Lt. Gov. debate schedule announced
Friends, I am pleased to announce that the NC Federation of College Democrats has finalized its schedule for the Lt. Gubernatorial candidate debates I proposed here last month. Both Dan Besse and I have agreed to participate in all six debates, starting with an event in Asheville on Jan. 19.
I want to thank the College Dems for their hard work in assembling a schedule that includes most of the state’s major urban areas and incorporates a wide range of educational institutions. As those of us running for executive office know, organizing any sort of statewide effort is a monumental task, and I applaud the College Dems for not shirking from the challenge.
Unfortunately, I’ve just been notified that the NCFCD is still waiting on a response from Hampton Dellinger. I believe voters deserve to learn about all four candidates’ stances on the issues in this race, and hope Hampton and Walter Dalton will soon join Dan Besse and me in committing to these important debates.
A list of debate dates and sponsors follows: I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Jan 19
UNCA, Asheville
2 p.m.Jan. 24
Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville
7 p.m.Feb. 7
Salem College, Winston-Salem
7 p.m.Feb. 21
Collaboration between Peace College, Meredith and NC State, Raleigh
7 p.m.Mar. 1
Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte
2 p.m.Mar. 20
Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington
7 p.m.
- PSmathers2008's blog
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Thanks for letting us know the schedule!
I will see you all in Fayetteville!
I hope that all 4 candidates will be there. It doesn't seem like that big of a commitment to make - 6 debates.
Do we know what the format of the debates will be?
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
We're still waiting for Hampton to respond
to the College Democrats' proposed schedule. The draft proposal was sent to the candidates on December 9, so that we could react to the suggested dates. The final proposal came to us on December 13. I have accepted the final proposal (as has Pat Smathers) and I look forward to the six debates as scheduled.
Part of the College Dems' proposal also involved a meeting or consultation involving representatives of the participating campaigns to finalize the format. Unfortunately, we can't do that until Hampton follows through on his commitment to the debates by accepting the schedule. I assume that we would have heard by now if he already had a specific conflicting schedule commitment that he could not change. I don't like to sound too impatient, but it's time to get rolling on this.
Naturally, I'd love to see Walter change his mind and join us as well.
Dan Besse
Democrat for Lieutenant Governor
I would love to see all 4 of you debate, too Dan.
It just doesn't say much for a candidate to be unwilling to meet his opponents in a debate on the issues. Hampton Dellinger so far has seemed willing to do that - I'm sure it's schedule thing. But for Dalton to be so unresponsive leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Dalton must not have watched the West Wing.
Remember how the "front-runners" wouldn't let the others debate with them, so they held their own debates. I say good riddance to corporate Democrats and don't worry about showing up Mr. Dalton.
Hamp has responded below, I think he raises a good point that if there were other organizations trying to put together a debate, then it should be figured into the schedule before a final commitment.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Don't say West Wing
It makes me pine. The only thing worse than the pain of withdrawal from West Wing was those experienced at the end of Deadwood.
And, alas, we'll never see candidates like Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Hampton Dellinger on the
Hampton Dellinger on the debates….
I look forward to participating in the January 19th debate in Asheville and to finalizing dates for the additional five debates. I believe the final debate schedule should include the BlueNC-sponsored event I have already committed to as well as the Wake County Democratic event long ago proposed by the county’s Progressive Dem and Democratic Women’s groups. I have been encouraging Wake County Democratic Party members to work with the College Dems to see if all the Wake County Dem groups can find a common debate date. The goal should be find debate dates, locales, and mediums that will allow the greatest number of voters to assess the candidates in a meaningful way. Look forward to seeing Dan, Pat, and (hopefully) Walter at UNC-A if not before.
See - that's what I figured. It's a scheduling thing.
I would like to see you in Fayetteville, though Mr. Dellinger. There will be a lot of folks there who can't make it to Wake Co. C'mon. You know you want to.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
What treat them as either-or?
Hampton, good to hear from you on this.
Why treat the Raleigh event as either-or with the College Democrats series? I've already committed to the Wake County event on March 6 as well. At most, we could consolidate the February 21 Raleigh debate with it, and hold the others as well. That will maximize the number of local voters around the state who can hear us directly.
There's a great deal of value to finalizing a statewide schedule of debates now, while our respective calendars have the most flexibility left in them. Do you have specific conflicts with any of the other dates? If so, let's agree on alternatives for those.
Dan
Dan Besse
Democrat for Lieutenant Governor
Working with County Parties
We are looking forward to County Party involvement in this N.C. Federation of College Democrats Lt. Gubernatorial debate series.
We have had many county parties contact us regarding potential collaboration for the debate series. We will work with county Party leadership in each respective (and surrounding) counties as we proceed with the planning of these debates.
The work that goes into the planning of a debate series is quite the task and we are happy to do it in order to bring these very important and substantive issues to the public arena.
I dont know my schedule
But I hope to be in the state for at least 1 of these
"Keep the Faith"
I've just emailed my
I've just emailed my senator, Mr. Dalton, to ask him why he won't represent himself in these debates.
I await his response.
Skeered?
Today, our local paper ran an AP article announcing the debate. It also mentioned it wasn't clear if Dalton was going to participate.
It probably wouldn't sit too kindly with the folk around here knowing their Senator, the self proclaimed "front runner" in this race, would not be anxious to grasp this opportunity to represent himself and the values of the people of his district.
That's awesome news.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
In NC local papers tend to do what frontrunners want them to
That's why I doubt you see your local paper mention that he won't be there. Local papers hide behind "we don't have staff" to avoid reporting any actual news.
I wonder if they'd print a letter to the editor about it from a local resident. Hint hint . . .
News of the 10th district: See Pat Go Bye Bye,
Here's a link to the article
Here's a link to the article as it was published in our paper.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2190296/
Hey Rip that link does't work
at least not in my browser. Oh, but I just cut and pasted it and it's fine . . . I think the embedded link has three backslashes.
What's your paper?
News of the 10th district: See Pat Go Bye Bye,
Another Article Today
My local paper is "The Daily Courier" it's subscription only online as well. The link was to the generic AP article available to all publications.
Today in "The Daily Courier" there is an article about the debates in which Dalton explains his plans. Basically he says he thinks there will be many opportunities to debate and that he and his staff will decide when and if he will participate at a later date.
Quoting Dalton from the article....
Good ol' Boy doublespeak - expect more of the same if he's elected.
Sorry Walter, you've lost my vote.
I'm very excited to read about this.
I'll let my family, friends and collegues know about these events and I'll see you at the Winston-Salem event, and hopefully in Raleigh as well.
I do hope to be able to hear from each candidate.
North Carolina. Turning the South Blue!
I certainly won't vote for a candidate I don't hear from.
On that you can depend.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
NCFCD to Proceed with Debate Planning
While we agree with the sentiments stated by Mr. Dellinger, we will proceed with the debate planning as scheduled.
The debates will be centered on central issues agreed to by the campaigns. These debates will not be centered on College Democrats issues and all groups will be solicited for input as we are directed by a consensus of the campaigns.
The Federation is still waiting on an official response from the Dellinger campaign. The debate schedule proposed has the potential to take all of Mr. Dellinger's concerns into account. We can't implement changes regarding these concerns until we officially hear from the candidate.
We look forward to hearing from Mr. Dellinger and we are excited to be working with the respective campaigns to make this an impressive and informative debate series.
I will be there.
Thank you, College Democrats.
I plan to participate in each of the six debates.
I believe that each of the Democratic candidates who is serious about an open process and issue-oriented campaigns will do the same.
Dan Besse
Democrat for Lieutenant Governor