Bad Call by Patty Wetterling's Campaign Manager Corey Day

Eric Black from the Strib talked with Patty Wetterling campaign manager Corey Day about the Forest Lake Times debate. Wetterling to Bachmann: I will debate you Wetterling campaign manager Corey Day disputes the Republican line that Wetterling's failure to participate in a Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce debate shows she's afraid to debate her chief opponent, state Sen. Michele Bachmann. Wetterling will participate in a League of Women Voters-sponsored television debate in October, Day said. Details are still under discussion but it looks like Oct. 22, televised on KSTP. Wetterling will consider debate invitations from other "fair and impartial" organizations that come forward and offer to sponsor debates, he said. The National Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Bachmann, Day said, and the Forest Lake chamber was inflexible about dates. In a letter to supporters chiding Wetterling for skipping the Forest Lake debate, Bachmann proposed 12 debates between now and election day. It sounds like the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce was not professional in the way it organized this candidate forum. The Forest Lake Times hit the nail on the head. That being said, I'm concerned about Corey Day's statement about "fair and impartial" organizations. The Chamber of Commerce is a mainstream organization. The organization that endorsed Bachmann is the national chamber PAC - not the local chamber. The National Chamber doesn't tell local chambers how to run their affairs. Is Patty Wetterling only interested in meeting and talking to people who are already supporting her campaign? Forest Lake School Board member Eric Eidness commented: An excuse of the Forest Lake debate not being "fair and impartial" is absurd. The Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has done campaign debates for years from everything from local city council and school district elections to major campaigns such as the 6th District. I personally have run in several campaigns in the local area and participated in numerous forums, as Senator Michelle Bachmann graciously did this week. The chamber has always been fair in procedures with their only objective to inform the public of where all candidates stand. Ms. Wetterling is unwilling to show the public her viewpoints because she knows she is out of touch with the districts residents. Devon Holstad says: August 10th, 2006 at 1:51 pm Eric, I'm a Forest Lake resident, and we obviously don't see the same Chamber. How do you describe the Chamber consulting Bachmann and Binkowski about the debate, including giving them different dates to choose from, and then giving Wetterling a "take it or leave it" invitation? Is that "fair and impartial"? No. This debate was set up under biased political intentions, and was illegitimate in every way. Bachmann showed up to the debate late, and spent the first few minutes attacking Wetterling. And as far as taking a clear stand on issues, can you tell me what Michele's stance on Iraq is? Can you tell me her view on Capital Punishment? No, you can't, because Michele hasn't taken a clear stand on those issues, or anything other than divisive wedge issues. I hope other local Chambers organize debates between the 6th District candidates. Tony Garcia from Race to the Right reminds us that Michele Bachmann blasting Wetterling for not showing to an unconfirmed event is pure hubris. What I do find intriguing is Bachmann's letter to her mailing list where she blasts Wetterling for "no-showing" to events that were not confirmed by Wetterling. However, Bachmann has no-showed for CONFIRMED and RE-CONFIRMED for three different events on our show (www.racetotheright.com). Who would win a debate? Hard to say. Wetterling is incapable and Bachmann runs from tough questions... literally, I have seen her run from tough questions. Wetterling has no grasp of the issues and Bachmann is a habitual liar.