The Senate Debate Wars, Episode I

Sigh. Can’t politicians ever agree on anything?

So Webb’s guys challenged Allen to five debates “on the issues that are most important to the people of Virginia.” Sounds good so far. Taking the fight to Allen and all that. Unfortunately, in doing so, Webb left himself open for a cheap shot: Allen’s guys refused Webb’s debate topics (issues that are most important to Virginians, as you recall), calling them “too narrow,” and counter-proposed debates on a “wide range of issues.” (Namely issues that would rile up conservative supporters.) George Allen said, and I quote,* “awww, is da wittle democwatic candidate afwaid to talk about a wittle bitty mawwiage pwotection amendment?”

Obviously, stepping back a bit, any intelligent person can see this is all meaningless political propaganda. Both sides are maneuvering to put their candidate in the best possible light and manipulate the emotions of the voting public. It’s kind of sleazy and frankly pretty insulting to any voters interested in the issues. But wait — haha! What am I saying! I forgot this was a beauty pageant, and nobody cares about debating important topics in this country. Especially the politicians!

Anyway, all kidding aside, I found it curious (by which I mean suspicious) that I couldn’t find George Allen’s press release on his own web site, yet it showed up in its entirety on two prominent Virginia conservative blogs. Without a source link. Hmmm. I suppose it could just mean that George Allen has a terribly slow webmaster.

* That wasn’t a real quote, I made that up.

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• Post-Primary Partying
• Post-Primary Pondering
• Mild Voter Apathy