Debate Over Debate Rages Between Walz, D-MN, Rochester Chamber(Walz, D-MN, Declined to Participate)

Post-Bulletin Company ^ | 9/8/2010 | By Heather J. Carlson

[Son House]

Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce President John Wade said Wednesday he is disappointed that 1st District Rep. Tim Walz has chosen not to participate in a planned congressional debate.

"Candidly, this was a great opportunity to get off the wagon and check on the horses that are pulling this economy," Wade said.

The two-term DFL incumbent declined to participate in the Sept. 20 debate sponsored by the chamber and Post-Bulletin. Instead, he's opting for another debate in Rochester sponsored by the Minnesota News Network and AARP. The date for that debate has not yet been set. Walz will participate in two other debates as well, his campaign said.

Walz had said previously he would not participate in debates that required the audience to pay admission and he wanted all four congressional candidates to be invited. Rochester chamber events are usually breakfast or lunch events at a hotel and attendees pay for the meal. To try and address those concerns, Wade said they have decided to provide free admission to those who do not want to pay for the lunch. The chamber had invited Republican Randy Demmer and Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson to the debate but Wade said he was open to inviting the fourth candidate — independent Lars Johnson.

But Walz campaign spokeswoman Sara Severs said Walz had laid out his concerns well in advance and that he has made his final decision as to the three debates across the district he will participate in. They said the Rochester debate will be free and open to everyone — including chamber members.

"John can be assured there will be no shortage of discussion on job creation and economic growth in this campaign, it just will not be happening where he can charge folks for it," Severs said in a written statement.

Wade said he wonders why it was OK for Walz to participate in chamber-sponsored debates when he ran in 2006 and 2008.

"This organization is 150 years old. We have been doing this type of debate for many, many years and they have always been done in a fair way, and I will add that both challenger Walz and Congressman Walz has participated in these forums," he said.

Republicans are trying to make political hay out of Walz's decision not to participate in the debate. The National Republican Congressional Committee blasted Walz accusing him of snubbing Rochester job creators. The Walz campaign accused Wade of trying to make Walz's decision not to attend the debate a political decision.

"Unfortunately, John's reaction makes it seem as though he has chosen to act as a political arm of the Republican Party during this election cycle," Severs said in a statement.

Wade has been an active member of the Republican Party. But he said that the chamber's board has been represented by both Democrats and Republicans and that more than half of the chamber's board chairs have been Democrats.

"Our approach is definitely nonpartisan. We don't endorse candidates," Wade said.

[Son House]

Where's Walz? He continues to run from folks who would hold him accountable for not reading and understanding the bills he votes on.

[Son House]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/89886767.html?page=2&c=y

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., “...They just didn’t understand how we could save money on this by adding more people to the system...”

[Son House]

Looks like they were right at the Mayo Clinic, from;

http://www.stevecarlsonforcongress2010.com/node/31

Not comprehensive or aggressive enough to have an immediate impact on lowering the cost and improving the quality of health care. We are also concerned about the continued approach of funding reform through the use of across-the-board payment cuts.
(Mayo Clinic on ObamaCare)

[Son House]

the continued approach of funding reform through the use of across-the-board payment cuts.

That'll reduce your income, but hey, it was only supposed to get everyone insured...