Dr. Mertens, Vows To Fight Media Bias Toward Independents

I wanted to share a story about this: the two media outlets that deliberately and premeditatedly excluded any mention of Tom Marsh’s participation in the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities debate on October 6 in their coverage were the Hartford Courant and Channel 8, the ABC affiliate.

Here’s the print story that ran in the Courant on Oct 7:

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ccm-gov-candidates-1007-20101006,0,195356.story

Channel 8 set up cameras at the debate so that they could carefully shoot it without ever having Tom in any shot, and during their TV coverage, they never mentioned that Tom participated (despite the fact that I’ve heard from attendees that Tom won the debate).

These facts have made me more angry at the media than any of the rest of their actions this year. So, here’s my story: I was at an event on Saturday that included a presentation by the news director of Channel 8. It was a one hour interactive presentation and discussion of news and media coverage. Half way through he started talking about the importance of trust in media. I interrupted, and told the story of what Channel 8 did. This resulted in a passionate discussion for the remaining 30 minutes about ethics in journalism. The news director defended Channel 8 strongly at first, but the crowd beat him down. At the end of the session, the news director told me that he would investigate, and “if we blew it, I’ll be as upset as you are.” We’ll see about that.

I’ve been talking about this at every campaign event since: the fact that Tom Marsh has essentially been invited to every debate EXCEPT the televised debates, and that many of the major media outlets have made a point of not mentioning his participation in those he’s been invited to, has caused audible gasps in the audiences. We need to hammer this beyond the election. I’m planning op-ed pieces to all CT newspapers (they won’t print op-eds from candidates, so I have to wait until after Nov. 2), detailing what has happened, and I encourage others to do the same. Mike Telesca and I have discussed the possibility of a lawsuit as well, to raise awareness. This is our biggest problem; the media is complicit in the degradation of our democracy, and we need to fight to repair it, beyond November!

Best,

Dr. John Mertens
Professor of Engineering, Trinity College

League of Women Voters Cancels Debates Chester Marsh Miffed

League of Women Voters Cancels Debates The League of Women Voters notified the Marsh campaign on Wednesday that they have canceled their 3 planned gubernatorial debates. When at least one of the major candidates declined to participate The League canceled.”This is an unfortunate development for Connecticut’s electorate” says Marsh. Marsh has been invited to participate in 11 debates and forums (now 8) around the state though he is excluded from two of the major televised debates.”My exclusion was prompted by the major party candidates’ refusal to share the televised stage, and the media sponsors caved to their demand. If I am off base, then I encourage both Mr. Malloy and Mr. Foley to publically request my inclusion. If that happens I will apologize for my assertions.

Tom believes that the focus on money, over message, has resulted in several of the major party candidates being weak debaters. Marsh contends “if you have the cash it is easier to lob 30 second grenades at your opponent on radio and TV than debate the issues.” The knock against me is that I don’t have the funding. “A Lack of money is different than a lack of message, and that makes me problematic in a debate”.

Marsh does understand the reality of politics and minor party exclusion is nothing new. Campaign strategy focuses on winning and if it is not in a candidate’s best interest to debate then other tools are used. “We saw however, what happened to Ned Lamont when he refused to debate” Marsh notes.

Finally, to Malloy’s credit, Marsh points out “Dan seems to be willing to participate in the non-televised debates and forums that I am included in. “For example we are both scheduled to participate in the ConnCAN forum on education this coming Monday in Middletown. As far as I know Foley has not responded”. Perhaps the Republicans let the wrong Tom get away.

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Milford Oyster Festival A Tremendous Success For Independents

This years Milford Oyster Festival was a tremendous success for the Independent Party and all the state candidates in attendance as well. The party certainly impressed many locals who had little to no knowledge of the Independent Party or it's Candidates. Lisa Jones, a native of Stratford stood in amazement as she learned our Candidates came from many diverse backgrounds. One such academic Genius is our candidate for Treasurer Andrew White who successfully managed a multi billion dollar fund profitably during this recession.

White holds academic credentials that are the envy of Wall street. However, he refuses to run with a major party citing the same kind of corruption and distrust that is explosively gaining traction everywhere in Connecticut. White said at the Independent Party State Central meeting that "it is really a pleasant surprise, and yet sad to see, that opponents of third parties have to work so hard to lie time and again to decieve voters to see things their way."

The CT Independent Party candidate for U.S. Senate Warren Mosler was also in attendance and he discussed his many books with the public. Mosler is a niche author of several books, and has his own brand of high performance autos known to the racing community as Mosler Automotive. Warren has been invited to the elite annual Bilderberg conference and is expected to give his view on the state of the U.S. financial crisis to the top Global decision makers. CNBC has also dubbed Mr. Mosler as one of Americas "most brilliant economists" and past contributors to its network.

Independent Party Candidate for Governor Tom Marsh was out greeting local vendors at the fest with me (Rocco Frank Jr. Running for Milford State Rep.) Marsh is a First Selectman from Connecticut's most premier Town Chester. Marsh, while First Selectman of Chester, took great pride in making that small charming New England community the most Desirable place to live (according to CT Magazine) in the state. Marsh touts his experience as Mayor, and a business entrepreneur, as being pivotal to his success in Chester. Marsh is proud and and excited to add his expertise to the office of Governor.


When we go out to the voting booth this year Bo Itshaky (Candidate for Congress) wants everyone to be certain that you all "not throw away your votes" by voting for a party other than Independent. Hopefully voters will resonate with the great success of other Independents across the country and vote accordingly. The time is long overdue that we finally begin recognizing how hard the Independent Party has been working for the voters of Connecticut this year.

Above photo depicts Warren Mosler (L) Speaking with Peter Schiff (R) background depicts Dr. John Mertens of the Connecticut For Lieberman Party speaking to Simmonds during the senate debates.

Tom Marsh Vies For Inclusion In Gubernatorial Debates

He won a spot on the ballot by gathering 11,000 signatures, but should Independent gubernatorial candidate, Tom Marsh be included in the debates?

Marsh, the first selectman of Chester who initially entered the race as a Republican and later changed his affiliation, said he’s currently speaking to debate organizers to make sure he’s included.

“I’ve been vetted. I’ve been through the process. I should be there,” Marsh said Thursday.

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Independents Sign 11,000 Voters And Announce 30 Candidates

Independent Party Submits 11,000 Signatures for Statewide Slate, Announces 30 Candidates for Legislative Offices

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Marsh and other leaders of the Independent Party will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 20 at 3pm on the north steps of the State Capitol Building in Hartford, Connecticut to announce the submission of 11,000 signatures to place a statewide slate of candidates on the ballot in the general election in November 2010. 7,500 validated signatures of Connecticut registered voters are required by state law.

Mike Telesca, State Agent for The Independent Party and Waterbury Town Chairman will introduce Governor candidate Tom Marsh and his running mate, Lt. Governor candidate Cicero Booker Jr., and two candidates seeking the nomination of the Independent Party for U.S. Senate, Dr. John Mertens and Warren Mosler, will also speak along with other candidates in attendance.

Tom Marsh Vision Stirs Up Gubernatorial Race

Waging an independent campaign for governor, Tom Marsh doesn't have access to the funding, volunteers and other resources routinely available to major party candidates.

But the Chester first selectman, who abandoned his bid for the GOP nomination three months ago, said there's one advantage to not having to woo party insiders: He can tell voters the truth about the largest budget deficit in state history.

•Facing the budget: Fourth in a series
"You have to adhere to the party rhetoric in order to get the attention of the rabid followers, and that's who makes up the town committees," Marsh said in an interview last week. "I don't think the solutions to the state's problems are going to be found in either party's rhetoric, yet that's the system we have here."

For Marsh, running as the candidate of the Independent Party of Connecticut frees him to talk about solutions he's convinced will infuriate hard-core Democrats or Republicans - and in a few cases both.

It means a higher tax burden, including higher rates for the rich and a modest new contribution from the poor, as well a repeal of some of the myriad tax credits and exemptions for special interests.

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Independents Booker And Marsh Rise Up!

The frontrunner in the gubernatorial race on the Republican side doesn’t have one, his opponent has chosen a Caucasian male, the two Democratic candidates have chosen female running mates, but Independent Party candidate Tom Marsh continues to differentiate himself from the other five gubernatorial candidates.

On Monday Marsh will announce he has chosen Cicero Booker, a retired police lieutenant and past president of the Waterbury branch of the NAACP, as his running mate.

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Chester's First Selectman Ditches Republican Party

CHESTER— First Selectman Tom Marsh will pursue his run for governor as the candidate of the Connecticut Independent Party, a move he hopes will ensure him a role in the statewide election debate this fall.

Marsh, a Republican first elected to the town’s top job in 2005, also oficially changed his voter registration from Republican to Independent Party. The Independent Party was formed in Waterbury during the last decade, running candidates for mayor and board of alderman in city elections. The party currently hold four seats on the Waterbury Board of Aldermen, and has local town committees in Newtown, Milford, Watertown, and Winsted.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING CHARLES STANNARD STORY

Chester First Selectman Tom Marsh Visits Milford Independents

Chester is a model town in the state of Connecticut, and so is its very proud Republican Mayor Tom Marsh who has the honor of presiding over the states most desirable town. Tom Marsh is currently a Republican seeking the Independent Party nomination to run for Governor.

He attended this evenings Milford Independent Town Committee Meeting along with Dr. Mertens who is also seeking the party nomination for the U.S. Senate. Both Mertens and Marsh were this evenings guest speakers and each spoke as to their unique qualifications for public office.

Mertens indicated that he is "ready to fearlessly confront the nations challenges," and criticized the failed policies of the two party system. Mertens who is a Engineer and teacher by trade, called Obamacare "flawed and is disappointed with the bill in its current form" but has agreed that something has to be done about this nations troubled health system.

He said Obamacare is a "starting point" and it will need serious reform if it will work for the people of Connecticut. Mertens also agreed with Telesca that the 15 state lawsuits challenging Obamacares Constitutionality are good. He and Mike both believes that the courts will make a determination on whether or not the "Commerce Clause" is in fact an issue. Mertens is also sceptical about its legal defeat, as he is of the opinion that the bill may not be un-Constitutional enough to satisfy the courts legal standard.

Mike Telesca, a cancer survivor himself, stated that during his treatment he was faced with severe financial challenges. Telesca said that "the hospital was charging him upward of $20,000.00 a day.." He said "a decision had to be made and I left the hospital many times earlier than I should have so I welcome anything that reforms this system of care."

Tom Marsh, was asked about his vision for Connecticut and quickly pointed out that there is party gridlock in the state Capitol. The Republicans want to stop spending, and the Democrats are under the direction of the unions. Marsh said that the "Current Speaker of The House Chris Donovan has more in common with a labor representative than a representative of the people."

Marsh also criticized Rells leadership, citing that "Hartford has not had any solid leadership in many years." Running as an Independent now, he believes, is the right move, especially with civil unrest and the steady public outcry for change that continues to grow.

Marsh said that he believes Voters will soon realize that there needs to be a "third choice come November" and he is hoping that those disenfranchised voters will be more inclined to vote for him on the Independent line.

Both Marsh and Mertens have websites highlighting their positions and views on state and Federal Issues and encourage everyone to take the time to read what they published. Mertens said that if "every person in Connecticut took take the time to read just the first page on my website I would be elected."

Marsh's website www.marsh2010.com and John Mertens website www.mertens2010.com.