Step Into My Parlor...

An Asheville conservative contacted me last week to ask if I'd be interested in a unique opportunity. City Councilman and Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower had the idea that he'd like to have this Hooligan on the moderators' panel at the next Republican Congressional Candidate debate. People talked to people, and candidates John Armor and Spence Campbell agreed to take the plunge. After I spoke with the newly elected Buncombe County Republican Party Chair to ensure there weren't any hidden rules or restrictions, I said I'd do it.

The debate will take place in the URTV (public access) studio in Asheville on March 27th from 2pm to 3:30pm. There will be three or four panelists asking questions of the candidates. I'll be one of them. It will be recorded then played on URTV and available at Google Video.

It's a good political move for Mumpower to invite me. He's running as the straight-answers to tough questions candidate, so inviting a liberal blogger bolsters his tough guy cred. Armor isn't afraid to answer any questions either, so we'll see if he can swipe some of Carl's patina. Spence, I imagine, had no choice but to say yes (after saying, "Gordon who?") once the other two were on board.

In addition to being good for Carl, inviting someone from the opposite end of the political spectrum is good for democracy. I hope this move will encourage broader debates in all future contests. I realize that, to some extent, I'm serving as a useful fool for the Republicans, but their aims don't bother me and can be part of strengthening and adding integrity to this Congressional race.

Most importantly, inviting me to this debate will likely be part of future pressure on Heath Shuler to engage in debates before the general election. Imagine the "Spence Campbell took tough questions from a liberal blogger, but Shuler won't attend a debate hosted by (insert benign host here)?" During the Taylor/Shuler race, DebateGate was a hot, hot issue. Republicans will be looking to resurrect it, and I think Shuler ought to man up and debate as often as possible. Shuler is a better candidate than any of these Republicans, and he's gained a lot of poise and knowledge during his first term. Intellectuals like Mumpower and Armor will turn off folks in the hinterlands. Spence Campbell is Charles Taylor's boy, and everyone knows that party's over. Shuler just needs to show up, be honest, list his achievements, and let the people see that he's been a uniquely powerful first-term Congressman.

{This piece is cross-posted (with some edits for those of you outside the area) from Scrutiny Hooligans, who will have a contest next week asking folks to suggest questions to the candidates. Arratik is working on a cool interface for taking question suggestions, and we'll have the contest when he's got it ready to go. I'll let you know when it's time.}