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Kurt Wallace: This is Kurt Wallace — and our guest today on Rare is Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor of Florida. And, Adrian Wyllie, thanks for being with us today on Rare.
Adrian Wyllie: My pleasure, Kurt. Good to be here.
Kurt Wallace: Let’s talk about the governor’s race. Your opponents are going at it pretty hard. We have the newest fiasco of “Fan-gate” at the debate that you were going to be in – and, then, you weren’t allowed to be in.
Let’s talk about what happen during this period where you were supposed to be entered into the debate at 12%, and they said, “No, it’s 15%” – went to federal court, and then you weren’t allowed.
Adrian Wyllie: It’s truly amazing. The Florida Press Association, the organization that put on the debate, has a history of moving the criteria of inclusion to just out of reach of us and any third party candidate. Going back to 2006, for example, their criteria for being included in the debate was 7%, and since then, it’s increased to 10. And, in July, for a candidate forum, it was 12 which I hadn’t reached by July, but I since — well passed.
But, for this debate, they set the criteria at 15. So, it seems to be an arbitrary mark that is moved up to exclude third parties. I have no doubt that if I was polling at 16% the bar would have been set at 18 or 20. So, it’s really just the protection of the two party duopoly — as far as I can tell.
Kurt Wallace: They said in their defense it was supposed to be at 15%, and that was set a year ago – that threshold?
Adrian Wyllie: Well, that’s actually not the case. And, they’ve been trying to revise history on that. I received a formal invitation by mail from the Florida Press Association in April of this year saying that I was invited to the debate, and there may be additional criteria set at some future time. But, in April of this year, they had not set the criteria for this debate. It wasn’t until September, I believe, or perhaps late August that we first heard the criteria was going to be set at 15%.
Kurt Wallace: Now, why do you think the two parties are so threatened by your participation?
Adrian Wyllie: I think, it’s obvious that people have begun to realize that there’s no difference between the two major political parties. And, their candidates are always acting in their own self- interest — in the interest of the special interests and the corporations that fund them . And, they’re not acting in the people’s best interest.
So, to have someone who is articulating a message of prosperity, freedom, constitutionally limited government – that’s a real problem for them . Especially, when you have Rick Scott and Charlie Crist, who really have no platform — have no plan. And, all they’re doing is taking snips at one another — attacking one another nonstop.
So, to have someone up there actually answering questions and providing the people of Florida with a real plan — that’s got to be terrifying to them.
Kurt Wallace: The libertarian message or the ideas of liberty – the ideas of the libertarian philosophy are growing. And, it’s because of the age of the internet – probably — and, campaigns like Congressman Ron Paul and then his son getting into the Senate, and some of the other congressman in the house — Amash and Massie and some of those guys. There is a change in perspective. Do you think that that has any relevance to this pushback on keeping you out of debates?
Adrian Wyllie: Absolutely. I believe that the millennial generation is by far more libertarian than any generation that we’ve seen in years past. Libertarianism in government is the future. People want economic freedom, people want individual liberty and across the spectrum more and more people are waking up. In Florida, at least since 2012, over 70% of the new registered voters have registered something other than Republican or Democrat – either No party whatsoever, Libertarian — another third party. So, I really believe that the trend away from the two party into a much more smaller government model is accelerating at an unbelievable pace.
Kurt Wallace: There’s a debate, a CNN debate, in Jacksonville on October 21st. You guys are going to be there. You’re going to have a presence. What is your strategy, at this point, since they’re excluding you from all of these debates?
Adrian Wyllie: Well, I think we’ve seen – especially from the last debate – what a farce these debates are without having someone who is really going to stand up and tell the people of Florida the truth and offer solutions. As I’ve said, I feel like I’m the only adult in this race because these two are acting so childish.
But, because the media has circled the wagons, and they’re saying there is no room for someone like me on the stage — what we’ve done is actually set up a hospitality room for the media. We’re going to be recording my answers from the debate questions live from there. We will be live streaming. And, I have to say, many in the media — even in the main stream media — have really stepped up to the plate and have supported and covered this campaign. So, there seems to be a real split in the media right now between the old guard and people who have realized the people want a real alternative voice.
Kurt Wallace: Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor of Florida — your website WyllieforGovernor.com. Thanks for being with us today on Rare.
Adrian Wyllie: My pleasure, Kurt. Thank you.
