Conservatives Tend To Fear Debating Their Progressive Opponents

Yesterday, Marie Newman alerted the media in her district about how her opponent, Blue Dog Dan Lipinski is dodging debates again (Press release is above.) Her statement speaks for itself and will help Chicagoland voters understand what a coward-of-his-convictions Lipinski really is. I decided to ask a few of the other Blue America-endorsed candidates if they're facing the same problem with their Republican or DCCC-backed incumbents.

South Texas progressive Jessica Cisneros, whose inspiring campaign has been covered nationally and locally and has been endorsed by Bernie, AOC, Ayanna Pressley and Elizabeth Warren, as well as almost every progressive organization in the country. This morning her campaign spokesperson, told me that they have challenged Cuellar to debates over and over but that Cuellar-- a Lipinski crony and a reactionary whose policies don't mesh with his very progressive district-- has refused every single time. "Last month his campaign told us they won’t debate Jessica because she's 'not a serious candidate'." I'm not sure what "not a serious candidate" means. Is it that she's a woman? She's raised over a million dollars. Remember when Joe Crowley didn't consider AOC a serious candidate either? Or did you forget who he was already?





Last cycle Steve King was too scared to debate J.D. Scholten and never did. Scholten nearly beat him-- in a heavily Republican district-- and is challenging him against this year. King has given vague promises to debate this time... but hasn't yet. Similarly, another far right fanatic, Missouri closet case Jason Smith, ducked debating Kathy Ellis, last cycle and is unlikely  to man-up and debate her this cycle; he certainly hasn't so far.

Riverside County progressive Democrat Liam O'Mara is taking on corporate whore Ken Calvert (R). This morning, O'Mara told me that the League of Women Voters has talked about trying to host a debate and draw him in... I've asked Calvert directly and was greeted with silence. I will keep pressing Calvert, and plan later to do one without him when he continues to refuse. One idea is to place a cardboard cutout of him on the stage and have someone read comments he has made publically on the subject of the question."

It's worth mentioning that Trump has already indicated that he won't be debating his Democratic opponent, particularly not a coherent, policy-oriented one like Bernie or Elizabeth.