Huckabee Challenges Thompson To Do Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Fred Thompson has so far avoided debating any of his Republican opponents, most notably skipping Wednesday's event on Fox News in order to go appear on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Now Mike Huckabee wants to change that.
Huckabee is challenging Thompson to a series of one-on-one "Lincoln-Douglas" debates, citing Thompson's praise of the format Thursday night on Hannity & Colmes. "Senator, let's lead by example and get the ball rolling," Huckabee said in an open letter, which supporters are invited to co-sign. "I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this idea and debating you in front of the American people."
Thompson, however, was praising the format for a general election, while simultaneously eschewing primary debates with a glut of candidates. From Nexis:
"That is the way that you find out how somebody really thinks. I know it is difficult when you have that number of people running. And I don't know the answer to it in the primary. But I think certainly in the general election, something like that would be something I would gravitate to."
This begs two questions: Will Thompson accept Huckabee's invitation for a one-on-one primary debate? And if not, will he actually be going to any debates during the primary season?
Comments (7)
Blue in IA wrote on September 8, 2007 2:05 PM:Go Huckabee!
(Though I must say, I'd have an easier time viewing the Huck-ster as the voice of *comparative* honesty among the GOPsters if he'd come clean about the Fair Tax Fraud, rather than touting it himself...)
I don't get it. Which one is 'Lincoln' and which one is 'Douglas'? Shouldn't it be a 'Douglas-Douglas debate'?
Richard L. Adlof wrote on September 8, 2007 7:10 PM:'No more fastfood' challanges 'No more banging d-list actressess'.
No news . . . not even FAUX News at eleven.
jophusa wrote on September 8, 2007 7:46 PM:If it wasn't for Huckabee, I would love the Republican field for the race. Who had to go and put a truly conservative, sensible, seemingly honest and forthright individual in the mix with all those truth twisting, moral compromising, flip -flopping, chickenhawks.
jophusa wrote on September 8, 2007 7:48 PM:If it wasn't for Huckabee, I would love the Republican field for the race. Who had to go and put a truly conservative, sensible, seemingly honest and forthright individual in the mix with all those truth twisting, moral compromising, flip -flopping, chickenhawks.
Amare wrote on September 9, 2007 8:08 AM:Haha. Frankly, I'm highly amused that Huckabee thinks Thompson should waste the time debating him. Thompson is clearly a frontrunner, and Huckabee's milking his "success" (meaning, winning a distant second) in some rigged Iowa straw poll to leverage himself into the top tier. I've got news for you, Huckabee, I doubt Thompson will dignify this little challenge with a response.
Mike Liveright wrote on September 9, 2007 1:12 PM:Given the number of nominees I think that a nominee can decline to debate another one. On the other hand, I'd suggest the following modifications:
1) That the major networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC, commit to carrying, free in close to prime time, on at least one network, the nominee debates and all of the candidate debates, as part of their public service. That way if candidate A agreed to debate candidate B in a long debate format they would be assured that they would get an hour and a half free national coverage.
2) The nominee would commit to a series of 90 minute debates with the other candidate.
We, the voters, would of course, consider such commitments and participation as part of our determination of which people to support.
