Maybe Melina Should Be Running Instead
The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Democrat 7th CD candidate Andre Carson has reneged on his agreement to participate in a candidate forum scheduled for this evening at Arlington Heights Baptist Church.
Democrat Andre Carson pulled out of a forum tonight that was to feature the first joint appearance by candidates for the 7th Congressional District seat.
Brad Klopfenstein, a former executive director of the county Libertarian Party, coordinated the event, which was being held at the Arlington Heights Baptist Church at 7:30 tonight. Klopfenstein said Carson’s campaign agreed to appear several weeks ago and then called today around noon to cancel because of a scheduling conflict.
A campaign scheduler, Klopfenstein said, informed him that Melina Kennedy, a former deputy mayor and county prosecutor candidate, will speak as Carson’s surrogate.
Campaign manager Alex Zwerdling said Carson had agreed in December to attend another forum at The Way United Methodist Church that focuses on politics and the black community. That event is scheduled to run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. but Zwerdling said it may run longer. The distance between the two forums is six miles.
So many questions jump out at me just from those short paragraphs.
First, why agree to appear at a candidate forum when you already had something else scheduled? Secondly, why is Melina Kennedy appearing on his behalf? She’s not the one running, Andre is! Third, SIX FREAKIN’ MILES?!?! What kind of contempt must you have for the voters if you can’t have your handler (read: Wilson Allen) drive you six miles to appear at a forum that’s supposed to end the same time your other scheduled event begins? I’m sure the voters would have been more than happy to wait.
Jon Elrod’s campaign issued this statement in response to Andre’s absence:
Tonight, as reported in the Indianapolis Star (B1 February 12, 2008), was to be the first of several forums and debates proposed by local community and media organizations between candidates for the vacant 7th congressional seat.
Elrod Campaign spokesman, Kyle Kasting, stated “Jon was very disappointed that Andre Carson backed out of tonight’s forum. Jon Elrod is ready to debate and the voters of the 7th district are ready to hear where Jon and Andre stand on the issues. Jon is committed to running a campaign of substance. Jon believes the people of the 7th district want to hear more than sound bytes plugged into 30 second TV ads. It is clear people are unhappy with our leaders in Washington and Jon Elrod is the candidate who will bring change to Washington.”
Today the Elrod campaign is challenging the Carson Campaign to three debates, one each week for the last three weeks leading up to the special election date of March 11th.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
In a campaign that is running on such a compressed schedule it would seem that Carson 2.0 would be interested in appearing before as many voters as possible. Sure, you may not make the start of the event but you can at least leave a little early from the first event and arrive just a tad late for the second event. It would be one thing if we’re talking about one of Indiana’s larger congressional districts and one event was at one end of the district and the other event was several counties away.
Perhaps Carson and his handlers know that he won’t fair to well in an open debate.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Andre Carson is not ready to take the heat to serve the people. Also the Nat’l Democrats are already up with a radio ad attack Elrod calling on people to send Bush a message.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:08 am
This cracks me up - President Bush won’t even BE the president in 11 months and the Dems can’t do anything better than to continue the “Impeach Bush and Cheney” mantra?
If the Dems do get B. Hussein Obama elected - he can be as crooked as he wants and the mere suggestion of criticism or impeachment will be met with cries of “RACISM!” by the Dems.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Good point Michael. And if the winner is Hillary the charge at those who disagree with her is that they are sexists biggots.
Being a liberal means you don’t have to apologize very often.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I read a quote earlier today by Obama, which was very good on this: he said that Bush would not be on the ballot this year, but the “Bush war” in Iraq and the Bush “taxcuts for the rich” will be.
He may well be right. I hope the taxcuts are figured on the ballot–I think that is a winning issue for Republicans.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Jon Elrod needs to hit Carson and say when Mr Carson talks change and is already going to DC with the same hit my opponents attitude it does not benefit the residents on DC. I will go to DC and work across the spectrum to get things done