Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
So here we go – U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor and challenger Heath Shuler have agreed to debate. But the war over all the particulars of the debate have spurred an argument all its own.
According to Taylor, Shuler says he can only debate from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Nov. 1. Here’s what Taylor thinks of that:
Maybe because Mr. Shuler hasn’t voted in North Carolina too many times, he isn’t aware that here we have One-Stop Voting beginning October 19th.
November 1st is fully 12 days after the start of One-Stop Voting, so many people will have already cast their ballots. In 2004, fully one-third of the vote was cast during the early voting period. Shuler’s effort to have the debate after 75% of the voting days have passed is disrespectful to
the electorate in WNC.
In addition, many people in the Eleventh District have a family obligation Wednesday evenings, as they attend worship services. A debate so close to the election would serve no purpose. Two Sunday afternoons remain before One Stop Voting begins. I’m ready – is Mr. Shuler?
Shuler says he wants to debate, but he has a bunch of conditions. Here’s a look:
The Shuler campaign requests:
— One reporter from each sponsoring news agency and Tim Whitmire of the Associated Press to pose
the questions
— Questions from the public should be welcomed by the sponsoring news agencies, but the reporters
should be allowed to decide which questions are asked of the candidates
The Shuler campaign will require:
— A three minute opening statement from each candidate
— A four minute closing statement from each candidate
— Each candidate will have a sixty second rebuttal after the opposing candidates answer
— Each candidate will be equipped with a wireless microphone and stool and shall be free to move
about the stage while answering questions
— The debate location should be open to the public, with an audience welcome, in the style of the
Lincoln-Douglas debates. Preferably this location will be one of the areas colleges or universities with an auditorium setting.
Will they ever work it all out? We shall see.
RE all the debate conditions:
Shuler can wear a dress if he wants to. He knows Taylor will make him look like a moron — which is why the DCCC will do everything imaginable to keep this debate from happening.
Just a paltry $4 M? No problemo, G-man!
EM,
Maybe we should get $4 million together for an ’08 run?
G
I just can’t wait for the end. I’m tire of half-truths on the ads for both sides. It does nothing but make me want to not vote for either.
I don’t think either would come off well in a debate, and they probably both know it. Love Heath, but…he came off stiff and inarticulate in the i/v you did with him, Screwy. Given the choice, I’d vote for you!
judging from shuler’s fourth "requirement", i’m guessing that’s gonna be a dealbreaker for taylor.
i’m also guessing that’s precisely why shuler is "requiring" it. a public audience and television cameras will essentially see "young and vital" versus "stroke-addled and gimpy".
and as delusional as taylor is about lots of things, i’m pretty sure he knows that shuler knows it as well, and will refuse.
and shuler can jump all over that in future adverts. i can see it now – "taylor’s a scared old man. vote for me."
this is getting interesting… dirty, but interesting.
Hey Ash…
Taylor has a bunch of conditions too. He wants no audience, 20 questions submitted by the candidates, no opening or closing statements.
Taylor hasn’t debated anyone in 12 years, and now that his ass is so far behind he’s desperately seeking a anything to move his numbers north.
Let’s not pretend that Heath is some sort of prima donna for having conitions. They both do. My guess is that they will be unable to reconcile their differences, and we’ll see a brazillion attack ads accusing each other of cowardly ducking the debate.
I’d love to see the debate, but I don’t think it will happen.