Roundtable canceled as bailout compresses Congressional schedules
11:59 AM Thu, Oct 02, 2008 | Permalink
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A candidate forum hosted by the Rhode Island Civil Rights Roundtable was shaping up as the only event where U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy might be willing to make a joint appearance with his Republican challenger, Jonathan Scott. But now even that event has been canceled. While not a traditional debate, the forum has provided congressional-level candidates an opportunity each election season to take turns answering questions about civil rights issues, and more specifically this year, perceived "disparities'' in economics, health care, employment, civil rights and other issues related to equality and justice. Democrat Kennedy's challenger, Jonathan Scott, had asked Kennedy to agree to face him in four debates, including "one a 90-minute event controlled only by a time keeper (no moderator).'' Kennedy campaign manager Andrew Caruolo provided this response yesterday: "The Congressman participated in a taped segment of candidates by the RI Broadcasters Association, and he will be participating in the 2008 US Congressional Candidates Forum on Monday, Oct. 6 at CCRI sponsored by the RI Civil Rights Roundtable.'' Beyond that, Caruolo said: "We have yet to receive any correspondence from Jonathan Scott. Due to the delay in Congress' adjournment, the Congressman's schedule has been condensed into a shorter period of time and remains full of previously scheduled obligations.'' Caruolo did not respond to follow-up inquiries, but when asked whether that meant Kennedy was unable or unwilling to make time to debate his challenger, Kennedy press secretary Kerrie Bennett said Caruolo wasn't saying this was the only joint appearance Kennedy was wiling to make. At this point, she said, the congressman simply hasn't made any other commitments. The Rhode Island Broadcasters Association taping was a joint venture of the trade association that represents a number of Rhode Island television and radio stations. It is a not a debate or even a joint appearance by candidates in any race, but rather an opportunity for each candidate to take up to 2 unchallenged and unedited minutes answering 12 questions. The executive director of the association, Lori Needham, said it has not yet been decided when the segments will run, but that they would run on the web site of each of the member stations. Bennett said: "No debates are currently scheduled, but that is subject to change. As always, if groups reach out to invite the Congressman, those invitations will be considered based upon the schedule. As joint appearance or debates are added to the schedule, we will certainly pass along that information to you.'' 
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Can you squawk like a chicken too, paddy-boy??
Rhode Island, you are being so cheated by having this pip-squeak as your representative.
Vote him out!! If you decide you don't like Scott in two years, get rid of him too, but vote out Kennedy. He's an embarressment.
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And there goes Patrick, with his tail between his legs, running away!! The ONLY reason that idiot gets in office is because of his name, and only in RI would the Kennedy name be a good thing!!
Vote his butt out of here, pleeease!!
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Cowards don't debate when they can't defend the positions they hold and when the media doesn't insist upon it. The local media have a civic obligation to demand at least one debate between all the candidates. That's the very least it can do.
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Patrick running away again. When are we gonna get rid of this mess? He won't debate because he knows that Scott will run rings around him and, yet, WE pay this clown to represent us.
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"The local media have a civic obligation to demand at least one debate between all the candidates"
with all due respect... the local media don't give a fig about civic obligations, and they sure aren't going to do anything to help get rid of Paddy Kennedy!! What I really can't figure is who the heck is voting for him that keeps getting him elected? Everyone needs to go to the polls and vote AGAINST Kennedy, Langevin, & Reed. Get them out of office!!!
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It's a mess. Now that the plan has passed, I'm hoping for the best. Whatever that is. In the meantime, I found this hilarious song about the bailout. Anything to lighten up a grim topic: Bailout song
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