Whitney protests being left off debate list

Rich Whitney, Green Party candidate for governor, staged a protest outside Chicago's Union League Club over not being invited to a Wednesday morning candidates forum featuring his Democratic and Republican opponents.

Supporters picketed the Jackson Street club with signs reading "Let Rich debate."

"In addition to the monetary advantage given to major party candidates," Whitney said, "clubs like this bias the results."

He said independent candidate for governor Scott Lee Cohen and Libertarian Lex Green also left off the invite list should have been included in the debate as well.

Union League Club rules, according to spokesman Richard Barry, were that debate participants pulled at least 10 percent in a statewide poll.

Whitney said he scored 10 percent in a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling recently, but was informed by the club he was still not going to receive an invitation.

Union league officials said they drew data from September Rasmussen and Chicago Tribune polls, where Whitney showed less than 5 percent support.

Whitney said both of Rasmussen and the Tribune "have proven institutional bias."

He attended the forum as a guest.

He accused both Quinn and Brady of not having a plan for the state, and evading the questions asked of them at the forum.

As a candidate for governor in 2006, Whitney took 10 percent of the vote.