CNN decided its best version of JFK vs. Nixon, Reagan vs. Carter was Trump vs. Biden | Opinion

K. John Lee

Guest columnist

With independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy absent from the debate stage, CNN had decided that its best version of JFK vs. Nixon, Reagan vs. Carter, Bush vs. Gore or Ali vs. Frazier was Trump vs. Biden, a guest columnist writes.

Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution discusses the “Function and Selection” of the Executive Branch.

The framers of the Constitution knew that elections must be fair and played on a level field. But they could not have anticipated what a modern-day candidate must go through to win the highest office in the country.

He or she must jump over hurdles and through hoops like no other job applicants.

But of all events, such as news conferences and rallies, arguably the most important moment in an election are debates. No president, from John F. Kennedy to Joseph Biden, was elected without navigating this obstacle course.

Historically, presidential debates were held in the late fall and organized by third-party, nonprofit groups like the League of Women Voters and the Commission on Presidential Debates. However, last month, after 64 years, things changed.

June 27 was the earliest in presidential debate history and was organized, produced and refereed by CNN. Not only did the Biden and Trump campaigns agree to the rules, but it was the Biden campaign that shunned the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Americans love mano-a-mano fights believing that three is a crowd. Apparently, CNN believes that presidential elections are no exception, because despite his notoriety, one candidate was conspicuously absent from the June 27 debate ― Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

CNN stated that for a candidate to participate in the debate, he/she must be on enough state ballots to potentially win the 270 electoral votes and poll at least 15% in four major polls.

That sounds reasonable, right? But let’s examine the levelness of CNN’s playing field.

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Electoral votes

According to Kennedy’s website, the Kennedy campaign has collected the signatures needed for ballot access in 25 states totaling 348 electoral votes. But there in fine print lies the problem ― “collected the signatures” as opposed to “certified.”

Kennedy’s campaign objected to CNN’s criteria stating that it was impossible to be certified on enough state ballots to win the 270 electoral votes by CNN’s cutoff date. In some states, the time window opened too recently to process applications. Some states, like Louisiana, aren’t even taking independents' applications until July.

Knowing this, the Kennedy campaign provided CNN with applications for states where they were submitted but not yet certified.

CNN didn’t buy it. Kennedy did not have the ballots.

But oddly enough, neither Trump nor Biden were on a single state ballot. This does not happen until the balloons fall at their respective national conventions.

Despite this technicality, CNN decided that its best version of JFK vs. Nixon, Reagan vs. Carter, Bush vs. Gore or Ali vs. Frazier was Trump vs. Biden.

Poll requirement

CNN’s second stipulation was that a candidate must poll 15% or better on at least four of CNN’s approved polls. Kennedy met the criteria for three. Ironically one of the three polls was CNN’s. Kennedy fell short scoring 14% on the Quinnipiac, Marquette and Marist polls. Close but no cookie.

Even though, according to Gallup, 45% of American voters declare themselves as independents and, depending on what poll you subscribe to, as many as 75% of Americans are not happy with the two-party choices, Kennedy was still out.

Kennedy would simultaneously broadcast his one-man debate on X where he answered CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash in real time. According to the Kennedy campaign, the event dubbed “The Real Debate” received over 10 million household viewers.

Does any of this matter? The answer “yes” is embedded in Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution.

The United States is still the gold-standard for election integrity. But on Jan. 6, 2021, our "shining city on a hill" lost some of its luster.

Denying a viable third-party candidate’s participation in the June 27 debate corroded the luster even more.

K. John Lee is a businessman and last year worked as a math teacher in Tulsa Public Schools. Lee is a volunteer for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign. The views expressed here are solely his own and do not necessary reflect those of the Kennedy campaign.