Ross Perot in Crashing the Party, by Ralph Nader

On Technology: 1992: 30-minute TV spots shook establishment; banned in 1996

In 1992, Ross Perot came on the scene, and his wealth and widespread polling support led to his being allowed to join the debates. His polls went up, too. He received 19 million votes, shaking the political establishment with his Reform Party and his paid televised lectures. Never again, vowed the two parties. Fully 92 million Americans saw the debate among Perot, Clinton and Bush, more than double the average of the three 2000 debates. Too destabilizing for the duopoly. Perot was barred in 1996 by a series of vague criteria based on interviews with columnists, pollsters, and consultants who concurred that he could not win. He was also barred by the national television networks from buying the same kind of 30-minute time slots that brought his message of deficit reduction and political reform into the living rooms of millions of households.

Speaking with him after the election, I said, "Ross, at least you've proved that the big boys can keep even a megabillionaire off the air."

Source: Crashing the Party, by Ralph Nader, p.159 Oct 14, 2002

The above quotations are from Crashing the Party: How to Tell the Truth and Still Run for President Taking on Corporate Governance in an Age of Surrender, by Ralph Nader. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Ross Perot. Click here for Ross Perot on all issues.
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Page last updated: Jul 04, 2012