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All legitimate candidates are serious

"Groups that sponsor these events have every right to invite the candidates that they feel are the serious candidates. To cancel something the day before with a stunt like this is rude" said Ted O'Meara, Cutler for Governor campaign manager (Kennebec Journal, Aug. 26).

O'Meara was referring to Libby Mitchell's refusal to debate in a forum that didn't include all candidates. Yes, those organizations certainly have the right to exclude anyone they wish from debates.

Just as Mitchell has the right to decline those very same exclusive debates.

I think it is rude for any organization to judge which candidates are "serious" and which are not. All five candidates had to meet a lot of criteria to become candidates in the first place. To declare some as not serious is an insult to their efforts.

It's true that there are so-called frontrunners. That will always be so. To exclude the so-called rearrunners from a debate conceals the many good ideas that they might take to the table. Who knows? Once the people have heard the rearrunners' ideas, those same people might consider the rearrunner to actually be a frontrunner.

This is not a question of what's right for the candidates. It's a question of what's right for the people.

Peter P. Sirois

Madison