Dear John,

The first Democratic debate in June looked like America. It was inspiring. When we got to Miami for the debate, we had two days of preparation from the network and the DNC, complete with walk throughs and sound checks. During the last prep time with the candidates, it became really clear: this was no ordinary debate.

It felt as if you were seeing the best of America on the stage: different ages, races, genders, political ideas and leanings.

When I was asked: “Are there too many people?” I said (and still believe) that we were watching the resurgence of the Democratic Party and its future, with all the enthusiasm and choices its resurgence might bring to the American people. It was vibrant and essential.

This election, the DNC decided to use its control over the debate stage as a way to control the outcome of the primary itself. The goal being to circumvent the primary process and whittle away the number of candidates.

So yes, the debate field is getting smaller, and not because someone chose to leave, or their candidacy couldn’t support a run—but because the DNC started changing its rules and started forcing candidates out. And as with many plans of control, negative and unintended consequences crept in. 

At each subsequent DNC debate since June, viewership has dwindled; people started to tune out.

Two NEW candidates saw the DNC’s strategy as an opportunity and pounced. The narrowed field provided an opportunity for these candidates, because they had funds to pay for ads out of their own pockets, to quickly rise in the polls—debate stage or not.

And perhaps worst of all, these debates have started to look less and less like America, and more and more like old school politics. Let’s look back, at that first June debate with 20 candidates: six of the debaters were women, four were people of color. At this sixth debate, just two female candidates and a single minority will grace the stage—the rest have either not qualified under DNC rules or have dropped out of the race entirely.

Tonight’s debate stage looks like the old political establishment, even though as Democrats, we pride ourselves on inclusiveness. The DNC’s process has taken us back to resembling the party decades ago.

This is the wrong direction!

Tell the DNC to change course. Please stand with me in support and sign this petition. Let the DNC know that every candidate should be allowed on the debate stage. We have a process to determine who should be the Democratic nominee for president—it’s the PRIMARIES. It’s time to let the voters decide. Not the DNC. Not the Debate Stage. This is America. We deserve Democracy.

Let’s get the debate to look like America again.

Tell the DNC to open up the process.

Sign our petition today.
 

All my best.
Patricia Ewing
Campaign Manager, Marianne Williamson for President

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