MILL VALLEY, Calif. – As Election Day neared, candidates crossed party lines to show support of alternative ideas and the vital need for proportional representation and collaboration within the legislative process, by issuing cross-endorsements to candidates sharing key values in regards to the protection of voter choice and true liberty.

Christina Tobin, Libertarian candidate for California Secretary of State, led the way by announcing her endorsement of a number of candidates, across the political spectrum, for governorships and U.S. Senate in California, Illinois and Connecticut. Two California gubernatorial candidates, Chelene Nightingale of the American Independent Party and Dale Ogden of the Libertarian Party, recently reciprocated Tobin’s endorsements with their own endorsements of her candidacy. Tobin attributes her inspiration for cross endorsements and teamwork across party lines to Ralph Nader, 2008 Independent candidate for the U.S. presidency, who recently gave his rare, yet not surprising, endorsement to Tobin.

Tobin and Ogden joined Nightingale and supporters at the Chelene Nightingale Election Night Party, last night, at 2845 N. Towne Avenue, Pamona, Calif.

Additionally, Tobin has endorsed the Green Party candidate for California governor, Laura Wells, who attended The Laura Wells Election Night “Kickoff” Party, last night at 8:00, after the polls closed, at La Estrellita Cafe and Bar, 446 E. 12th Street, on the corner of 5th Avenue, near Laney College in Oakland.

Both election night parties were open to the press and supporters.

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP); National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML); Eric Garris, founder and director of AntiWar.com; Honorable Judge Jim Gray; Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico and honorary chairman of OurAmericaInitiative.com; Wayne Allen Root, 2008 Libertarian vice presidential nominee; U.S. Senate candidates for Connecticut: John Mertens of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, and Warren Mosler, independent; Illinois gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney of the Green Party; U.S. Senate candidates for Illinois: LeAlan Jones of the Green Party and Mike Labno of the Libertarian Party, said they agree with the coalition that, the passage of Proposition 19 is a vital step towards ending the War on Drugs, bringing peace and safety back to our neighborhoods, and producing an extra revenue source for struggling businesses in California.

The new signatories join the Green Party of California, Peace and Freedom Party of California, Republican Liberty Caucus of California (RLCCA), Progressive Libertarian Caucus, National Black Police Association, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), The Free and Equal Elections Foundation and Hempire Media, all of whom joined the coalition last week.

Further, a number of signatories agreed:

“The Republican and Democratic Parties have sided against the people by failing to endorse Proposition 19. This historic proposition, if passed, would allow possession of up to an ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and over in California, for personal consumption, and in turn, would allow for the taxing and controlling of cannabis, similar to alcohol and tobacco, thus allowing all Californians and small businesses across this state the right to realize the potential of Cannabis, California’s number one cash crop.

“We ask that voters join us, as well as police officers, cancer patients, teachers, doctors, judges, nurses, journalists, students and everyone else across California to tell our government that we demand an end to prohibition of cannabis because it simply doesn’t work. Our prisons are bursting at the seams with cannabis arrests, which now comprise more than 50% of all drug arrests nationwide.

“We strongly urge California voters to legalize this herb in California by voting YES on Prop 19 this November. Together we can make our streets freer, smarter and safer.”

Mark Hinkle, Libertarian National Committee chair; Mike Feinstein, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States; C.T. Weber, state chairperson of Peace and Freedom Party of California and candidate for lieutenant governor of California; Laura Wells, Green Party candidate for governor of California; Carlos Alvarez, Peace and Freedom Party candidate for governor of California; Ann Menasche, Green Party candidate for California Secretary of State; Christina Tobin, Libertarian candidate for California Secretary of State and founder and chair of The Free and Equal Elections Foundation; Lex Green, Libertarian candidate for governor of Illinois; Todd McCormick, founder of Hempire Media; and Mark Seidenberg, vice chairman of the American Independent Party State Central Committee.

“The policy of Marijuana Prohibition has not only failed, it’s hopeless,” Judge Gray said. “As just an example, marijuana today is California’s largest cash crop – all untaxed, by the way – and it is more available for children than a six-pack of beer.  Proposition 19 certainly will work better than that.  In fact, things can only get better than they are today.”

“California has the potential to start the domino effect in this country that will lead to bringing about rational drug policy nationwide.  Proposition 19 can be the beginning. With just a little bit of education and awareness I see people moving on this issue everyday,” Johnson said. “Let’s make it happen. Tax it, regulate it and control it. Let’s stop this needless war that is making criminals out of otherwise tax paying, law-abiding citizens.”

“The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) supports Free & Equal Elections’ efforts … to address the American hemisphere’s elephant in the room: the failure of cannabis and drug prohibition and the destabilizing effects on the hemisphere’s economies and democracies,” said Allen St. Pierre, executive director, NORML. “Clearly elected policy makers do not possess the will or want, to address the many problems created by government abdication of regulating and taxing adult commerce like cannabis, and they often look to the general public and the stakeholder community to create alternatives to failed and tax-draining public policies that do not achieve even the government’s minimum stated goals.”

“It is great to be part of this diverse coalition in support of ending marijuana prohibition in this country. The people are ahead of our nation’s ruling class on this issue, and that is reflected in the support from these groups, which are dedicated to ideas, not beholden to special interests. We look forward to working with this coalition in the future as we bypass elected officials and enact laws to tax and regulate marijuana though the ballot initiative process,” said Steve Fox, Director of Government Relations, Marijuana Policy Project.

“Christina Tobin as Secretary of State of California will give more voices and choices to millions of California voters who think the “two-party dictatorship” is monopolizing the ballot line against third party and independent candidates,” Nader said.

“I’m so appreciative to Ralph Nader for his endorsement,” Tobin said. “I’ve always looked up to him because of his integrity and devotion to working for the people, not the corporations, and now, as a candidate, I have the opportunity to contribute to those candidates who I believe embody this sense of devotion as well.”

At the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Wednesday last week, at the end of the first leg of an all-inclusive debate tour sponsored by The Free and Equal Elections Foundation and student organizations of the host Universities, Christina Tobin, candidate for California Secretary of State, personally endorsed the participating candidates for U.S. Senate and governor of Connecticut.

Tobin, who supports proportional representation, didn’t stop in Connecticut. The next day, at the second and third debates of the tour, back-to-back U.S. Senate and gubernatorial debates at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Tobin again personally endorsed all the candidates who took the time to debate and put themselves directly in the fire of questions and concerns from voters in the audience.

Tobin says she also will publicly endorse all candidates who participate in the fourth and final debate of the tour, which will take place from 1 – 2:30 p.m., Thursday, October 28, in the Forest Suite, on the second floor of the University Union at California State University, Sacramento.

“I am endorsing these candidates because I believe they will all work tirelessly on behalf of their constituents – despite party affiliation – if elected and they do not shy away from aggressively, yet logically and responsibly, tackling the issues facing Americans today,” Tobin said.

Tobin’s endorsements can be found at www.tobinforca.org. By clicking on individual states on the large red map found at the top of the site, users are directed to an all-inclusive list of candidates for that state. Candidates that have received Tobin’s endorsement are highlighted with a yellow star.

Voters can find current up-to-date information on all candidates at both www.tobinforca.org and www.freeandequal.org. In the ongoing commitment to help voters around the nation make their voices heard, Free and Equal has launched an online petition demanding open, all-inclusive debates.

All ballot qualified candidates have been invited to participate in the event, which is the last leg of a nationwide all-inclusive debate tour supporting the right of voters to hear from all candidates on an equal playing field, and is sponsored by the campus chapter of Students for Liberty and The Free and Equal Elections Foundation.

Peace and Freedom Party candidate Carlos Alvarez, American Independent Party candidate Chelene Nightingale, Libertarian Party candidate Dale Ogden and Green Party candidate Laura Wells, all vying to become the next governor of California, have agreed to participate in the debate. Democratic candidate Jerry Brown and Republican candidate Meg Whitman also have been invited to participate but have not yet responded.

Recently, Wells led a protest demanding all-inclusive candidate debates, prior to the gubernatorial candidate debate at Dominican University of California, which included only Brown and Whitman. After protesters made their way to the so-called “free speech zone” near Angelico Hall, where the debate was hosted, a spokeswoman said, Wells was given a ticket to attend the debate as a spectator but was arrested after passing the first security check point. Video footage of Wells’ arrest can be viewed on the KCRA website.

The Free and Equal debate will provide an equal platform for all ballot qualified candidates to discuss issues facing Californians this election season including Proposition 19 to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis in California, Proposition 8 for equal rights, war and proportional representation in addition to the those questions that plague the minds of Californians and Americans across the board.

The debate will follow a cumulative format, moderated by Christina Tobin, founder and chair of Free and Equal, and Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State of California. National Public Radio (NPR), The New York Times, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, The Sacramento Bee, the Associated Press and other prominent media outlets typically cover Free and Equal events, and Free and Equal expects this debate to garner similar media coverage. This debate, like all Free and Equal sponsored debates, will be streamed live and archived on the Free and Equal website.

“These debates will demonstrate that it is not an undue burden, or even difficult, to include all ballot-qualified candidates,” Tobin said. “The other organizations planning on holding debates should fulfill their civic responsibility and also invite all ballot qualified candidates to participate.”

In order to help voters and potential voters make their voices heard on this issue, Free and Equal has launched an online petition calling for open, all-inclusive debates.

The debates are free and open to the public. Free and Equal asks that all media professionals planning to cover this event submit their requests for media credentials to Kaylee Campbell Burton, public relations director for Free and Equal, via email to kaylee@freeandequal.org, or by phone or text to 405.295.5420.

Source: The California Channel.

The Green Party of California, Peace and Freedom Party of California, Republican Liberty Caucus of California (RLCCA), Progressive Libertarian Caucus, National Black Police Association, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), The Free and Equal Elections Foundation and Hempire Media, today, announced they all agree, the passage of Proposition 19 is a vital step towards ending the War on Drugs, bringing peace and safety back to our neighborhoods, and producing an extra revenue source for struggling businesses in California.

Further, a number of signatories agreed:

“The Republican and Democratic Parties have sided against the people by failing to endorse Proposition 19. This historic proposition, if passed, would allow possession of up to an ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and over in California, for personal consumption, and in turn, would allow for the taxing and controlling of cannabis, similar to alcohol and tobacco, thus allowing all Californians and small businesses across this state the right to realize the potential of Cannabis, California’s number one cash crop.

“We ask that voters join us, as well as police officers, cancer patients, teachers, doctors, judges, nurses, journalists, students and everyone else across California to tell our government that we demand an end to prohibition of cannabis because it simply doesn’t work. Our prisons are bursting at the seams with cannabis arrests, which now comprise more than 50% of all drug arrests nationwide.

“We strongly urge California voters to legalize this herb in California by voting YES on Proposition 19 this November. Together we can make our streets freer, smarter and safer.”

Mark Hinkle, Libertarian National Committee chair; Mike Feinstein, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States; C.T. Weber, state chairperson of Peace and Freedom Party of California and candidate for lieutenant governor of California; Laura Wells, Green Party candidate for governor of California; Carlos Alvarez, Peace and Freedom Party candidate for governor of California; Ann Menasche, Green Party candidate for California Secretary of State; Christina Tobin, Libertarian candidate for California Secretary of State and founder and chair of The Free and Equal Elections Foundation; Lex Green, Libertarian candidate for governor of Illinois; and Todd McCormick, founder of Hempire Media, all have joined the coalition and signed on to the group quote, with more standing up in support of the proposition daily.

“While some Proposition 19 advocates are calling for taxes on marijuana (cannabis) as a means of managing the pain of California’s chronic budget crisis, Prop. 19 itself creates no such taxes or regulations. The RLCCA recommends voting “YES” on Prop. 19, while at the same time strongly opposing any taxes and regulations that local governments may try to impose,” said RLCCA Chairman Matt Heath. “It is important that voters and politicians alike remember that even after Prop. 19 passes, Article 13C of the California constitution grants voters the opportunity to block each and every new tax proposed by local governments.”

“Proposition 19 is a hot-button issue,” Tobin said. “Candidates, businesses and voters seem to be split down the middle in their opinions of the Act, but a number of polls in the last few months suggest a growing momentum of support for Prop. 19.”

“Marijuana prohibition is one of our nation’s – and world’s – greatest propaganda campaigns,” Tobin added. “The U.S. government has been pulling the wool over the eyes of the American and global public for more than 70 years when it comes to marijuana. Proposition 19 is a chance for California voters to fight back.

Gubernatorial candidates Wells and Alvarez along with challenger Dale Ogden, the Libertarian candidate, all publicly favor Proposition 19. Chelene Nightingale, California gubernatorial candidate of the American Independent Party, is currently neutral. Despite numerous attempts by Free and Equal representatives, the major party contenders Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman have been unavailable, or unwilling, to comment regarding Proposition 19 and all-inclusive debates.

All four minor party candidates have confirmed their participation in the all-inclusive California gubernatorial candidate debate, to be hosted at California State University, Sacramento, the third and final debate in a Free and Equal national debate tour. The two major party candidates have been invited but issued no response. The event will take place Thursday, October 28, 2010, time and venue to be announced.

This debate is sponsored by Students for Liberty and Free and Equal, and will provide an equal platform for all ballot qualified candidates to discuss alternative issues and ideas including Proposition 19 and proportional representation in addition to those questions that plague the minds of Californians and Americans across the board.

The Free and Equal Debate Tour kicks off Wednesday, October 20, 2010 with the Connecticut U.S. Senate Debate. The event will run from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. EDT and will be held in the Student Union Ballroom (Room 330) at the University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus. This debate is sponsored by the student organization Idealists United and Free and Equal.

The second debate, a back-to-back event for Illinois gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates, is scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 2010, at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The debate will take place in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium in Holmes Student Center. U.S. Senate candidates will be heard first from 6 – 7:30 p.m. CDT, followed by the gubernatorial debate from 8 – 9:30 p.m. This debate is sponsored by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Free and Equal.

California State University, Sacramento will host the final debate of the series for California’s gubernatorial candidates. The event will take place Thursday, October 28, 2010, time and venue to be announced. This debate is sponsored by Students for Liberty and Free and Equal.

A scheduled back-to-back debate for Oklahoma’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates was canceled recently, due in large part to lack of response from candidates. Even as the noose begins to tighten on what little access third-party candidates have to the electoral process, apathy toward this issue remains a problem. Oklahoma candidates were unresponsive to the call for an open, all-inclusive debate, causing the event to be placed on hold indefinitely.

“As corporations funnel record amounts of money into our country’s two dominant political parties, it couldn’t be a more vital time to protect our right to open and inclusive political discourse. All voices deserve to be heard, not just those speaking on behalf of multi-national corporate interests,” said Christina Tobin, Libertarian candidate for California secretary of state and Free and Equal’s founder and chair.

This appears to be a prescient time to address these issues. California Green Party gubernatorial candidate, Laura Wells, was arrested Tuesday, October 12, 2010 when she attempted to attend the gubernatorial debate held at Dominican University of California in San Rafael. Wells and the three other minor party candidates for California governor were not invited to participate in the debate, which featured only the Democratic candidate, Jerry Brown, and the Republican candidate, Meg Whitman, despite all six candidates being ballot qualified for the general election. According to media reports, both Wells and her spokeswoman, Marnie Glickman, had tickets and were merely trying to attend the event as spectators. After initially being accepted into the debate, both women were asked to step away from the building and Wells was arrested and removed from the premises in a police squad car.

Protesters will gather at 4:00 p.m. at the corner of Acacia Avenue and Grand Avenue in San Rafael, before making their way to the so-called “free speech zone” near Angelico Hall, where the debate will be hosted.

Wells, Nightingale and Ogden united on the state capital steps for the first time, Wednesday, October 6, to speak out against the exclusion of minor party candidates from debates and promote awareness of the importance of all-inclusive debates. Alvarez regretfully had transportation issues and was unable to attend the press conference. The rally was covered by the Sacramento Bee.

True to form, The Free and Equal Elections Foundation will sponsor an all-partisan gubernatorial candidate debate, October 28, at California State University, Sacramento. All four minor party candidates have confirmed to participate in the debate, however neither Brown or Whitman have responded to their invitations. Christina Tobin, Libertarian candidate for California secretary of state and Free and Equal’s founder and chair, will moderate the event.

Tobin also is scheduled to moderate a U.S. Senate debate at University of Connecticut, October 20th, and a back-to-back U.S. Senate and gubernatorial debate at Northern Illinois University, October 21st. Free and Equal will stream all three debates live at www.freeandequal.org, and will archive the videos for future access.

Free and Equal recently launched an online petition that calls for all-inclusive debates nationwide and allows candidates, voters and potential voters to easily voice their opinion on the issue.

California gubernatorial candidates Carlos Alvarez of California’s Peace and Freedom Party, Chelene Nightingale of the Constitution Party, Dale Ogden of the Libertarian Party and Laura Wells of the Green Party spoke about their views on Proposition 19, all-inclusive candidate debates, proportional representation and war.