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EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been changed to include the correct number of proposed debates.
Plans are under way for debates among candidates vying for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Missouri's 8th District, a geographically huge area spreading across 28 counties that cover much of southern Missouri.
U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican, has represented the district since 1996 and is seeking another term. She is being challenged by Democrat Tommy Sowers of Rolla, Libertarian Rick Vandeven of Chaffee and Larry Bill of Jackson. All four candidates are expected to participate in the first debate planned for Oct. 11 at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.
In an age when political ads on TV seldom address the issues, and when new media such as bloggers and Facebook posters produce so much unverified information, face-to-face debates offer voters some sense of how candidates think and how well they understand the key concerns of 8th District residents.
Emerson has proposed three debates all within a one-week period in October. Sowers wants the debates spread out, plus three more debate as well. Turning the debate schedule into a campaign issue won't do voters any good. The sooner the two leading candidates agree on the debate dates and locations the better.
Comments
Let's see, the incumbent proposed three, her major party opponent raised that by three, to six.
Here's an easy way to get this over. Let Larry Bill and Rick Vandeven make the call, if they can't agree on three or six, let Bob Parker cast the tie breaker.
Parker cordially asked for debates with Emerson for over one year. By dictating three back to back to back, it will be easy for her to skip out on them with a sudden case of laryngitis.
What turnip truck do you think these candidates just fell off?
As far as I know, I've accepted formal invitations to 5 debates. I plan to show up to all of them.
Emerson and Sowers were no-shows (much to the dismay of the organizers) at the Rolla candidate forum earlier this spring. Bob Parker, Rick Vandeven, and I openly discussed solutions we had for our district and nation.
Thanks,
Larry Bill, Independent Conservative Candidate for Congress, 8th District, Missouri
Visit: http://larrybill.com/i-have-met-the-enem...
"new media such as bloggers and Facebook posters produce so much unverified information,...", and the "old media" continues to propagate images such as the cartoon from today, depicting tea party enthusiasts as ranting, unhinged, racist homophobes.
There is an idea behind the image in the cartoon. Is the idea valid? Is there any truth behind the idea? My opinion on both counts is "no". I do not think the cartoon is "civil" or "statesmanlike," and we all know that ALL the moral high ground must be ceded to the one who is the most "civil."
I'm sure these debates will be very civil. How much civility would there be in an honest discussion of the bankrupting of a nation of 300 million people?
Semoguy --
Tommy Sowers is a bona fide war hero.
Wondering if he's afraid of Ms. Fluffy Fanny is a joke.
Mr Bill, I believe Tommy was in the middle of his second Boots on the Ground tour at the time of that forum. I promise, all of us are very excited to see all the candidates on stage together. As a member of Team Sowers, I really admire you as someone who isn't afraid to stand up to a very wealthy special interest candidate.
Furthermore, everyone should understand that Tommy called for multiple debates nearly two months before Emerson called for hers. Then, after she won the primary, she called for three debates. However, she had already chosen the times and dates of the debates, as well as the locations, and even the *topics.* When Tommy tried to negotiate that, she claimed he was the only opponent afraid of agreeing to them.
And to the writer of this article, you're correct; it does hurt the district if this is a political issue. However, please try to be non-biased, and cover that Emerson tried to dictate the locations, times, dates, and topics.
If Sowers was ANYthing but an Obamabot, he would have so much support in this year for anti-incumbent voting. ALL he would have to do was be anything closely resembling a conservative, which he does not. Being an Obamabot trumps being an incumbent in this case...Socialized medicine, government spending out the roof, supporting Cap and Tax along with all other taxes proposed by this joke of an administration are just some examples which boots on the ground and acting like you are from southeast Missouri can't overcome.
Emerson is as phony as they come. Her trial lawyer hubby dictates a vote or two from time to time and she often forgets who got her elected, but she is no dog washer for Prezbo.
Typical politics...whine and cry over dates, topics, locations. And TommyBoy would do the same thing were he elected and his head swelled up with the arrogance of a typical politician these days.
I agree that anti-Obama sentiment is nearly as strong as the anti-incumbent feeling right now. But, I highly encourage you to review this candidate survey, found on this very website:
http://www.semissourian.com/story/165199...
In the questionnaire, Tommy Sowers voices his *opposition* to cap and trade. And here's a story from Politico, in which Tommy talks about how he voted for and supported Proposition C, allowing Missouri to opt out of the federal health care mandate:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/081...
Finally, Tommy is pro-term limit, pro-gun, pro-life, and supports a balanced budget amendment. He's far more conservative than the opposition makes him out to be.
Shannonhoon -
Do you find it distracting when oxygen masks drop from the ceiling?
Have you no Google?
Yours in faith,
Mike Glodo
Lemmie Adam,
Neighborliness would be harder to assail as a reason for supporting someone's campaign. Isn't that kinder and gentler, and uncontroversial? Isn't the goal in life for all of us to get along?
If the real reason were something ideological, like, "He'll vote to increase the public debt limit," or, "He buys in to using public money for private purposes," or, "He thinks the Constitution is a living, evolving document," that would be more of a lightning rod, don't you think?
Could also be becuase Inhofe is a nut job.
It has been an inpiration to me how Jo Ann Emerson debated her primary opponent. The debates were great to help the voters decide which Republican candidate would best represent them in the general election. Emerson clearly understands how essential debates are to our process in choosing our elected officials.
wait a minute....huh?....there were no primary debates?...sorry, guess I got it wrong...I wonder why that was? Didn't Parker get 25,000 votes? How could he get that many with no money, no endorsements to speak of, no major media coverage, no name recognition...?? Oh yeah, I see why Emerson did not want to debate Bob Parker.
ken brentwood,
Really? Senator Inhofe is mentally ill? How do we know this? Is there medical record data somewhere in the public domain?
Please explain.
I've heard Larry Bill is harsh and abrasive to deal with which is too bad but what he stands for is right on the money. If he believes what he says on his website and votes like he says he will...he's got my vote and should have the vote of everyone who wants this country to turn around!
Yes, it takes money and time to expose voting records of our officials. The media does not do this as they are to tied to the money and local leaders that love the earmarks and federal money pouring into their communities. The little guys are going broke under this system and our country is being trashed. This will not be an easy task to take back our nation and our district. We have started, and we will not stop until we have accomplished our mission of getting our country back on track and following our Constitution again. We have no choice..onward...
Just to clarify about the media. The Southeast Missourian was one of the best newspapers to get out the issues, I appreciate that! Television never mentioned my name, ever. Many in the media did a wonderful job on the local level of running stories on the race, I do want to thank them!
After talking to thousands of people in the 8th district, the lack of knowledge about Emerson's voting record was astounding! I myself had no idea how bad it was until I personally researched the voting record.
An educated voter is what we must have in America if we are to elect the right people. I am committed to being a part of that education...
Question:
Has Sowers changed any positions in recent months as the idiot in chief's approval ratings have tanked and the country continues to wake up and search for ways to take it back?
Example...pretty sure Tommy touted support during the debate on Obamacare. Pretty certain he sided with the dumocrats in favoring this insane legislation. Now we have him proudly voting for Prop C.
Please explain and clarify if I am wrong.
And to all of the Bob Parker fans on here....I am with you! Emerson-Gladney is a phony joke. She is one of the most insincere, power loving people in DC. I am just not convinced Tommyboy is going to be anything different and I am sure not sold that he is not a liberal who will change his tune, aka our wonderfully inexperienced community organizer, once the campaign is over.
to Shannonhoon: I am personally acquainted with Tommy Sowers. He is sincere and honest. He does care about the people in the 8th District. He feels that health care reform is needed, but does not support the individual mandate. He doesn't support Cap and Trade. He is a conservative young man and I admire him very much. He will do good things for our District(which is in bad shape right now)and be good for the State of Missouri.