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Allen Buckley: Saxby Chambliss has put a cap on debates

Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 08:39 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Allen Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, is a bit ticked off.

You’ll recall that, on Aug. 5, the day of the Democratic run-off vote, Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss invited Buckley and that Tuesday’s victor to a series of debates.(Read the invitation here)

The three camps met late last night, to discuss a schedule. A representative for Democrat Jim Martin suggested weekly debates, either here or in Washington — the latter location to fit Chambliss’ schedule.

Eight to 10 meetings, in other words. See the Martin proposal here.

Buckley said there was an agreement. But it looks like Chambliss has put the cap at five debates. Here’s the Chambliss response. It lists the debates in which the Chambliss campaign is willing to participate.

Buckley is calling foul. This is his account, put forward in a press release:

On the morning of Friday, August 22, 2008, Brian Jackson, campaign manager for the Buckley for Senate campaign, met with Ellery Gould and Justin Tomczak, the campaign managers for the Martin and Chambliss campaigns, respectively.

Ellery Gould proposed weekly debates starting immediately, running through the election providing for a minimum of eight to ten debates.

Subject to hammering out details, an agreement was reached that additional debates should be held, preferably weekly, providing eight to ten debates; to include three previously scheduled: the Perry Fair, GPTV/Atlanta Press Club and Fox 5 News.

Brian Jackson said: “I left the meeting with the understanding that we had agreed upon several additional debates, with only the details to be worked out. To accommodate Mr. Chambliss, we’d even discussed having one or more debates in Washington D.C., if his schedule would not allow this many debates in Georgia.”

…A week after the August 22nd meeting, Justin Tomczak of the Chambliss campaign sent an email to Mr. Gould and Mr. Jackson, confirming only the events that had already been booked, and speaking generically about events “we will also consider” in the future.

Further attempts by Brian Jackson to clarify which events, or to schedule additional events have not garnered any concrete dates, events or even a date to discuss additional events. With the election now less than two months away, this series of delays represent a retraction of the eight to ten (or weekly) debate agreement….

It is clear that the email from Mr. Tomczak has the objective of minimizing debates. This action is inconsistent with the previously alleged desire of Mr. Chambliss to debate, because debates are “a crucial part of the process”by which Georgians can distinguish their United States Senator from the other candidates.”

Buckley said: “Saxby is running from his record.

“His goal is clear: to minimize debates and blast the airwaves from now until the election with commercials stating that he ‘represents our conservative values.’ He doesn’t represent my values. Let’s debate as much as possible. I ask the media to help schedule debates.”

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Comments

By Ga Values

September 10, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Can’t wait for the debates, how can Saxby Special Interest defend his $84 Billion windfall tax on oil?? His betrayal of President Bush & Sen. McCain over the veto of Saxby’s % 20 billion of pork in the farm bill?? How about the LYNCHING of the Imperial Sugar Whistel blower. McCain says America FIRST, Saxby says Special interest FIRST, America WHEN EVER.

By Churchill

September 10, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Ga Values

You left out the part about Saxby’s Lobbyist son Bo, who sells Saxby’s vote & writes his legislation.

By BillW

September 10, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Nobama would agree to only three debates with McCain. Maybe that’s the standard.

By The Truth Comes Out

September 10, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

BillW, He would only agree to three debates with McCain because he knows that he would look like the babbling, double talking, lying flip flopper that he normally does when not in front of a teleprompter. McCain will make him look like the most inexperienced clueless presidential candidate that has ever run for office in the debates. Perhaps because he IS! McCain*Palin 08! NObama/Biden NO 8!

By Was that

September 10, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

Obama you were talking about or palin?

Oh….and at least Obama talks to reporters.

What you say? Palin has accepted AN interview?

So has Vladimir Putin.

By The Truth Comes Out

September 10, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Yea Was That after being begged for 14 months Nobama gave Bill Oreilly a 30 minute interview and he is lying and in denial about every fact that has been brought up so far. Oreilly is exposing him and being fair and balanced about it. It is actually quite comical you should watch it but only if you want to hear the TRUTH about NObama.

By Ga Values

September 10, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Wonder why Saxby & the gang of 10 Trators is under cutting McCain to help OBAMA. Saxby is a RINO.

By Putting a Cap in the debates

September 10, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Back to the topic at hand? OK.

Cap on debates or Cap IN the debates.

DOA. Do not pass go.

Person who uses brain = RINO

Person who uses the term RINO = Rhino

(Rhinos are short sighted with tiny tiny brains. They are indeed quite dangerous but they are also exceedingly stupid.)

And when I see John McCain appear in front of Keith Olberman, or Palin appear in front of ANYONE you can bring O’Reily into that debate.

Of course, in your magical little pink fluffy Republican world, it doesn’t really matter what Republicans do, because they’re always good as long as they toe the party line.

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh.

By BillW

September 10, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Back to the topic at hand. Nobama would agree to only three debates with McCain. McCain wanted 5 or more.

By Debates In Name Only

September 10, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

Town Hall Meetings In which all questions were screened.

I’d love to see some Lincoln Douglass Debates in which there are no media filters and candidates actually respond to each other.

And I don’t hear McCain talking about those town hall debates now that money is no longer a problem.

By billw

September 10, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

You are right, the Lincoln Douglass Debates were the gold standard. I hope the McCain Obama debates are not too structured.

By Tom GA Values Hunter

September 10, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

I hate Saxby so much that I have completely hijacked Churchill’s name to further my illogical, clinically obsessive preoccupation with Saxby and his son. I also have that same obsession with Churchill, who has since stopped posting here. Saxby is going to win and my family is worried about me when it happens.

By Gary

September 10, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

McCain is not talking about those debates because it is no use anymore to discuss them. Obama has shown his lack of debate fundamentals and will only agree to three. McCain hit him on those for several weeks before the conventions. There is simply no more time for more than the 3 debates and McCain already cleaned Obama’s clock at the Saddleback forum. No need to discuss them any further. As for Chambliss, stick to your word you turncoat and debate the others 8-10 times. Or are you afraid that you are going to have to defend your votes on the housing bill, the farm bill, and the proposal with the so called gang of 10 on energy compromise that is nothing more than giving in to Harry Reid. Yes Saxby is a RINO and this year has proven it. I was once a Saxby supporter but feel that I will be sitting this one out because the other two don’t energize me either. Senator Isakson fits into this boat as well. Luckily for him, he still has two years to earn my vote back. Dismissing this gang of 10 would be a great start.

By KEEPING IT REAL!

September 10, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

Hi There, My fellow georgians and all the transplants from the cold country. Oh yes! I don’t want to forget the good old boys who chew tobacco and dip snuff. What ever brands you fellow prefer. When I was a youngster in south Ga. I hunted and fished with a lot of good old boys.

Saxby is a good old boy! He got his seat by trashing a disable veteran. I am a veteran and so was my two brothers. I think old Saxby maybe a draft dodger or at least a “draft ducker”. Very little different if you know what I mean.

He and his buddy “Johnny boy” done kissed up to them dems on some energy bill that’s probably not going to amount to very much, if you know what I mean!

He and his buddy johnny got booed at the pary state convention last year over that imigration bill that hatched up to help his south ga buddies with their farm workers. Johnny boy don’t farm, so he was just looking out for sonny.

The booing cosy johnny a gov. Personally i like johnny boy! He did a good job straightng out that Bd of Ed. wile he chaired it.

y’all take care you hear, I’am jest “KEEPING IT REAL”

By Idiot Hunter

September 10, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

KEEPING IT REAL!, you idiot, Saxby ran for Senate in 2002. The stuff with Cleland happened in 2004. With that kind of intellect I willing to bet you are an Obama supporter. You are KEEPING IT STUPID.

By Flex

September 11, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this

It is clear that Buckley is the only true conservative and the only one with the guts to talk about what needs to be done to save this great country.

By Elberton Libertarian

September 16, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

Chambliss is a RINO, a big-spender and a w******* to the farm subsaidies, and other special interests.