News Release

Cobb Challenges Kerry to Weekly Debates.

COBB/LaMARCHE 2004
www.votecobb.org

September 2, 2004

Contact: Blair Bobier, Media Director at 541.929.5755 or 414.364.1596

COBB CHALLENGES KERRY TO WEEKLY DEBATES

Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb today challenged John Kerry to a series of weekly debates. Kerry recently issued the same challenge to George Bush, who declined.

"If Senator Kerry is really interested in a series of debates addressing the critical issues facing our county, I'm happy to provide him with the opportunity," said Cobb.

"Senator Kerry will find, however, that a debate with me is not the same thing as debating George Bush. Bush and Kerry agree on a wide range of issues; in fact their similarities are much greater than their differences. Unlike Bush and Kerry, I call for an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq, a complete repeal of the so-called 'Patriot' Act, single-payer universal health care, a Living Wage and an end to the racist 'war on drugs.' Senator Kerry and I would actually get to debate the issues rather than just agree on them," said Cobb.

Cobb debated Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik Tuesday night in New York City. Both candidates agreed that the U.S. should end the occupation of Iraq and the "war on drugs." However, the two independent candidates presented starkly different views on health care and minimum wage laws.

Cobb and Badnarik are scheduled to debate at least once more, at Cornell University on October 6, during the campaign. No "third party" candidates have been invited to participate in the debates sponsored by the bipartisan, corporate-funded Commission on Presidential Debates.

"The debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates are a sorry spectacle devoid of substance and spontaneity. With the stilted format, softball questions and exclusion of all independent candidates, the result is a staged performance that has as much in common with an actual 'debate' as the World Wrestling Federation does with the Olympics. We call on John Kerry to debate David Cobb and let the American people hear an uncensored and relevant political dialogue," said Cobb-LaMarche Media Coordinator Blair Bobier.

For more information:
Cobb-LaMarche campaign
www.votecobb.org
Green Party of the United States
www.gp.org