Third political parties do not compete on a level playing field in U.S. politics; the corporate media will spend more money in one day, promoting the campaigns of Senators John McCain, Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, than the amount of money third political parties will spend in one year to promote their candidates, combined. While third party candidates are spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on flyers and brochures, big corporations are spending millions to keep the names of their candidates in the public’s view.

Stewart A. AlexanderNominee for Vice President Socialist Party USACandidate for Vice President Peace and Freedom PartyMay 12, 2008Recently, I was waiting at a traffic signal at the entrance of the I-15 Freeway north, in Murrieta, California; and while waiting, the passenger in the car waiting next to my truck, ask me about a sign on the rear window of my truck that reads “No Liberty Quarry in Temecula.” I quickly asked him to support the protest against the quarry; he then asked me to support Ron Paul for president. I told him that I was supporting Brian Moore for president and then we both waved good bye.Having only a brief moment to exchange information, I was not able to inform this Ron Paul supporter the fact that I am the vice presidential running mate for Brian Moore, the Socialist Party USA Nominee for U.S. President. As the vehicle moved away I could see Ron Paul stickers on both sides of the bumper.Several months ago, I took a trip to Fresno, California to attend a presidential candidate’s forum that was sponsored by Fresno City College; and as I traveled through the California Central Valley, there were huge campaign signs for Ron Paul along the 200 mile stretch of highway, and frequently I was passed by vehicles displaying a Ron Paul bumper sticker. It is worth noting, that during my entire 300 mile trip to Fresno, I found no campaign materials promoting the campaign of Senator John McCain; the front runner for the Republican Party. I believe, in a fair race, with equal media coverage, Ron Paul would win more Republicans votes, in the southwest and northwest U.S., than Senator John McCain; according to independent media sources and information that is available through the Internet.Fresno City College provided an outstanding opportunity for the third party presidential candidates and the public. There were approximately 200 guests that were present for the candidate’s forum, including the representatives for several of the presidential candidates. I was on the panel representing Brian Moore with the Socialist Party USA and Peace and Freedom Party, Richard Becker was representing the campaign of Gloria La Riva with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the Peace and Freedom Party. George Phillies, the candidate for president for the Libertarian Party, appeared in person; also John Crockford, another candidate for Peace and Freedom Party, appeared in person. At least a dozen presidential candidates were present or represented at the FCC candidate’s forum. Missing at the forum were CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, ABC, C-SPAN, the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle and all the corporate media.In a nationwide field of more than 300 presidential candidates, America’s corporate media has narrowed the field and choices down to three presidential contenders; Senators Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, and John McCain. America’s corporate media has blacked out all third party candidates; on television, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean speaking stations, and all major newspaper publications nationwide. However, third parties and third party candidates continue to campaign against the incredible odds imposed by the Democrats and Republicans and the corporate media. These third party candidates are getting their message to the public with the help of volunteers and supporters, with bumper stickers, brochures, flyers, business cards and attending meeting, and using the Internet.Third political parties do not compete on a level playing field in U.S. politics; the corporate media will spend more money in one day, promoting the campaigns of McCain, Obama and Clinton, than the amount of money third political parties will spend in one year to promote their candidates, combined. While third party candidates are spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on flyers and brochures, big corporations are spending millions to keep the names of their candidates in the public’s view.Socialists have remained extremely critical of the media coverage for all third party candidates; third party candidates are snubbed by the press, and to a great extent, are excluded from participating on national television and radio programs. Unfortunately, a majority of Americans have been confused by the corporate media and are now persuaded that there are only three presidential candidates. It is also unfortunate that the three corporate candidates do not offer fair representation for working class people and are not committed to the social, economic and political changes that are important to most working families.The socialist’s candidates have received the least amount and minimal coverage from America’s corporate media. The socialist’s candidates have been out spoken opponents to the Iraq War and the illegal occupation of Afghanistan. The socialist’s candidates have also been strong advocates for political and social change in the U.S. and improving our political relations in the international community; those positions for change have remained censored by the U.S. corporate media; however, the corporate media is providing round the clock coverage for the three presidential candidates that have promised no more than to stay the course that has been mapped by President Bush to advance U.S. imperialism.Senator Obama, McCain and Clinton represents big money and big businesses; the three senators only give the appearance that they represent the millions of working people that are presently in jeopardy of losing their homes, they only give the appearance that they represent the millions of colleges students that cannot afford a higher education, they only give the appearance that they represent the 48 million Americans that are without health care insurance, and the three senators only give the appearance that they represent the more than 100 million Americans that are now receiving smaller checks and paying more to meet household expenses.The socialist’s presidential candidates believe it is necessary to nationalize the petroleum and ethanol industries to control the skyrocketing cost of fuel and food; the cost of fuel has risen more than 30 percent within the past year and a worldwide food crisis is now looming. Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain have tried to avoid any serious discussion about these two critical industries that are now placing more than half the world’s population at risk. Still, the corporate media is broadcasting the same rhetoric that the two corporate parties and their candidates have adopted over the past three decades.In the 2008 U.S. presidential race, the corporate media continues to focus on the 1 percent of the presidential candidates who are the representatives of big corporations and the corporate rulers. Socialist Party USA and Peace and Freedom Party, both socialist parties, believe that all qualified candidates should get equal time on the television and radio networks and that this should be provided without any cost. The air waves are public resources and should not be used by the corporate rulers to continue their rigging of the U.S. elections to elect their candidates.I also believe that the systemic problems in the U.S. electoral system will only be resolved when we have a mass working class socialist alternative that will equalize not only the election crisis but expose the fact that both the Democrats and Republicans are responsible for this criminal war in the Middle East, the financial rip-off of millions of working people and the destruction of our housing, education and social systems in the United States.The people of the United States deserve a real choice, not determined by union busters, profiteers, corporate rulers, and the corporate controlled media that is out of control.For more information search the Web for: Stewart A. Alexander; Independent Voters Rejecting Democrats and Republicans.