The magic of modern technology will empower independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to insinuate himself in an alternative presidential debate simultaneously with CNN’s clash featuring President Joe Biden and disgraced former President Donald Trump.
Kennedy announced his decision to hold an alternative presidential debate simultaneously with CNN’s upcoming debate after the broadcast company and the incumbent candidates excluded him from the stage.
Kennedy’s campaign decries that decision as an affront to democratic traditions and the will of millions of American voters.
Kennedy’s alternative debate will be streamed live on TheRealDebate.com and X.com offering voters the opportunity to hear from President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and Kennedy himself. The debate is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET on June 27th.
“The American people want leaders who trust them to make up their own minds,” Kennedy stated. “Instead, our last two presidents are restricting voters from choosing anyone other than themselves. Presidents Biden and Trump have sucked trillions of dollars from the pockets of working people and Americans deserve to hear from the one candidate who can hold them to account.”
The American Values 2024 super PAC garnered more than 22,000 signatures from voters insisting that Kennedy be allowed to participate in the televised debate on a website that said, “He has been a prominent voice in American politics and civic life for decades. He tirelessly advocates for the restoration of the American middle class, a healthier country, a cleaner environment, a safe and secure border and honesty in government.”
The Kennedy campaign argues that their candidate meets all published participation criteria, including six qualifying polls and confirmed ballot access in more states than either Biden or Trump.
Kennedy’s exclusion from the CNN debate has been widely criticized as a collusion between the two major political parties and a major news network. The campaign claims this exclusion is an attempt to protect the incumbents from being held accountable for their records.
CNN’s debate has several unprecedented aspects:
- It will be the first time a general election debate is owned and controlled by a for-profit corporation.
- No voters will be present at the debate, a first since the inaugural presidential debate in 1960.
- It is the earliest debate in a presidential election year and takes place before the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions.
- It is not sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, breaking a tradition since 1988.
- It features a sitting president and a former president, both of whom are the oldest candidates in U.S. history.
Kennedy’s campaign emphasizes the importance of voter choice and transparency in the electoral process. “More Voices = More Choices,” the campaign slogan underscores their commitment to providing voters with all options to make an informed decision.
The campaign has set up a platform for citizens to create their own watch parties and engage with the debate at TheRealDebate.com.
Kennedy’s independent debate represents a significant push for broader voter engagement using social media to revive democratic traditions in presidential elections.