Angry Candidate Leaves Debate

[demokatgurrl]

DOYLESTOWN, PA-October 26, 2004 — Ginny Schrader, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat from Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, left a debate with Republican Mike Fitzpatrick, saying she was angry over a GOP mailer that criticized her screening of a controversial film at a fund-raiser.

Click here for more CAMPAIGN 2004 news
Sponsored by the National Republican Congressional Committee and sent out Saturday, the mailer criticized Schrader's decision in July to screen Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which is sharply critical of President Bush and the war in Iraq.

The mailing, headlined "Ginny Schrader: The Hate America crowd has found their candidate," claims Hezbollah, a group of Lebanon-based guerillas identified by the United States and Israel as terrorists, has offered to distribute Moore's film.

"Let me assure you, I don't hate America," Schrader said in her opening remarks Monday. "This mentions Hezbollah. Half my family is Jewish. This is totally unacceptable."
MORE.....>

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/10262004_campaign_schraderdebate.html

[trotsky]

1. Good for her.

Former hostage Terry Anderson walked out of a debate too, after his Republican opponent put out a flyer that tarred him as a "blame America" journalist.

[aden_nak]

2. HEZZZZBOLLAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

[liberalnurse]

3. It concerns me that neither one

stood up to the abuse. These debates can reflect how effect the candidate will fight for us in Congress. This is what they will have to face on the job; Hostile, Abusive Repubs.......

[demokatgurrl]

4. Yes, but maybe if enough candidates protest in this way

the parties will be forced to civility.

Oh, never mind, I guess that IS a crazy idea.

[liberalnurse]

7. It's too easy to quit......

We need Democrats with spine.......I have a "mighty spine" indeed.

[NoPasaran]

5. Sadly, I have to agree

"If you can't stand the heat..." and all that.

[Patiod]

6. In the same area, ads are associating Dem w/Talaban

Ads against Lois Murphy, also running in the Phila 'burbs, say that she is funded by Moveon.com, which "supports the Taliban, which supports rape, terrorism and kidnappingr. You should be judged by the company you keep."

I was talking to Lois on Sunday, and she laughed about it. "So I support rape, terrorism and kidnapping?" And since when does Move On support the Taliban, anyway?

These folks will have to stand up to DeLay & worse, who will hit them with so many lies their heads will spin. They can't just walk out of a debate. They need to be able to calmly turn the discussion around. I couldn't do it myself (need some more of that good Quaker Light) but I'm not running for office.

[dolstein]

8. Sorry, but only losers walk away from debates

When Jim Bunning does this, we say he's crazy. But when a Democrat does this, DU'ers shout "you go girl!"

Spare me. A serious candidate doesn't pass up the opportunity to debate their opponent. A serious candidate stands and fights.

[crispini]

9. Agree. She should have stayed.

Now, I can understand taking a moment to cool down. Because if someone did this to me I'd want to kill them. :)

[flobee1kenobi]

11. should have stayed

but how do you have an honest debate with someone who lies distorts and insults everything you stand for? Its to the point that noone can make a statement anymore without it being misquoted and then used against you.

[ClassWarrior]

12. Kill them?

Bad choice of words, friend.

24.

[crispini]

13. See the smiley? It means "hyperbole." Look it up.

Also the words "want to," not "would." There's a world of difference between saying "I wanna knock your block off" and actually DOING IT.

Anyone impugning my patriotism would piss me off ENORMOUSLY. To the point that I *would* have to restrain myself from taking a swat at their ugly mug...

[trotsky]

10. It gets attention.

It gets people talking about WHY they left the debate, which focuses on the despicable actions taken by Republican candidates.

Sure it would be nice to stay and debate, but in this soundbite world a candidate has only so few opportunties to send a powerful message. I think in these cases it's acceptable.