In the race leading up to the special election for US Senate in Massachusetts, the structure of the contest's upcoming debates has become a point of contention between Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown. The
Boston Globe reports:
Coakley, the state’s attorney general, said she is reluctant to participate in any debates that do not include a little-known independent candidate, Joseph L. Kennedy. Most of the invitations Brown accepted are for debates that do not include Kennedy; six are scheduled during a nine-day period, and most are sponsored by media outlets.
Joe Kennedy is an independent libertarian and gathered the necessary petition signatures to qualify for ballot access last month. For his part, Kennedy is eager to confront Coakley and Brown in any and all debates. As noted by The Senator at
Kennedy Seat, who is following this race very closely, the Brown campaign has now effectively "shifted the onus to the various debate sponsors." But the Boston Globe article above quotes Coakley saying:
“It shouldn’t be two people in some debates, three in other debates,’’ she added. “I think everybody should be included, and I think we’re going to hold pretty firm on that.’’
The Democrat's apparent call for inclusiveness is undercut by the fact that there will be more than three candidates on Massachusetts ballots in January [
see correction in comments -d.]. Both
Politics1 and
The Green Papers list eight other independent candidates running for the seat formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy, among them
Jean Anne Kennedy-Windsor and
Stewart Lustgarten. Thus, one is justified in questioning the Coakley campaign's motives here. Nonetheless, Joe Kennedy has found an unlikely ally in the Democratic candidate. The question remains as to how debate sponsors will react to these developments. As it is in their best interests to do so, the people of Massachusetts should demand the inclusion of voices independent of the Democratic-Republican duopoly system of government.
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4 comments:
1) This would be good for IPR.
2) Error here:
"The Democrat's apparent call for inclusiveness is undercut by the fact that there will be more than three candidates on Massachusetts ballots in January. Both Politics1 and The Green Papers list eight other independent candidates running for the seat formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy, among them Jean Anne Kennedy-Windsor and Stewart Lustgarten."
Actually, none of those are on the ballot. They might be write-in candidates or candidates who took out nomination papers, but Kennedy is the only other candidate actually on the ballot with Coakley and Brown.
Thanks for the correction. And Coakley's motives are still questionable.
Definitely questionable. She probably thinks the Libertarian will "take" votes from the Republican and she wants to show people that Joe Kennedy isn't one of the famous Kennedys.
Yeah, I know, but I'm happy she's saying it anyway. As is Joe.
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