Lautenberg Retracts Promise for 21 Debates

NewsMax.com ^ | 10/06/02 | Carl Limbacher and Crew

[NormsRevenge]

Sunday Oct. 6, 2002; 2:09 p.m. EDT

Lautenberg Retracts Promise for 21 Debates

A spokesman for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Frank Lautenberg has retracted Lautenberg's promise, offered just yesterday, that he would meet his Republican opponent Doug Forrester for 21 debates in different New Jersey counties before Election Day.

Asked whether his boss intended to honor the 21-debate pledge, Lautenberg spokesman Tom Shea told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg, "Absolutely not."

"We'll do debates," Shea explained. "The voters of the state will have plenty of opportunities to hear the two candidates. Twenty-one debates in 21 counties with only 30 days left in the race is a little impractical."

But on Saturday, during an impromptu encounter between the two candidates in Oldbridge, N.J., Lautenberg seemed to unequivocally agree to the 21 debate schedule.

"If you go on the ballot I'd like to challenge you to 21 debates in 21 counties," Forrester told Lautenberg, as the two stood only inches from each other with reporters looking on.

While Lautenberg refused to respond directly to the Republican's invitation, NBC News reporter Arnold Diaz, who witnessed the exchange, asked the 78-year old ex-Senator seconds later, "Mr. Lautenberg, are you going to do the debates if you're the candidate?"

"Of course," Lautenberg responded without hesitation, in comments captured on videotape and broadcast nationally on "Fox News Sunday."

Reacting to Lautenberg's debate flip-flop, Forrester told Malzberg, "I'm very unhappy to hear that they're back-peddling so fast."

The Republican complained that Lautenberg had already nixed an invitation to appear with him earlier on "Fox News Sunday," saying, "It was going to be our first joint appearance and lo and behold he doesn't show up."

Listen to WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg on "The Buzz" with Richard Bey, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET weekdays, and on solo Sunday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

DNC

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[LibWhacker]

NBC News reporter Arnold Diaz, who witnessed the exchange, asked the 78-year old ex-Senator seconds later, "Mr. Lautenberg, are you going to do the debates if you're the candidate?" "Of course," Lautenberg responded without hesitation,

LOL, isn't Alzheimer's a bitch?

[LADY J]

"LOL, isn't Alzheimer's a bitch?"

Yes - but also lying comes easy to them. He's on the way right out of the box - LIARBERG!!!

[nothingnew]

NBC News reporter Arnold Diaz, who witnessed the exchange, asked the 78-year old ex-Senator seconds later, "Mr. Lautenberg, are you going to do the debates if you're the candidate?"

"Of course," Lautenberg responded without hesitation, in comments captured on videotape and broadcast nationally on "Fox News Sunday."

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!...another lying scumbag.

FMCDH

[Timesink]

Lautenberg's not going to be able to handle ONE debate. It's quite amusing that for all the RATS' lying for eight years about Reagan being a senile old coot, it's one of their own guys that's going to turn out to be the real deal.

"Who am I? Why am I here?"

[WOSG]

Remember that memorable line: I'm out of ammo!!

Think Loutenberg is in the same category.

[LibWhacker]

The rats are going to be so desperate to hide Lautenberg's dementia, I won't be surprised if we see less of him in the next few weeks than we saw of Patsy Mink in the weeks after she died and morphed into a carrot on life support.

[tubebender]

At his age and he still can't count to 21

[Brytani]

If and when they ever debate, we need a live thread going on FR to critique how both do. It will also be interested to see how long it takes for Laughtenberg to finally debate Forrester, or if they will put in a switch hitter...

[laconic]

Lautenburg is 78 years old and he is a REAL old 78. The night he was selected as Torricelli's replacement he made a pathetic speech in which he could barely drool. Now that he's ahead in the polls (courtesy of a compliant media), the Demos have no desire to expose his senility in a debate.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The rats are going to be so desperate to hide Lautenberg's dementia,

I don't know about dementia, but the dims want to get to Nov 5 with as little personal campaigning by Lautenberg as possible. They lead in the polls, by vitue of having piked up a large majority of dimo voters who were turned off to Toricelli. If Lautenberg goes out and flubs badly during personal appearances, these voters could turn off again. Best for the dims to blanket the airwaves with a barrage of anti-Forrester ads and hope their lead holds through Nov 5. For Forrester, he has no choice but to both sell his agenda and attack Lautenberg, in a 30-70 ratio, with an emphasis on biuilding Lautenberg's negatives. Slamming Lautenberg in whatever debates the opposition permits wouild be VERY helpful.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Of course he is senile.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Forrester's campaign should warn voters that the Demos are proposing that they elect a vegetable to represent them in the U.S. Senate.

[LaGrone]

The lies begin. Yawn!

[Flyer]

Twenty-one debates in 21 counties with only 30 days left in the race is a little impractical

But reprinting every ballot and resending absentee ballots and re-voting by those that have already cast ballots is practical.

---

[Flyer]

I won't be surprised if we see less of him

Forrester should have an empty podium next to him at every appearance to represent Lautenberg's absence.

[woofer]

Forrester should have an empty podium next to him at every appearance to represent Lautenberg's absence.

I don't know, the empty podium might make more sense than loutenberg (sic)

[Flyer]

the empty podium might make more sense

Yeah, then they would have to put it on the ballot. Nevermind.

[Liz]

Aw, lay off the old guy. Dontcha know Frank missed taking his nap that day?

Poor senile old dear musta been zonked out on No-Doze pills.

It's disgraceful to hold good ol' Frank responsible for having a forgetful senior moment.