Printable Version Tell a friend

Republicans' refusal to debate shows contempt for voters

(Idaho Democratic Party)

By Richard Stallings

Let’s take a trip through time, to the year 1858 and into what was then America’s frontier.

All across the state of Illinois, citizens were excitedly preparing stages for a series of debates between two great orators – Democratic U.S. Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, and a tall, quirky state legislator and Republican upstart named Abraham Lincoln.

Thousands of people came out to watch these masters of language. They were brilliant debates about the affairs of the times. Transcripts can still be read at http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/debates.htm.

It was a festive occasion. While the candidates were not particularly kind to one another, these two titans of American politics of the day behaved as gentlemen. And when they were finished, the people who heard them gained a better understanding about the positions of the candidates, and expanded their own knowledge and views of the nation and the world.  

After the election, Douglas, the incumbent, retained his seat in the U.S. Senate seat. But the Illinois debates of 1858 set the stage for the presidential campaign two years later. In 1860, it was Lincoln who prevailed, becoming America’s 16^th president and the man who would forever change the world with his decision to stop the south from seceding and ending slavery.

Today, interested observers no longer have to hitch up the wagon or ride scores of miles into town to hear such debates. We have magical technology that lets us broadcast moving pictures and words instantly across the state and across the country. All you need is a remote control, a comfortable chair and an hour of time.  

For a generation in Idaho, we have had a history of participation in statewide debates broadcast on Idaho Pubic Television; the only truly statewide television network, built specifically with the idea that some information, from emergency broadcasts to political debates, ought to be free and easily accessible to every Idahoan.

And for a generation, in every election cycle, statewide candidates have participated in such debates.

Now we have three statewide candidates – C.L. Otter, James Risch and Donna M. Jones – who, for whatever reason, are refusing to debate their Democratic opponents.

Nobody forced to them to run for statewide office; yet they are asking all of you for your votes. The least they can do is stand up, make their views public and let the voters judge for themselves.

This year, three of my Democratic friends find themselves shut out of fair play --  Jerry Brady, Larry LaRocco and Jackie Groves Twilegar. I am encouraging them to do anything in their power to persuade their opponents to the statewide debate stage, even if that means withholding themselves from other regional debates. After all, why should citizens in one region be more informed than citizens in another?

Finally, I call upon all those who hold the democratic process dear, to people of all political persuasions: Contact these Republican holdouts and reiterate to them their duty to debate.

Who knows, perhaps one of these six candidates will be America’s next Abraham Lincoln.

Richard Stallings is chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former congressman from Idaho’s 2^nd District.