Debate deciding is hard work

Poor John Carter. He's having such a hard time fulfilling his role as the debate decider.

U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, said Wednesday he does not know if he will join District 31 challengers Mary Beth Harrell, a Democrat, and Matt McAdoo, a Libertarian, in a public television station KNCT-TV (Channel 46) candidate's forum in October.

The station invited candidates in five area races to participate in forums to be taped in early October and broadcast one per night the week of Oct. 16-20.

Station rules, said Max Rudolph, general manager, are that each forum must include all candidates in a race to be broadcast. In the District 31 race, Rudolph said Ms. Harrell and McAdoo have accepted the invitation but he has not heard from Carter.

"No, no, no - I don't believe I'm going to be able to do that," Carter said. "I mean, that's public television and that's public radio. I will have to think about that. I might do it. I haven't decided yet."

Asked if he would appear in some other forum, Carter said, "We'll see."

Carter was asked if he told the Austin American-Statesman that Harrell had not earned the right to appear with him on stage.

"No, not exactly," he said. "(To) the American-Statesman, what I said was, 'you earn the right to debate me - by (showing) your credibility,'" Carter said.

Sure is easy to see how he's such a qualified evaluater of credibility, isn't it? I can almost feel his authoritative aura from here. Thanks for the link to Vince, who has an appropriate picture for the occasion.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 25, 2006 to Election 2006 | TrackBack