Alternative Parties Get A Turn

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Oct. 7) -- The alternative third-party presidential candidates of the Green, Libertarian, Natural Law and U.S. Taxpayer's parties presented their ideas to a wide audience Sunday on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Because none of the four has a realistic chance of winning the November election, none could participate in the evening's primary attraction, the face-off between President Bill Clinton and Republican candidate Bob Dole.

"Every vote I get is a victory, Larry, because it advances my cause," said U.S. Taxpayer's Party candidate Howard Phillips, perhaps explaining for the group what motivates them to keep going.

Phillips, on the ballot in 39 states, said his group wants to restore the country to what the founding fathers intended.

"Our goal is to end legal abortion, cut the federal government down to constitutional size, end direct federal taxation on individuals and restore political accountability," Phillips said. That includes "withdrawing from institutions of the New World Order," he said.

Natural Law Party candidate John Hagelin, on the ballot in 44 states and the District of Columbia, said better education could solve the nation's woes. He disparaged "the government of the Stone Age."

"There are simple common sense solutions to all the serious problems we face as a country," said Hagelin, a university professor.

"The purpose of my candidacy for president as a scientist is to elevate government somewhat above the realm of speculation, opinion, broken campaign promises, as to what might work," Hagelin said.

Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, on the ballot in 21 states and D.C., said the current system is undermining U.S. democracy and that, among other things, private money has no place in public campaigns.

"The problem is that corporate power, especially global corporate power, has increasingly taken over our own government," Nader said. "So the government is a government of the Exxons, by the General Motors ... for the duPonts."

Libertarian Party candidate Harry Browne groused that the government "doesn't deliver the mail on time." The solution was to reduce government to the "absolute minimum possible."

"My apologies and my sympathies to the audience who had to sit through an hour and a half of two men telling us how government was going to solve all our problems," said Browne, who is on the ballot in all 50 states and D.C.

"Then we get 45 minutes of Ross Perot telling us that he's going to pass laws to have us hug our children."

Hagelin shared a broader insight, likely shared by all candidates, fringe and mainstream alike. "America's problems are human problems," he said.

Alternative Parties Get A Turn

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