3rd candidate [Maxx Linn] joins Fla. governor debate

sun-sentinel ^ | 10-24-06 | JIM ASH

[OXENinFLA]

The organizers of tonight's televised gubernatorial debate must allow Reform Party candidate Max Linn to participate, despite questions of whether he fulfilled their entry criteria, a Broward County judge ruled late Monday.

Circuit Judge Leroy H. Moe ruled that the organizers' requirement that a candidate show support from at least 10 percent of voters responding to two independent statewide polls was not an appropriate criterion for entry into a public political debate.

"The need to know and the want to know by the public outweighs the hoops a candidate might have to jump through," Moe said.

Linn filed suit Monday afternoon against debate organizers and sponsors Florida Public Broadcasting Service, Florida Press Association, Leadership Florida Community Foundation and WPBT Communications Foundation. The suit alleged that organizers violated his constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection by excluding him from the debate.

"This is a huge win for democracy and third-party candidates across the country," said Linn, of St. Petersburg.

[OXENinFLA]

I really don't know what to make of this, but I don't think it's going to be a good thing.

[OXENinFLA]

FL ping please.

[OXENinFLA]

The article is by Hemmy So, not JIM ASH.

[Miss Marple]

It's an attempt to shave off some of Charlie Crist's voters.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[Suzy Quzy]

Gadfly....probably paid for by the Democrats.

[OXENinFLA]

Linn is a nutcase, I've heard him in a radio interview and he said some things about Crist that if he says them during the debate will sink Crist's campaign.

[Suzy Quzy]

He's a Democrat most likely.

[Armando Guerra]

Linn is a nutcase, I've heard him in a radio interview and he said some things about Crist that if he says them during the debate will sink Crist's campaign.

Which explains why a Broward County Judge would force such a marginal candidate into the debate.

[OXENinFLA]

Looks like there's an appeal to this judge's ruling
---

Gubernatorial debate ruling to be appealed
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061024/NEWS0107/61024011/1075


Debate sponsors, Leadership Florida, the Florida Press Association and the Florida Public Broadcasting Service said they will appeal the decision by Broward Circuit Judge Leroy Moe.

“The judge simply opined that candidate Linn should have the opportunity to participate,” said Jeff Bartel, chairman of Leadership Florida. Bartel said neither Davis, a Tampa Congressman, nor Crist, the state attorney general, threatened to pull out.

Moe said the organizers’ insistence that candidates must surpass a 10 percent threshold in at least two polls violated Linn’s constitutional rights.

[Patrick1]

A vote for Linn is a vote for Algore.

[Dominick]

Moe said the organizers’ insistence that candidates must surpass a 10 percent threshold in at least two polls violated Linn’s constitutional rights.

He has a constitutional right to airtime in a debate that is funded by private entities? Heck, I want some airtime too!

[floriduh voter]

Three way debate will make it easier for any of the candidates to slip up. It won't be a gop or dem managed affair. It will be precedent setting. I hope someone does a debate thread because I'm not able to watch tv tonight.

Katherine did great last night. She sashayed in front of the podium like nobody's business. Katherine even had a better answer re: global warming.

[floriduh voter]

Considering that Max Linn is a long time friend of Charlie Crist but running against him as the reform candidate, tonight will be really interesting. Max has known Crist for years.

[floriduh voter]

Max knows Charlie Crist better than we do.

[floriduh voter]

Max Linn is a great pilot to land a rental plane from St. Pete's hub airport onto an Orlando interstate. I don't know of any nutcases who have pilot's licenses.

[Suzy Quzy]

WOW...sounds like you are a Mad Max Linn Groupie!!

[floriduh voter]

I know some people in his campaign but I'm not really helping anybody. I'm just waiting for one of them to say something really stupid. It won't be long now.

[floriduh voter]

See 18. Tonight is three way debate Crist/Davis/Linn. PBS in Florida. Governor's race.

[Dominick]

Max Linn is a great pilot to land a rental plane from St. Pete's hub airport onto an Orlando interstate.

A source