What’s the key issue in the U.S. House races in Pennsylvania this election? Where to debate.
It’s a tale as old as time: challenger wants 100 debates, the incumbent agrees to one 30-minute forum at 7 a.m. the Monday before the election.
We have seen throughout the state races in which incumbent Congressmen getting challenged to a debate by their opponents, and being slow to jump on board, causing an outcry from their challengers.
Here’s the latest from 5 Pa. congressional races.
PA-18
Democratic hopeful Larry Maggi is the latest hopeful to complain about his opponent for lack of debate. Maggi knocked Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Allegheny) for dodging debates, just a week after Maggi requested a debate between him and Murphy in PA-18.
However, Murphy’s dodging may be a result of a lack of communication between the two campaigns.
In a press release, the Maggi campaign criticized Murphy for ducking PCNC’s “Get To The Point.” Maggi and Murphy were asked to sit on a panel moderated by former Congresswoman Melissa Hart. Maggi’s campaign said that Murphy was unable to attend the panel.
However, according to spokesperson Tyler Foote, the Murphy campaign says it is in the process of rescheduling because Congress will be in session. Foote also went on to confirm that both Maggi and Murphy are scheduled for the Westmoreland County Chambers of Commerce Candidates Forum on Thursday Sept 27.
“Not surprising Larry has the facts wrong again, said Foote. “We are booked for a candidates forum next Thursday.”
Despite the letter penned to Murphy being a week old and the scheduled candidates forum, it seems the Maggi campaign has grown weary of the Congressman’s lack of interest in a one-on-one debate.
“Southwest Pennsylvania deserves to hear Congressman Tim Murphy explain why he voted to force seniors to pay $6,400 per year for Medicare whiling giving millionaires even more tax cuts. Voters want to look both candidates in the eye and hear exactly what each candidate will do to earn their vote. It is our duty to give the voters this opportunity,” said Maggi.
The problem is that Murphy’s campaign said it has yet to receive the letter from Maggi, thus the lack of response to Maggi’s request.
PA-15
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Lehigh) declined a debate against Democratic challenger Rick Daugherty. The debate was to be sponsored by Easton Express-Times, however, citing an editorial from the newspaper calling for Dent’s removal from office, Dent decided to pull out of that debate. He’s agreed thus far to participate in two between him and Daugherty.
PA-11
An editorial in The Times Leader Sunday called upon Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne) to reply to challenger Gene Stilp’s request for nine debates across PA-11. Stilp requested these debates 43 days in advance, and has still yet to hear from Barletta on when and where they will debate. As a challenger to former Rep. Paul Kanjorski, Barletta himself challenged Kanjorski to a series of debates.
PA-8
Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) and Democrat Kathy Boockvar have had difficulty deciding on where and when to debate. Boockvar fielded questions at a Social Security and Medicare Candidate Forum at the United Church of Christ in Levittown. Fitzpatrick was absent for the forum.
Another holdup is that Fitzpatrick and Boockvar have two different schedules for debates lined up, and cannot agree to when and where they will spar on the issues. They have three scheduled so far, but are packed in the middle of the day, making it difficult for constituents to attend or participate.
PA-3
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) has declined one debate between him and Democratic hopeful Missa Eaton. It was to be sponsored by The Meadville Tribune and Allegheny College’s Center for Political Participation between Missa Eaton and Independent Candidate Steven Porter. He’s agreed to a televised debate on WQLN.
13 Responses
To those who claim Tim Murphy is commenting on a politics article-you guys are dumb. Tim Murphy is in 60s and is a united states CONGRESSMAN and doesn’t waste his time on loser Larry.
To all that are claiming Murphy is hard at “work” and can not debate Larry are sort of on the right path. He is hard at work, trying to make life for us, the retired community much harder. He wants to line his pockets gold at the expense of the senior citizens. How dare he vote to INCREASE our medicare…YOU NEED TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Tim Murphy, get off of PA Politics blogging because you are running scared. You are a loose cannon and pathetic. Let’s name call…we all know about Murphy and how he treats his staff. If he is so unethical as a person, what kind of congressman does that make? Makes you wonder!! Maggi is a breath of fresh air.
come on Boockvar—come out of hiding
When’s Larry Maggi going to come clean about the donations he’s macing from county workers?
commissioner maggi tells folks he voted for mccain. Candidate maggi supports obamacare and takes money from nancy pelosi. Commissioner Maggi is prolife. Candidate Maggi wants to give taxpayer money to planned parenthood. Before that snaggle-toothed hayseed Maggi debates Tim Murphy he should finish the debate with himself.
Larry, how do you define whiling? Can you use it in a sentence please or for your case a mumbled string of incoherent words.
Why do the challengers always push for hundreds of debates when they clearly aren’t ready for prime time ? Don’t they realize they are going to get eaten alive. Recall Rick Perry’s flame out televised live. I guess that’s what makes these debates fun, watching the dummy get worked over after weeks beating their chest about the opponent being too scared to debate!
Did Larry Maggi just make up a word? Never heard of “whiling”
Maybe Murphy never got his letter because Larry is still spell checking
Oh Larry, how can Tim Murphy be at two different places at once. You complain he’s taking “vacations” in congress but then when he’s hard at work for the 18th in Washington DC you cry that he won’t debate you. Who ever is running your press needs fired!
Seems to be a republican strategy in Congressional races and legislative races. Hearing that in the 7th CD, Pat Meehan has refused to agree to debates with George Badey. Also, the Delco Times reports that Nick Micozzie refuses to debates requested by his opponent Sheamus Bonner in 163rd Legislative District race. http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/09/08/news/doc504ac1367b0f2799092183.txt
Murphy should be asking for a one on one debate with Larry every day until election day. Larry can’t string a single coherent sentence together. It is so painful to listen to him struggle on even the most simple of issues. The DCCC will soon be offering a surrogate to go debate on s behalf!
Larry is such a buffoon. Worst congressional candidate and campaign in recent history of any party inSWPA. Both Larry and his team would screw up a free lunch, and that’s basically all he does for a living is goes out to eat.