The COMMISSION on PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

I wasn't aware of the Commission on Presidential Debates until I recently watched the showtime channel documentary on Ralph Nader entitled: "An Unreasonable Man"

This biographical documentary recounts the life story of famed consumer advocate Ralph Nader, whose colorful and controversial career has included acts of public advocacy that have outraged corporations and political stances that have shaken up the establishments of both parties.

What really stood out to me in the documentary was the part about Nader and the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Nader had an invitation from FOX "News" to watch the presidential debates that were taking place in Boston, Massachusetts. As Nader attempted to enter the debates with his official invitation, the CPD had the state police threaten to arrest Nader with trespassing if he entered the grounds where the debate was taking place. Nader left the grounds without being arrested.

So I looked into the CPD a bit and learned that they have a powerful hand in choosing who Americans get to vote for in our presidential election. They pick who gets to debate. They choose the venue. They choose the format. They choose the moderators.They control the access.

So, I have a question for the sleuths of the ATS community. Who Pulls the Strings of the COMMISSION on PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES? Who are these people and whom do they represent?

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
Michael D. McCurry
Howard Buffett
John C. Danforth
John Griffen
Antonia Hernandez
Reverend John I. Jenkins
Newton N. Minow
Richard D. Parsons
Dorothy Ridings
Alan K. Simpson

www.debates.org...

501(c)(3) corporation, sponsored all the presidential debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.

haha and let me guess...only Romney and Obama are allowed to debate?

two turds that won't address the real issues, they are good little party slaves.

Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr. is a U.S. lawyer and was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1983 to 1989. Fahrenkopf currently is president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), the national trade association for the commercial casino industry.

Michael McCurry is best known as the former press secretary for Bill Clinton's administration. He is a Washington-based communications consultant and is associated with the firm Public Strategies Washington, Inc. He is also active within the administration of the United Methodist Church, serving as a lay delegate to the Church General Conference and on various denominational boards.

Howard Buffett eldest son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

John Claggett Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Before becoming the UN Ambassador he was the Attorney General of Missouri and United States Senator from Missouri. He is also an ordained Episcopal priest.

John Griffen served as Managing Director of Bankers Trust and G7 Group. He serves as Director of Allen & Company.

Antonia Hernández Trustee for the Rockefeller Foundation, President & CEO The California Community Foundation, President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

The Rev. John I. Jenkins President of the University of Notre Dame

Newton Norman Minow is an American attorney and former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Minow is currently the Honorary Consul General of Singapore in Chicago. He is Senior Counsel in the Chicago headquartered law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. Daughter is Dean of Harvard Law School.

Richard Dean Parsons is a former chairman of Citigroup and the former Chairman and CEO of Time Warner. Parsons is now a member of the economic advisory team for President Barack Obama. President George W. Bush selected Parsons to co-chair a commission on Social Security. Parsons also worked on the transition team for Michael Bloomberg, who was elected Mayor of New York City in 2001. In 2006, Parsons was selected to co-chair the transition team for Eliot Spitzer.

Dorothy S. Ridings is president and chief executive officer of the Council on Foundations, a national association of some 2,000 foundations and corporations.

Alan Simpson is an American politician who served from 1979 to 1997 as a United States Senator from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party. His father, Milward L. Simpson, was also a member of the U.S. Senate from Wyoming (1962–1967) and a former Governor of Wyoming (1955–1959) as well. Simpson was appointed in 2010 to co-chair President Barack Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

Step right up, step right up, Hurry Hurry Hurry! Ladies and gentlemen, the (literal) sideshow is about to begin!

When you watch the debates tonight, please pay no attention to those men behind the curtain!