Posted on 04/29/2014 7:15:56 AM PDT by cotton1706
It is “unbecoming” of a member of Congress like Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) to refuse to debate a credible primary challenger like state Sen. Chris McDaniel, a top Mississippi newspaper’s editorial board wrote Sunday.
“We understand such decisions are based on calculated political risks and rewards,” the Jackson Clarion-Ledger editorial board wrote of Cochran’s refusal to debate McDaniel, as well as the refusal of Rep. Steven Palazzo to debate former Democrat Gene Taylor, who switched parties to challenge Palazzo. “It is generally the case that an incumbent has little to gain from debating, whereas a challenger is given the opportunity to directly challenge his opponent’s record. Nevertheless, some decisions should – and in many cases do – go beyond political calculations.”
The Clarion-Ledger editorial board argued that Cochran’s refusal to debate McDaniel stifles the free flow of ideas crucial to a functioning democracy. “Part of our democracy is the open and frank discussion of ideas,” the paper wrote. “This is vital in the election process between two viable candidates who have legitimate differences in political philosophies. While such differences are more common in general elections, we have seen a number of examples in Mississippi where heated primaries featured candidates sharing a stage in order to debate.”
The paper cites how Mississippi Republicans have traditionally, and recently, never shied away from debates in primaries. In 2008, 2010, and 2011, the paper noted, there were heated GOP primaries for Mississippi’s third congressional district seat, first district seat, and for the governorship and lieutenant governorship, respectively. In those cases, Gov. Phil Bryant, Rep. Alan Nunnelee, and Rep. Gregg Harper – each of whom won the races – actually agreed to debate their opponents.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Thad is scared and he should be. We are seeing lots of commercials for Chris McDaniel locally. Thad is relying on the old boy network to keep him in. I don’t think it will be enough this time around. Tea Party members are infiltrating the Republican Party network and we will eventually take the whole thing over. We are facing a fight though. The old boys aren’t going easily. It has gotten nasty in some instances but we are not giving up.
Yep every time a McDaniel ad runs on FNC Thad has an ad run right behind it and it is always a negative smear ad on McDaniel.
Cochran is a coward. Does not want to earn his seat.
He wants it given to him.
Throw the bum out.
Mississippi Ping!
That Clarion-Ledger Editorial needs to be printed and mailed to every registered Republican voter in Mississippi.
Thad Cochran knows he would lose a debate and be seen as the coward he is.
Retire Thad Cochran
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