Open up your history books.
In 1980, there was Ronald Reagan, the Republican, and Jimmy Carter, the Democrat. There was a third candidate for president, John Anderson, the Independent. A debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters was to take place on the 21st of September, and the LWV was set on inviting Anderson for a three-way debate.
Carter balked, insisting to the LWV that he debate Reagan one-on-one before any debate between him, Reagan, and Anderson. Incensed, the LWV said no. Carter backed out of the debate, and the LWV planned to leave an empty chair onstage to signify his debate ducking, until the chair had been on the butt end of numerous jokes.
Fast forward to 2005, the 30th of September.
This year there is Tim Kaine, the Democrat, and Jerry Kilgore, the Republican. There was a third candidate for Governor, Russ Potts, the disgruntled Republican turned Independent. A debate was to take place at George Mason University, and the stage was set to invite Potts for a three-way debate.
Kilgore balked, insisting to GMU that he debate Kaine one-on-one, and flatly refusing any debate between him, Kaine, and Potts. He ran as fast as he could, as far as he could, away from this debate, terrified to death of Russ Potts. Incensed, GMU left an empty podium onstage to signify his debate ducking, which has been subject to much of my blogging.
Whilst immersed in research for upcoming debate tournaments (ah, yes, I'm on the debate team. If you don't like it we can argue.), I don't quite plan trying to avoid the debate. Hard to win when not there.
Jerry Kilgore's soft cowardice seems to be a pattern, in addition to cowering in terror while refusing to debate Russ Potts. He, for example, refuses to take a stand on abortion, feebly answering that abortion was a "hypothetical question" at the only Northern Virginia debate he consented to and lashing out at none other than Tim Russert, debate moderator, who had the moxie to ask a question. For shame!
Perhaps the Kilgore campaign strategy is to let us hear as little about him as possible by gingerly shielding him from tough questions and debates. The more we know, I presume they suppose, the less likely we'll be able to stomach him as governor.
http://dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/10/02/news/n_virginia_news/00news02kilgore.txt
I love this quote:
Kaine said voters needed information so they can make the right choice."Somebody who is afraid to stand up and look you in the eye and answer tough questions isn't fit to be governor of this Commonwealth," he said.
Tim is the MAN!
My favorite question? "To never want to show up, to not want to grant you just one three-way debate...Is Jerry Kilgore a Coward?" And the response from Mr. Kilgore was...not provided!