Third Party Candidates in Debates? [POLL]

Green Party candidate Jill Stein got less than red carpet treatment at Tuesday’s presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Former Gov. Mitt Romney. Police blocked the presidential candidate and her running mate Cheri Honkala from entering the debate since they didn't have the proper credentials to enter. Police eventually arrested them after they refused to leave. Click here to watch the video.

But who are these third party and independent presidential candidates and why aren’t they allowed at the debate? 

According to NPR.org it’s almost “impossible” to get a third-party candidate into a presidential debate since the Commission on Presidential Debate says a candidate must poll at least 15 percent with voters to qualify. Click here for a list of 2012 presidential candidates.

While some third party/independent candidates won’t have millions of viewers watching their debate on television, they will get the chance to debate for Internet viewers. 

According to Fox News.com, Former CNN talk show host Larry King, who is host of Larry King Now on Hulu.com and Ora TV, will moderate a debate between Stein, Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and the Justice Party’s Rocky Anderson.

The debate is sponored by the Free and Equal Elections Foundations and will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago. Ora TV, Russia Today, and the Free and Equal Elections Foundation will broadcast the debate live on the Internet.

So, what do you think?

• Should third party and independent candidates be allowed to debate with the Democratic and Republican candidates? Should they have separate debates?

• Do you think the Commission on Presidential Debate’s threshold should be relaxed? Do you think the current systems works well?

• Would you like to know more about third party and independent candidates?

Take our poll and tell us in the comments.