Cowardly Democrats duck candidate debates
- Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) canned the 'busy schedule' excuse after Senate adjourned, still refuses to debate GOP rival Bert Mizusawa.
- Florida's David Jolly and Arizona's Katie Hobbs join the cowardly caucus, dodging debates to avoid defending their far-left records.
- Minnesota trio—Klobuchar, Flanagan, Ellison—blows off TV debates, opting for scripted rallies over unscripted questions.
- Early voting in Virginia means Warner's duck-and-cover tactic could lock in ballots before any gaffe-prone face-off.
- Editorial demands at least three debates in Virginia and nationwide—voters deserve a showdown, not a shutout.
Brief Summary
The editorial fires a scathing broadside at a growing trend of Democratic candidates—Warner in Virginia, Jolly in Florida, Hobbs in Arizona, and a Minnesota trio—who are dodging televised debates with GOP challengers. Once the Senate recessed, Warner's 'too busy' alibi collapsed, exposing a calculated strategy to avoid defending nearly two decades of liberal votes. The piece skewers Hobbs for preferring partisan rallies to statewide debates, calling out her 2022 repeat offense and dismissive spin about 'sound bites.' Even worse, Klobuchar and Flanagan's snub of a major Twin Cities station is dubbed the most egregious, as they flee scrutiny of their records. With early voting already underway in Virginia, the columnist warns that Warner is cynically banking on voters committing before any potential unforced error. The bottom line: these candidates are insulting the electorate, and the editorial demands they stop hiding and face their opponents—and the voters—on a debate stage.
Why This Matters
This isn't just a Beltway spat—it's a direct slap at your right to make an informed choice. When candidates refuse to debate, they're treating you like a mushroom: keeping you in the dark and feeding you manure. For voters in Virginia, Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota, this means you're being asked to vote on vibes and party labels, not on detailed policy positions or candid give-and-take. If you're a swing voter, this is even more infuriating, because debates often cut through the campaign ads and reveal who's actually ready to govern. The editorial's call for action is a reminder that if you're checking the ballot box blind, you're part of the problem—demand candidates face the music or face your wrath at the polls.