequent broadcast on the C-SPAN television network and was distributed to National Public Radio stations via WEOS, the Geneva, N.Y., NPR affiliate at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Lowi had introduced the event by noting that "third party" is not the perfect designation, since there are more than three parties. He said the parties were more like "fifth wheels," although he wasn't clear how many fifth wheels a vehicle could have.

Questioning of the candidates followed their brief, opening statements, and for much of the 90-minute session, eager students queued up six deep for a chance to raise questions from each of two microphones in the audience. Topics ranged from the war in Iraq to workers' rights, partial-birth abortion, raising the minimum wage, government aid to small businesses and independence from foreign oil suppliers.

On the subject of increased social services for the poor, for example, Constitution Party candidate Peroutka said the U.S. Constitution does not authorize the government to fund social welfare. The Green Party's Cobb suggested raising revenue for social services "by taxing the super rich," while the Socialist Party's Brown said he wanted to "stop corporate welfare." Libertarian Badnarik responded that "government is a parasite on the economy." By reducing the federal government and putting "billions back in the hands of the people," he said, new businesses would spring up to provide jobs for everyone.

On the topic of partial-birth abortion, the proffered opinions were: Peroutka, an emphatic "no!" Cobb, "Yes, we're pro-choice 100 percent;" Brown, "yes" on abortion, in general, and approval of partial-birth abortion "if necessary to save the life of the woman;" and Badnarik, "yes," because Libertarians believe individuals have the right to make decisions about their bodies, he said.

Mentioned over and over -- which moderator Lowi, Cornell's John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions, encouraged -- were the candidates' Web addresses.

When a student questioner observed that all the candidates looked alike -- "white, male, upper or middle class" -- and asked who among them could best represent the "real majority in this country," the Green Party's Cobb took exception. "I identify myself as a member of the working poor," said Cobb, who is a public-interest attorney with the Community Environmental Defense Fund in Houston. "I grew up in a house without a flush toilet, and I believe I am the only presidential candidate who can say that."

The only question to prompt unequivocal, unambiguous agreement among the four candidates was on the USA Patriot Act. They all indicated their forceful opposition and called for the repeal of the 2001 measure.

When Libertarian candidate Badnarik further commented on the so-called free speech zone, the security measure that had confined protestors inside a chain-link fence and razor wire during July's Democratic National Convention in Boston, moderator Lowi nominated Bardnarik's statement for inclusion in the next "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations." Said Badnarik: "Any place I stand is a free-speech zone. Anyplace you stand is a free-speech zone."

As to what their parties should be called, Green Party candidate Cobb said: "Let's talk about alternative parties, not third parties. If you want to see systemic change, look to the alternative parties." The Constitution Party's Peroutka took a different tack, saying: "We are the second party. The two main parties [Democrat and Republican] are so much alike, they are one party."

That was all Lowi needed to pronounce his moderated debate a success. "We have seen genuine debate here tonight. You will not find this kind of substance on those 'joint press conferences,'" he said.

And as for those Web sites, here they are: Peroutka: http://www.godfamilyrepublic.org/; Cobb, http://www.gp.org/; Badnarik http://www.lp.org/; and Brown http://sp-usa.org/.