Schmookler goes to sports metaphor in push for debate
Facing an uphill battle for attention, campaign cash and votes, Democrat Andy Schmookler returned to Roanoke today to complain that U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte is stalling on having a debate that will bring their differences before the 6th District voters.
Schmookler, a writer from Shenandoah County, made a similar tour of the lengthy district in early August that prompted the Goodlatte campaign to announce the incumbent would debate, but after Congress adjourns for the election. The 112th Congress recessed Aug. 5 and resumes work Monday. Congress is scheduled to be in session until Sept. 21, then have “constituent weeks” for five of the six weeks before the Nov. 6 election, according to the House Calendar.
Schmookler said he’s had no communication from the Goodlatte campaign since then except to say that nothing would be scheduled until the end of September when Goodlatte’s schedule clears.
“Mr. Goodlatte hopes to run out the clock, rather than get onto the playing field against his opponent so that voters can see how he plays the game,” Schmookler said before 15 supporters gathered at the Roanoke City Council chambers. “He wants credit for agreeing to debate, without taking the risk of actually debating.”
Goodlatte campaign manager Chris Leavitt responded simply today with the assurance that Goodlatte “will debate his Democratic opponent. He’s done this with every Democratic opponent he’s had in the past.”
Once Congress adjourns for the election, the campaign will work to determine a schedule. The debate could happen in “potentially late September to early October,” Leavitt said.
Schmookler called for several debates in different areas of the district, formats determined by independent groups and making the debates open to broadcast throughout the district.
He linked Goodlatte’s delay to “a comprehensive assault in America today on the foundations of the American democracy.”
“He’s been working his way up the leadership ladder by serving interests whose goals are injurious to the people he’s supposed to represent,” Schmookler said. “If he’s not willing to debate me, it puts a spotlight on the fact that he’s not putting the interest of the voters foremost.”
Leavitt said the Goodlatte campaign has had debate requests from several different organizations and has “expressed the same thing that once Congress adjourns for the elections, we’ll come back to the table and try to determine something at that point.”
September 6, 2012 - 3:49 PM
A debate with progressive Dr. Schmookler should make Bob Goodlatte appear to be conservative. When and if Bob does debate Andy, he will need to watch that Andy doesn’t come across as more familiar with the Constitution, and more responsive to constituents, than Bob himself. The 6th is filled with conservative constitutionalists who deplore Goodlatte’s establishment style — and a whole lot of other people who really want to see if there is a suitable alternative after twenty years of Goodlatte’s quiet compromise. One possible holdup — I understand that Goodlatte’s office refuses, at this time, to agree to a live broadcast or TV recording of any debate. I hope that isn’t true.
Cong. Goodlatte has a long history of supporting legislation that is anti-environmental, anti-women and pro-big corporations. He has consistantly voted to thwart any and all job creation proposals by the current Administration at a time when unemployment is a serious problem in Virginia. He has the most consistant negative voting record of any member of th4e Republican wing of the Congress. His constituents deserve to hear his positions discussed in several debates with his opponent Andy Schmookler.
If you come to any of Mr. Schmookler’s meeting I think you will find a “Constituent” candidate with a strong knowledge of constitutionality and a man who speaks the truth.
Wouldn’t the truth be refreshing?
In the last two weeks, I have received through email two official looking documents from Rep. Goodlatte’s office about issues of so-called urgent attention (welfare reform and the debt) and subtly or not so subtly laying the blame at the current administration’s feet. The timing of each is highly suspect. Both are blatant propaganda for the Romney campaign that rely on considerable twisting of the facts. In particular, regarding the national debt of $16T, which doubled under Ronald Reagan and nearly doubled again under George W Bush, Rep. Goodlatte bears considerable responsibility for rubber stamping virtually all Bush initiatives, including (I believe) two wars and tax cuts for the wealthy. Andy Schmookler will call him to task for these failures and these deceptions. No wonder he is trying to run out the clock on the debate and avoid TV cameras.