Melancon Refuses To Participate In Tea Party Debates
In the Times-Picayune today is an article on the Melancon campaign’s call for five televised debates with incumbent Republican David Vitter in advance of the Nov. 2 general election for the Senate seat Vitter currently holds.
But Melancon offers a curious quote toward the end of the article.
Although Melancon asked for all Senate candidates to be invited, he said he would not object if the sponsors set up criteria for participation that excluded some candidates. He said his top concern is making sure there are no “pre-screened” questions that favor one candidate over another.
“Hopefully it’s not stacked with MoveOn folks or tea party folks,” Melancon said, referring to groups that are sympathetic to the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. He said he would not participate in a debate hosted by a tea party organization.
There will be debates, of course, though one wonders whether five of them will be required. But Melancon’s statement is inartful, to say the least. MoveOn.org is about as popular as jock itch in Louisiana, so the fact that Melancon is supported by its adherents wouldn’t particularly help him. For him to run away from the far left is relatively standard fare.
But in a state where some 31 percent of likely voters, according to Rasmussen, identify themselves with the Tea Party and an additional 21 percent call themselves Tea Party sympathizers, for Melancon to characterize the Tea Party as a fringe organization along the lines of MoveOn.org is just plain laughable.
The Vitter campaign doesn’t really need advice from the Hayride, but we’ll give it anyway. Vitter is ahead by 10-12 points even in polling done by Public Policy Polling, a Democrat outfit, and Ron Faucheux – Mary Landrieu’s former campaign manager. He’s sitting on campaign war chest which dwarfs Melancon’s. He doesn’t particularly need a debate with Melancon, though there is little reason to think he wouldn’t maul the Napoleonville Democrat in them.
But Melancon’s refusal to attend a Tea Party debate is gold for Vitter, and he should take advantage. In fact, if I were running Vitter’s campaign I’d insist on at least one Tea Party debate as a condition for having any debates at all!
Melancon has nothing to debate Vitter on, as Louisiana citizens as a whole endorse the entire way Vitter has served for the last 6 years. The only issue that Melancon has is the private scandal, which is a non-issue.
I don't see how Charlie-Boy is going to want any part of Vitter in a debate. He has to win them convincingly, and he just doesn't have it in him. Disaster looms.
Melancon has nothing to debate Vitter on, as Louisiana citizens as a whole endorse the entire way Vitter has served for the last 6 years. The only issue that Melancon has is the private scandal, which is a non-issue.
I don't see how Charlie-Boy is going to want any part of Vitter in a debate. He has to win them convincingly, and he just doesn't have it in him. Disaster looms.
I take it Comrade Melancon will send his wife, Peachy to debate for him. He hasn’t the nads to even bother showing up at a Town Hall. All in all, Chicken Charlie is just waiting to lose on November 2nd. so Obama will reward him for voting against his 3rd. District constituancy and appoint him Assistant Secretary of Stimulus Road Signage.
I take it Comrade Melancon will send his wife, Peachy to debate for him. He hasn’t the nads to even bother showing up at a Town Hall. All in all, Chicken Charlie is just waiting to lose on November 2nd. so Obama will reward him for voting against his 3rd. District constituancy and appoint him Assistant Secretary of Stimulus Road Signage.
Melancon needs to be careful about what he asks. Melancon has not wanted to address issues before but gone after Vitter's sins. That should take about 15 minutes. Then what? Is Melancon going to explain why he quit a committee that was about to vote on a very unpopular issue for Louisiana residents? Fact is he can hide in the House but in the Senate he cannot. With only 100 Senators every vote is important. Most of Louisiana does not want to give the Liberal/Progressive leadership in DC another vote. Will Charlie be strong enough to vote against his leadership and be the vote that kills a Dem bill? Would he vote against Pelosi for Leader? You know the answer to that. You also know that Vitter (for all his faults) has stood against his leadership on Immigration. There is no question that Vitter is the conservative and the stronger legislator. Get real. Vote for a strong leader. Send David Vitter back to the Senate.
Melancon needs to be careful about what he asks. Melancon has not wanted to address issues before but gone after Vitter's sins. That should take about 15 minutes. Then what? Is Melancon going to explain why he quit a committee that was about to vote on a very unpopular issue for Louisiana residents? Fact is he can hide in the House but in the Senate he cannot. With only 100 Senators every vote is important. Most of Louisiana does not want to give the Liberal/Progressive leadership in DC another vote. Will Charlie be strong enough to vote against his leadership and be the vote that kills a Dem bill? Would he vote against Pelosi for Leader? You know the answer to that. You also know that Vitter (for all his faults) has stood against his leadership on Immigration. There is no question that Vitter is the conservative and the stronger legislator. Get real. Vote for a strong leader. Send David Vitter back to the Senate.
Hayride, you are so right. I am not "officially" a member of a Tea Party, mostly because I spend my time working. But I wholeheartedly support what they are doing…and I am certainly not alone.
And another thing. All of us conservatives will have RINO's in our sights too, not just Democrats. RINO's are nothing but limp-spined liars.
Hayride, you are so right. I am not "officially" a member of a Tea Party, mostly because I spend my time working. But I wholeheartedly support what they are doing…and I am certainly not alone.
And another thing. All of us conservatives will have RINO's in our sights too, not just Democrats. RINO's are nothing but limp-spined liars.
Was Forrest Gump describing Charlie Melancon with the line, “Stupid is as stupid does.”? Then again, perhaps he was describing Hunt Downer…
Was Forrest Gump describing Charlie Melancon with the line, “Stupid is as stupid does.”? Then again, perhaps he was describing Hunt Downer…
How effective would Charlie Melancon be in the U. S. Senate, if there is a Republican majority after the November elections ? With most of his liberal pals gone and his friend Barack Obama a lame duck president. How could Charlie possible be a asset to us.
When Vitter return to the U.S. Senate in the next term, he will have earned some very important leadership positions, that will be beneficial to Louisiana and represent our believes.
How effective would Charlie Melancon be in the U. S. Senate, if there is a Republican majority after the November elections ? With most of his liberal pals gone and his friend Barack Obama a lame duck president. How could Charlie possible be a asset to us.
When Vitter return to the U.S. Senate in the next term, he will have earned some very important leadership positions, that will be beneficial to Louisiana and represent our believes.
[...] Melancon made the mistake of calling for five debates with incumbent Republican David Vitter but refusing to take part in any sponsored by Tea Party groups he opened up a can of worms Vitter has now happily poured all over [...]