Voters should still look at third-party candidates

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The last debate is set for this Wednesday and we will only see two major-party candidates on a national stage discussing important issues to voters.

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Green presidential candidate Jill Stein failed to garner enough support to be eligible to participate in a debate with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Although Johnson came close with seven percent support in the polls, neither candidate will get a bump from the debates. Gone is their chance to show the country there can be a significant third-party presence in the election.

Gaffe generator

Although it’s understandable why Stein failed to reach the Commission on Presidential Debates’ required 15 percent polling threshold, Johnson’s absence can be blamed in large part on himself.

Twice in the last couple of months, Johnson has put his foot in his mouth regarding his political know-how. This goes beyond the journalists’ “gotcha” questions and has turned into a serious gaffe that should concern voters.

I must admit that I myself had to look up the war-torn city of Aleppo, Syria. There is no excuse, however, for someone who wants to run for president to not know about this city and its issues since the start of the Syrian civil war.

On top of this, he failed to name just one world leader he respects.

Again, I understand that a regular U.S. citizen will not know this their whole life, but someone who wants to hold the country’s most powerful position must be more aware than the average citizen. We can’t just blow this off.

A vote for Johnson is not a wasted vote because he is a third-party candidate; it is because he is unqualified to become president.

Still, to some, he represents a change from the establishment.

Lagging candidate

Jill Stein, on the other hand, has had far less media attention, but seems to be struggling to maintain her two percent support in the polls regardless.

It didn’t help that a woman who wants to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate was escorted out of Hofstra University. She didn’t have the credentials for the first debate, but decided to take a campaign bus to the event anyway.

This may not seem like a big deal, but the lack of professionalism shows that she is not ready to be president.

Since some voters decide to not vote for Trump or Clinton, their remaining choices are Stein or Johnson. If this is the case, you should realize where each candidate stands on topics like the economy, foreign policy and social issues.

Stein is definitely pro-choice and has a track record for defending LGTBQ rights. Stein also holds a lot of liberal views on gun control, health care and immigration.

Of course, she has her Green party flair, but for the most part she has a stance on many issues like any other candidate. Don’t let the Green Party logo steer you away from a candidate who has a long history in politics.

Consider them nonetheless

Like Stein, Johnson has different established talking points as a Libertarian Party member. It doesn’t mean his views on issues are extremely unorthodox to a point where you should not vote for him.

One of his biggest talking points is the legalization of marijuana. Johnson, same as Stein, thinks that marijuana is dangerous only because it is illegal.

Johnson’s lovable goofiness and affinity to smile off any awkwardness are also why he has made it this far. Instead of the usual, boring candidate that leans conservative, we have a fun guy who probably still doesn’t know how the polls work.

He has conservative leanings on certain topics such as rejecting raising the minimum wage and free college tuition. He fully supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership, even though it’s likely that he doesn’t know what it is.

Despite their recent gaffes, both candidates are attempting to be the voice of the unheard when election season comes around. Use your opportunity to vote and consider all candidates when you enter the voting booth on Nov. 8.

In the end, it will be up to all of us to prove that we care about the country’s future. The only way that is possible is by learning about all the candidates, their issues and by voting.

Opinion editor Frank Campos is a media production senior and can be reached at [email protected].