Florida editors need to free Wyllie to speak at conference

Apparently Libertarian candidate for governor Adrian Wyllie wants to speak so badly to newspaper editors that he’s willing to get arrested to do so.

The occasion is the Florida Society of News Editors’ annual convention Thursday, where the editors have invited Charlie Crist, Nan Rich, Rick Scott — but not Wyllie— to speak.

I say, let him. Free Wyllie!

Seriously, newspapers are constantly wringing their hands and clutching their pearls about the lack of independent thought in modern politics. (Consider me chief hand-wringer and pearl-clutcher.) Yet when there’s actually an aggressive third-party candidate, the editorial brass won’t even let him speak. Weak.

Listen, I don’t thinkWyllie has much of a chance to win. But neither does Nan Rich. And she’s invited.

Plus, Wyllie is actually attracting a modicum of support — 4-6 percent, depending on the polls. Tiny? Yes. But better than most third-party candidates get. And, as the only third-party candidate to qualify, Wyllie will actually be on everyone’s ballot in November. So I’d like to see how he performs under pressure.

On his website, Wyllie vows to “either participate in the debates or get arrested.”

Compare that to Rick Scott — who has refused to show up, much less take questions.

Wyllie’s message to the newspaper eds: “Refuse to be spoon-fed the lesser of two evils.”