SDWC KELOland post: Johnson refuses all debates in an unprecedented move
I just did this post at KELOland to summarize what’s transpired in the last 45 minutes, as well as to further expand on an earlier post.
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As with many South Dakotans, I just heard the news that Tim Johnson is going to be declining not just a debate at Dakotafest, but the campaign will not debate at all! Despite earlier assurances, the Johnson camp is removing all illusions that a demonstration of the Senator’s ability to do the job of US Senator will take place.
In one fell swoop, the same Johnson team that blundered all the goodwill with the media earned during his recovery on grabbing a few national headlines has now placed this race into the tossup category.
The SDGOP in an early statement is calling the move Unbelievable, Unprecedented and Unacceptable and further notes that “This action is an insult to our democracy.” At the least.
If you look at previous races, even Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin debated Bruce Whalen after Whalen’s campaign manager questioned whether she was pregnant at the time with her chief of staff’s child; a rumor originating with a vandalization of her wikipedia entry. She was utterly insulted and furious – yet she still recognized that South Dakotans demand that their politics are retail, and not won on television. And the joint appearances took place.
Unprecedented is the only word out there to describe this. What would have happened if Lincoln had said that he wasn’t up to it with Douglas? We’d have likely had a different president. And that’s just what might happen this November.
So far the media and electorate have been patient in giving Johnson the benefit of the doubt on whether he’s up to another term in the US Senate. Unfortunately for him, his camp has now removed all doubt, and it is not in his favor.
This is pretty convincing evidence that Senator Johnson is not up to the job, and that while his staff can carry him just so far in an effort to save their jobs, there are some things on which they just cannot fake the job description.
Unfortunately, Johnson missed the deadline to withdraw. Because if he’s not up to the rigors of the campaign, as well as the duties of a US Senator, then as sad as it is to say, he should not be running.
Period.
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Comments
Ahem….
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of formal political debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in a campaign for one of Illinois’ two United States Senate seats. Although Lincoln lost the election, these debates launched him into national prominence which eventually led to his election as President of the United States.
The fact is, Lincoln did exactly what you advocate (agree to debate) in a senate race (just like this one) and he lost.
So why would you use that example to argue that Johnson should debate? Are you saying that it if he debates Dykstra it will lead to his election as President of the United States? That seems doubtful…
[then why would he be a big chicken about it? -pp]
I love the “this action is an insult to our democracy,” line by the state party.
Given that half of the commentators here say that Johnson should step aside and not let the voters have a say in whether or not he should be elected.
Why are so many around here afraid to let the voters decide?
Johnson is playing on our heartstrings as caring South Dakotans. “I want to thank the South Dakotans for the help in the past year during my recovery….” etc…
Dykstra needs to capitalize on this. If Johnson cannot debate Dykstra in South Dakota at a fair– how in the world is he going to protect South Dakota’s interests on the Senate floor?!
Johnson says he will not participate in the debates because a “debate would accurately reflect my capabilities.” The definition of capable is “having the ability or capacity for”. Either he possesses the ability and capacity to debate or he doesn’t. I’m making no statements about the Senators ability to think or reason simply his ability to express his positions.
Regardless of abilities or capabilities there are issue based differences between these candidates and without a debate it will be difficult to get to the nuts and bolts of those differences.
Maybe Johnson staffers should just debate Dykstra. Looks like they are the captains of this ship anyway.
capable of,
a. having the ability or capacity for:
Thanks Webster. Maybe if the GOP would have been able to find a candidate that could compete (and self fund)there would be a need for a debate.
From my point of view I don’t need a debate to be able to size up the candidates.
Pat,
I love the Lincoln/Douglas example. It’s great to say that if Lincoln hadn’t debated, Douglas would have won.
Except that Douglas did win. It was a race for an Illinois Senate seat in 1858, not the race for the presidency. And you’re supposed to be a professor?
Once again, your hysteria got in the way of your facts.
Clearly, you’re afraid of the voters deciding who is and who is not fit to serve as Senator. Make your case, let the voters decide. Tim has every right to run. And if more voters agree with you (which they won’t), they’ll vote for whats-his-name.