GOP Fog: The Debate

The Democrats’ debate invitation sent to Republican Chair Vesce can be found here:  http://peekskill.patch.com/groups/opinion/p/peekskill-democratic-candida...

The response offered in Mr. Catalina’s letter re debates to Mayor Foster can be found here: https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1376339_621104547911821_186...

Oddly, nearly all of Mr. Catalina's proposal does not contradict, and is not opposed by, the Democratic candidates.  In fact, most of the proposal simply lists items that have been part of debates that the Democrats have happily participated in for years. But as usual, the GOP is making this needlessly complicated.  Mr. Catalina, in an October 7 Patch comment, wrote,” What's wrong with demanding the debate be replayed twice daily after the debate?”  Looks like moving the goal posts to me.  But let that pass.  There’s a larger problem here: insisting on replaying the tape of the debate “twice daily.”

 The League of Women Voters provides a videographer and turns the tape over to Cablevision local access.  Scheduling is not within the purview of the League or the candidates. City government cannot, under long standing policy and law, show the tape on its cable channel, which may not be used for politics.  Neither party has control over how often the public can view the tape on TV, but the Democrats will, I’m sure, join in any request along these lines that the GOP chooses to send to Cablevision.

There’s another, larger problem with Mr. Catalina’s proposal, though.  It ignored the Democrats’ request that both parties ask the neutral, non-partisan League of Women Voters to handle the organization and moderation of the debate.  It is exactly just such a disinterested party that should be the referee and not people with a personal stake in the outcome.  The voters will be able to submit questions.  They will be vetted by a bipartisan group of citizens.  Based on their long and well-deserved reputation for conducting fair debates and my own observation of debates in Peekskill, with and without the guidance of the League, I can’t imagine why anyone who expects to stand on the debate stage would refuse the services of the League.

In his October 7 Patch comment, Mr. Catalina also wrote, “My understanding fair terms are being discussed and there will be a debate IF its fair with certain guarantees.”  “Fair” is best achieved through the League of Women Voters.  What “guarantees” the GOP is demanding remains unclear.