Whereas the average number of primary debates for the last six Democratic nominating cycles has been 15; and,

Whereas Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the DNC have attempted to limit the number of Democratic primary debates to six for the entire 2016 primary season; and,

Whereas the first of these debates won't be until October, 2015; and,

Whereas Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the DNC refuse to honor the candidates’ formal and informal requests for more debates; and,

Whereas Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the DNC have also ignored numerous citizen petitions requesting additional debates; and,

Whereas Joe Sandler, legal counsel to primary candidate Martin O’Malley, notes that “Legally the DNC cannot dictate the format or structure of any debate sponsored by a media outlet or 501(c)(3) organization – including the criteria for participation. Therefore, it would be legally problematic if any of the sponsors of the sanctioned debates has actually agreed to the ‘exclusivity’ requirement:”

We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Democratic primary candidates: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, Lincoln Chafee, and Jim Webb, as well as any future nominees, to bypass the party establishment and schedule a series of debates on their own as our political discourse should not be shackled by such draconian, and frankly undemocratic, restrictions as the DNC has attempted to impose upon its candidates.

Indeed, if full and frank debate has ever been important to a vibrant democracy, that time is now. Do it for your party, do it for your constituency, and do it for your nation.

Thank you for your consideration and your service to our country, but, most of all, thank you for your bravery in heeding this call to action.