For Mumpower and Shuler, is it a debate or a forum?

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The Asheville Citizen-Times initially reported Wednesday that U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler had agreed to debate challenger Carl Mumpower, the Asheville City Councilman who has been badgering Shuler to debate him. But by Wednesday night, the story, and the C-T headline, had changed to: “Shuler agrees to appear at forum with Mumpower.”

From the Citizen-Times story Wednesday night:

While Shuler Campaign Manager Andrew Whalen described the event as a debate, Mumpower is adamant that it is not.

“It’s real clear from the letter (to the candidates) that it’s not a debate,” Mumpower said. “It’s not a real debate. I wish Shuler’s office would quit playing games with the debate issue.”

A letter sent to the candidates says, “the format is not a debate but a diaologue between the candidates and the public,” with the publisher of the Cherokee Scout moderating. Local and state candidates, as well as Shuler and Mumpower, will be present.

Shuler, D-Waynesville, and Mumpower, an Asheville city councilman who has chided Shuler for not agreeing to a debate up to this point, will appear at 7 p.m. at the Cherokee County Courthouse in a debate sponsored by the Cherokee Scout newspaper.

Sounds like the letter pretty clearly states the meeting is not a debate. So I guess Mumpower will keep on badgering.
Russ Bowen did a story for WLOS, quoting the letter and Mumpower, and noting the debate/forum is to be held all the way out in Murphy. WLOS noted that Shuler couldn’t be on camera because he’s in Washington.