Beck Criticizes Beyer’s Refusal to Debate and Issues Another Debate Challenge

ARLINGTON, Va. - Oct. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Independent 8^th Congressional District candidate Gwendolyn Beck today repeated her challenge to Democrat candidate Don Beyer and Republican Micah Edmond to conduct a publicly televised debate before the November 4^th election in light of Beyer’s refusal and Edmond’s non-response.

Beyer’s campaign manager declined to debate in a letter to Beck, stating that Beyer has appeared in a number of public forums and that the public has had numerous opportunities to hear him.

“Don Beyer’s campaign does not understand the difference between a public forum and a debate,” Beck said in response. “A forum is a venue where candidates state their basic talking points. It does not provide the voters the opportunity to hear candidates asking questions of each other or for candidates to be questioned by the media or by the public.

“Voters today want real change in the way Congress operates,” Beck continued. “The best way for that change to begin is to give voters the chance to compare and contrast the candidates and their issues in a debate format.”

Moreover, Beck noted that Beyer appearances at public forums have been limited. “I’ve been to nearly every public forum that has been offered in the 8^th Congressional District and there have been many of those where I found myself asking: ‘Where’s Don.'”

Beck campaign manager John Saylor also pointed out that the Beck campaign is extending the offer to other candidates as well.

“Maybe the rest of us should debate and we can leave a chair there for Don,” Saylor said. “Amazingly, the Beyer campaign responded by stating that the voters do not need another forum. Think about that – ‘too many public forums!’ There’s no such thing as too many public forums! Beyer’s avoidance of voters is emblematic of why voters want to change how Washington works and how campaigns are conducted.”

Gwendolyn Beck

(703) 656-6007
kb@gwendolynbeck.com
P.O. Box 705, Arlington, VA 22216