In a sign of great contempt for New York voters, CBS New York and WCBS Newsradio 880 gave free airtime to "Democratic" Governor Andrew Cuomo and his Republican challenger Marc Molinaro. They called it a gubernatorial debate, but it was a staged press conference for the duopoly -- deliberately excluding 3 of the 5 candidates on the ballot for New York Governor.

At a time when 76% of voters want #OpenDebates, 68% of Americans want a third major political party, and 44% of voters identify as independent, it is simply inexcusable to shut the one independent and two third party candidates out of the debates.

This is yet another example of #DebateExclusionCollusion, where media companies and the two duopoly parties work together to protect the status quo, despite record voter disgust. This is a particularly egregious insult when there are such exciting independent options on the ballot like Libertarian Party candidate Larry Sharpe, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, and independent candidate Stephanie Miner.

Now that this debate has aired, it amounts to an enormous campaign contribution to the duopoly campaigns. Tell CBS to take its fingers off the scales and give equal time to every candidate on the ballot for New York Governor. #OpenTheNYgovDebates! #OpenALLtheDebates!