One way or another, we will have a gubernatorial debate.
The Houston Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman and the state’s other major newspapers will host a gubernatorial debate this fall, even if just one candidate shows up.
The newspapers, along with Austin public television station KLRU, will deliver a letter to Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic challenger Bill White today, inviting them to a debate at the KLRU studios on the University of Texas campus Oct. 19.
Perry has said he will not accept debate invitations until White agrees to release his income tax returns from his time as deputy energy secretary in the mid-1990s.
“If only one candidate shows up for the debate, we will discuss issues with him alone for the entire hour,” says the letter, which is signed by the editors of the American-Statesman, the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, as well as Bill Stotesbery, the CEO of KLRU.
How should the debate sponsors best represent Rick Perry?
1. Empty chair
2. Cardboard cutout
3. Guy dressed in a chicken suit
4. Other
Leave a comment and let me know.
One more thing:
The sponsors plan to make the debate available to television outlets around the state. But federal regulations limit how much airtime a station can give a particular candidate, which means a one-candidate debate might not be televised.
“It could affect our broadcast plans, but we will be working over the next couple of weeks to define that more clearly,” Stotesbery said.
Newspapers will stream the debate on their websites regardless of how many candidates participate, but television likely would offer a much broader audience.
The sponsors will invite all candidates who register at least 10 percent support in a September poll conducted by the newspapers, meaning minor-party candidates are not likely to participate.
Seems to me if there ever were a time to be more generous to third-party candidates, this would be it. From a purely partisan perspective, I would prefer to see Bill White have the stage to himself for an hour. I don’t see how the organizers of this debate can justify that. If all the editorial boards that called on Perry to act like a grownup and face the voters in public don’t get their wish, there’s no reason not to let the other candidates in instead.
UPDATE: Nick Anderson votes for the cardboard cutout.
For equal time considerations, I would ask the empty chair questions and follow it with three minutes of silence.
What does Rick Perry expect to find in Bill White’s tax returns from the early 1990’s?
Also, as a White supporter, I wonder – why not just release these returns? And then REALLY put the pressure on Perry to show up at the debates – I’m thinking “What is your excuse NOW, COWARD?” advertisements.
We all know that White has a lot of money and must have made it somehow. Even if some of it was made “questionably”, I still think that is far better than what Rick Perry has done – which is to sell out the people of Texas time and time again to its most right-wing constituents.
Let’s clear the air and get the debate on. Bill White’s best chance at victory involves actually debating Rick Perry, or making Perry look like an absolute fool for not debating him.
How about a cardboard cutout in the shape of a shampoo bottle? Generic, of course; mustn’t give any free P/R to Prell or Head and Shoulders or whatever.
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The politically safe tactic of avoiding debates will lose some of its effectiveness as time goes on. If Gov. Perry continues that strategy, I think his positions should be presented by a box of hair.
A wig on a broomstick. If Gary Trudeau has already represented someone else that way, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.
Bob42’s box of hair is a good idea, too, because Rick Perry’s debate-ducking sure suggests he’s as dumb as one.
I think that Texas citizens interested in honest debate should ensure that Kathie Glass gets at least 10% in the newspapers’ online poll in September. Such a showing will give her a place at the debate and it will force Rick Perry’s hand. He wouldn’t dare allow Kathie Glass and Bill White to have a televised debate without him, would he?
I think that Texas citizens interested in honest debate should ensure that Kathie Glass gets at least 10% in the newspapers’ online poll in September. Such a showing will give her a place at the debate and it will force Rick Perry’s hand. He wouldn’t dare allow Kathie Glass and Bill White to have a televised debate without him, would he?
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In my opinion, the debate should consist of only Bill White being asked questions and presenting his ideas. Glass doesn’t have 10%, and let’s face it, her presence is going to serve to start splitting the votes. Just because perry is a coward, it should not mean that Mr. White should provide someone with less than 10% of the polls an opportunity to further distract voters. If anything Glass should drop out as she has no chance of winning. It will give voters a great opportunity to really get to know White and what a great governor he will make.
As for how to present chicken perry at the debate, nothing will be a better than an empty chair or podium with a mic in front of it, it’s simple, and it says it all.