Roy Blunt is at it again. Much like the late night votes he has engineered in Congress, he attempted to engingeer a so-called "debate" that would be out of the public eye and designed to fit his agenda.
Here is the article that appeared in the Springfield News-Leader this morning:
http://springfield.news-leader.com/news/today/0910-Detailson7-175631.html
Published September 10, 2004
Details on 7th District debate emerge
By Matt Wagner
News-Leader Staff
Event will be covered by the media, but not open to the public.
Three 7th District congressional candidates slated to attend what is being billed as their first debate Saturday have three distinct opinions about the hastily organized event.
The Republican incumbent who suggested the debate -- U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt -- said he's pleased by the opportunity.
Blunt's Democratic challenger, Springfield attorney Jim Newberry, prefers a more public setting but has grudgingly agreed to participate.
Libertarian candidate Kevin Craig is just glad he was invited.
The Ozark Press Association is sponsoring the debate, which will follow the Missouri Press Association convention at Springfield's University Plaza Hotel. It will begin at 3 p.m. and last an hour.
Dave Berry, publisher of the Bolivar Herald-Free Press and past president of the MPA, organized the debate after an "impromptu conversation" Tuesday with Blunt, the third highest-ranking House Republican.
Later that afternoon, Blunt's campaign issued a news release stating the congressman had accepted the invitation of the Ozark Press Association, a group of reporters and editors from southwest Missouri that meets each spring.
But Berry said candidates never received formal invitations.
Newberry's campaign learned about the debate from Robert Leger, editorial page editor at the News-Leader.
After speaking with Berry, Leger agreed to contact Newberry, Craig and Constitution Party candidate Steve Alger of Carthage about participating in the debate.
But Newberry's campaign manager, D. Foster, was reluctant to commit after Berry reportedly told him TV cameras wouldn't be present, a moderator hadn't been selected and time may not allow rebuttals.
However, Foster said Thursday that Newberry has agreed to attend the debate after learning the specifics of the format.
"All I'm asking for is a fair shake," he said. "We just wanted to make sure this was something that was well put together and on Tuesday it was not well put together."
Berry sent out an e-mail Thursday summarizing the debate format.
Candidates will draw for order, and each one will have two minutes for opening and closing remarks.
Chris Wrinkle, editor of the Lebanon Daily Record, will moderate, and panelists from the News-Leader, Nixa News-Enterprise and Joplin Globe will ask the candidates a series of questions.
Candidates only have one minute to respond and their opponents will each be allotted 30 seconds for a rebuttal.
Print, TV and radio reporters -- but not the public -- are invited.
In a statement issued Thursday, Newberry agreed to participate but said future debates should be open to the public.
"While this event is not a good way to inform the public, it is at least a start, so I will be there," he said. "I look forward to having a real public debate with Mr. Blunt after this closed-door event occurs."
Craig was just grateful for the chance to have his voice heard.
"I'm in the race to promote an ideology on issues, and the only way I can do that is if there's a lot of media coverage," he said. "Beggars can't be choosers."
Craig said he hopes to woo some of Blunt's supporters who think the House majority whip has too often favored large government in Congress.
Craig and Blunt have also committed to an Oct. 1 debate that will be hosted by KOZK television and KSMU radio. Newberry will also likely attend, Foster said.
The debate will be simulcast on TV stations in Joplin and Springfield as well as radio stations in Springfield, Branson, Neosho, Mountain Grove, West Plains and Joplin.
"We kind of virtually cover the whole 7th District," said Arlen Diamond, director of broadcast services.
Diamond said the debate's format will allow constituents to e-mail or call in questions for candidates who attend.
In a statement Thursday, Blunt thanked the Southwest Missouri State University stations for the invitation.
"I view it as a great opportunity to make sure voters in every corner of the 7th District can tune in for a discussion of the issues that are most important to them," Blunt said.