ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080094
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
A presidential debate between third-party hopefuls was interrupted Monday by another candidate, who complained she was not invited to the event because she is a black woman.
``Who's to say that only white men should be allowed in this debate?'' Monica Moorehead said in breaking up the start of the scheduled 90-minute debate that was broadcast live on C-SPAN. ``Let me speak! Let me speak!''
Moorehead, presidential candidate of the Workers World Party, stepped before the dais at the National Press Club where other minor party presidential hopefuls John Hagelin of the Natural Law Party, Harry Browne of the Libertarian Party and Howard Phillips of the U.S. Taxpayers Party waited to begin debating.
Phillips said he would be willing to debate Moorehead anywhere, anytime. She left the room after debate organizers asked her to ``please leave.''
Moderator Jennifer Laszlo explained that only candidates on the ballot in a majority of states were invited - including President Clinton, Bob Dole and Ross Perot, all of whom declined to attend.
Browne, Libertarian candidate, who is on every state ballot, described his party as an advocate of individual liberty, personal responsibility and freedom from government. The Libertarian Party platform includes proposals to deregulate the health-care industry, privatize Medicare and Medicaid and legalize drugs.
Hagelin said he would implement a 50-point action plan in ``an all-out assault on America's problems'' by tapping into the power of science.
``These solutions tend to be forward-looking, prevention-oriented, designed to bring our national policies into greater harmony with natural law,'' he said.
Phillips said he stood for abolishing the Internal Revenue Service and capital gains taxes, returning education to the states and ending abortion.
- Associated Press
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