Klobuchar Running for Cover

It's obvious that Amy Klobuchar doesn't want to debate people on the issues. Consider today, when she had a chance to debate Mark Kennedy & Ford Bell. Instead she runs to MPR, where the host won't even let a caller ask about Minneapolis's crime statistics because "they have nothing to do with being a senator." Today's disappearing act makes me wonder again Does Klobuchar Stand For Anything?

Here's what the MNGOP has to say about Amy's reluctance to debate Mr. Kennedy:
Today, as Republican United States Senate candidate Mark Kennedy and Democratic candidate Ford Bell debated the important issues of the day, DFL endorsed candidate Amy Klobuchar was conspicuously absent.

"Even fellow DFLer Ford Bell has said that Amy doesn't stand for anything and that she has no plan," Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey said. "This early in the campaign, it is already becoming obvious that Amy Klobuchar is going to hide from her indefensible record of rising crime in Minneapolis and support for massive tax increases and her 'hostile work environment.'"
The Kennedy campaign put out this statement:
"Ms. Klobuchar and her party talked a big game over the weekend, pledging to address the issues of this campaign," said Heidi Frederickson, Press Secretary for Mark Kennedy '06. "But what happens three days later when Ms. Klobuchar actually has an opportunity to participate in a debate to discuss the important issues of lowering health care and energy costs? She ducks. Minnesotans expect and deserve more from their Senate candidates."

"Ms. Klobuchar spends a lot of time attacking and very little time addressing substantive issues, because I think she realizes that her positions on taxes and jobs, health care, national security, and other key issues, are out of step with Minnesota voters," added Frederickson. "I don't think she wants Minnesotans to know where she stands."

"Minnesotans don't expect you to agree with them on every issue, but they expect that you'll tell them where you stand," said U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kennedy. "I will continue to speak honestly about my positions on the issues that matter to Minnesotans."
Regardless of where you stand on the issues, it's impossible to say that this is a smart strategy for Ms. Klobuchar to follow. Kennedy & Bell get a free shot at filing in her persona before she does it. That's never a smart move. Her appearing on MPR won't matter this November. The MPR audience is largely already committed to voting for her. This is nothing more than preaching-to-the-choir stuff.

I've got to wonder if Ms. Klobuchar thinks that (a) she thinks she can win with just liberals or (b) if she isn't confident in her ability to debate the issues. After all, she got smoked by Ford Bell in an Almanac debate. It's not like she's got a Al Gore-like track record of being a strong debater.

From what little is known about her positions, I don't see her as an appealing candidate. AFter all, she's on record as saying that she prefers the Canadian single payer health care system over a free market approach. She's said that she wouldn't have voted for Chief Justice John Roberts or Justice Alito.

Frankly, if this is the quality of the campaign she's going to run, then she'll have an uphill fight to win in November.



Posted Monday, June 12, 2006 1:23 PM

May 2006 Posts

No comments.

Popular posts from this blog

March 21-24, 2016

October 31, 2007

January 19-20, 2012