Comments on: Letter from the Editor: Corker Continues to Dodge Debate http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439 Politics and Culture Done Just Right Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:39:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: JB http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439#comment-1183 Thu, 25 May 2006 16:40:11 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439#comment-1183 <em>He has attended forums, dinners, the Washington County Young Republicans Debate in March; Corker has shown a willingness to debate that you clearly ignore in your article here.</em> Forums and dinners are not debates, and with all due respect to the Washington County YR's, their debate wasn't covered by any media outside the county. It hardly gave Republican voters on a widescale the opportunity to hear from the candidates in depth. Corker will continue to insist he's willing to debate, but so far he's only been involved in forums where the moderator goes down the line and asks each candidate the same question. These kinds of "debates" have proven themselves good for allowing the candidates to show voters how they're similar. A townhall format like Ed Bryant has proposed would be an opportunity for candidates to differentiate themselves. What Ed Bryant is talking about is all three Republican candidates sitting down, much like the famous Cheney/Lieberman debate in 2000, and having a real dialogue about the issues, their qualifications, records and plans for Tennessee. Instead of giving each candidate 60 seconds to answer a question and move on, each candidate can take as long as they need to go in depth. Also, because the townhall forums are on one issue, there's no changing the subject or moving on to another topic. Let's do it like it's done in the U.S. Senate! Steve Gill has already stepped up and offerred to moderate a townhall forum on taxes on June 6 in Nashville. Bryant has proposed other conservative talk radio hosts, like Mike Fleming in Memphis, hosting similar townhalls that give Republican primary voters the chance to hear in depth from the candidates and the opportunity to ask questions. I really do hope Bob Corker will go for this plan. Conservative talk radio is a "serious media outlet" and one that's accessible to lots of voters. He has attended forums, dinners, the Washington County Young Republicans Debate in March; Corker has shown a willingness to debate that you clearly ignore in your article here.

Forums and dinners are not debates, and with all due respect to the Washington County YR’s, their debate wasn’t covered by any media outside the county. It hardly gave Republican voters on a widescale the opportunity to hear from the candidates in depth.

Corker will continue to insist he’s willing to debate, but so far he’s only been involved in forums where the moderator goes down the line and asks each candidate the same question. These kinds of “debates” have proven themselves good for allowing the candidates to show voters how they’re similar. A townhall format like Ed Bryant has proposed would be an opportunity for candidates to differentiate themselves.

What Ed Bryant is talking about is all three Republican candidates sitting down, much like the famous Cheney/Lieberman debate in 2000, and having a real dialogue about the issues, their qualifications, records and plans for Tennessee. Instead of giving each candidate 60 seconds to answer a question and move on, each candidate can take as long as they need to go in depth. Also, because the townhall forums are on one issue, there’s no changing the subject or moving on to another topic. Let’s do it like it’s done in the U.S. Senate!

Steve Gill has already stepped up and offerred to moderate a townhall forum on taxes on June 6 in Nashville. Bryant has proposed other conservative talk radio hosts, like Mike Fleming in Memphis, hosting similar townhalls that give Republican primary voters the chance to hear in depth from the candidates and the opportunity to ask questions.

I really do hope Bob Corker will go for this plan. Conservative talk radio is a “serious media outlet” and one that’s accessible to lots of voters.

]]> by: Mr. Evans http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439#comment-1182 Thu, 25 May 2006 16:22:02 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439#comment-1182 Jonathan: With all due respect, Corker did not turn down participating in the January debate to attend a DC Fundraiser. Your continuing to misstate the facts on this point undermines the credibility of this post. He has attended forums, dinners, the Washington County Young Republicans Debate in March; Corker has shown a willingness to debate that you clearly ignore in your article here. Corker declined to participate in the debate sponsored by your fine publication. That was his perrogative. You should accept this and move on. Jonathan: With all due respect, Corker did not turn down participating in the January debate to attend a DC Fundraiser. Your continuing to misstate the facts on this point undermines the credibility of this post. He has attended forums, dinners, the Washington County Young Republicans Debate in March; Corker has shown a willingness to debate that you clearly ignore in your article here. Corker declined to participate in the debate sponsored by your fine publication. That was his perrogative. You should accept this and move on.

]]> by: Mickey White http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439#comment-1181 Thu, 25 May 2006 15:08:55 +0000 http://www.mainstreetj.com/2006/05/25/439#comment-1181 I agree. I have sent both Van and Bob an email asking them if the will vote Yes or No on the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and have yet to receive a response. (Ed of course if For it) I agree. I have sent both Van and Bob an email asking them if the will vote Yes or No on the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and have yet to receive a response. (Ed of course if For it)

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