Friday, October 15, 2010

Yes, Ruth McClung Did Back Out of Oct. 18 Debate

Posted By on Fri, Oct 15, 2010 at 6:20 PM

No, little Tea Bag darlings, Ted Prezelski isn't the kind of blogger who gets his kicks posting erroneous information on Rum, Romanism and Rebellion, although I'm sure he's had some good laughs over the comments he received since posting yesterday about Ruth McClung backing out of a debate with U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva. You can read his post and the comments here.

Guess what, according to those radical anarchists, the League of Women Voters, they did hear from Ruth McClung yesterday — yes, she backed out of a debate scheduled Monday, Oct. 18 between Grijalva, and the other two candidates. Remember, we know from past experience of other Republican candidates who have backed out of League of Women Voters' debates this election season that if there are only two candidates and one doesn't show, the debate is indeed cancelled. But in this case, because there is a Democrat, Independent and Libertarian on the ballot, the debate can move forward.

The debate is Monday, Oct. 18 (no, no one is confused about the dates or getting it confused with the date of the last debate), Pima Community College at Stone Avenue and Speedway Boulevard, in the Amethyst Room, doors open at 5 p.m. and the debate starts at 6 p.m. Everyone, except McClung, is expected to be there.

There is speculation that one reason McClung pulled out would be the lack of supporters in attendance at the debate, since there is a debate between U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Jesse Kelly on the same date at the UA at 6 p.m. Probably not enough Tea Baggers to go around, so McClung sacrificed herself for the greater Tea Bag cause. We are waiting to hear back from McClung's campaign. When we do have more info, we'll let you know.

Here is a response from Grijalva's campaign issued yesterday:

After dramatically demanding a series of October debates with Rep. Grijalva, Ruth McClung informed the League of Women Voters (LWV) today that she would not attend the already planned Oct. 18 debate under any circumstances. McClung went to Grijalva's office to deliver a personal letter to his staff in late September informing him that her campaign had "secured" two dates for evening debates, which Grijalva accepted (see the attached materials). Instead of finalizing details for Monday's debate, as originally expected, McClung told the LWV earlier today that she had decided to cancel. McClung did not inform Grijalva's office directly and has not elaborated on her plans for other joint appearances.

Grijalva intends to appear as scheduled at the Monday debate, and has informed Independent Harley Meyer and Libertarian George Keane that he welcomes an open debate with both of them. The League of Women Voters has said it will host a debate with at least two candidates — if either or both agree to attend, the event will take place from 6:00 to 7:00 at the Pima Community College Downtown campus at 1255 N. Stone Ave.

At the jump you can watch the big Tea Bag drama when McClung went into Grijalva's office with a TV camera crew to demand debates with Grijalva. Well, so much for that display of Tea Bag fortitude, or perhaps Tea Bag theatrics.