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Clark: Is Bachmann afraid to talk to me?

By Andy Birkey
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 11:00 am

On Tuesday, DFLer Tarryl Clark challenged her opponent, Rep. Michele Bachmann, to a series of eight “Main Street Forums.” The Clark campaign said that only one of the three debates that Bachmann has agreed to is in the 6th Congressional District. Clark asked reporters during a conference call, “Is she afraid of coming and talking to me? Is she afraid of the people?”

“I join countless 6th District voters in calling on Congresswoman Bachmann to be a part of the democracy that our founders envisioned,” said Clark in a statement read to reporters. “Voters have the right to talk to and hear from their candidates for elected office, and especially their Members of Congress. Today, I’m asking Congresswoman Bachmann to attend these Main Street Forums so that we can finally have the kind of honest discussion of the issues that 6th District voters deserve.”

“She is not making herself available,” she added. “And I hear this from Republicans, Democrats and independents.”

“If I have the honor of serving the 6th District in Congress, I pledge to continue to hold these kinds of open meetings for as long as I am in Congress,” concluded Clark.

The Clark campaign is organizing the forums across the district, but said each one would have an independent moderator.

“We want voters to be able to fairly compare Bachmann and Clark,” said campaign spokeswoman Carrie Lucking. “All we are doing is setting up the logistical work.”

She said that Clark will attend the forums whether Bachmann shows up or not.

Clark said that Bachmann has declined an invitation to attend a debate on Tuesday evening in Stillwater.

“She did the today show this morning; I think she should be able to show up tonight,” said Clark.

She added, “She must be afraid of something. I can’t figure out what that is.”

In addition to two debates outside the district — at Minnesota Public Radio and on At Issue, Bachmann has agreed to participate in the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce one week before the election on Oct. 26.

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Comments

16 Comments

Kevin
Comment posted October 12, 2010 @ 8:41 pm

Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Bachmann in a debate. I can’t imagine she would do that well if she couldn’t follow her usual script and actually had to respond to questions tossed at her. I would imagine that’s still the game plan – try to follow the usual script, talk around the questions and hope nobody notices.

Don’t think that’s going to happen this year Michele. People are going to notice.


Bud
Comment posted October 12, 2010 @ 11:40 pm

I don’t think it”s because Bachmann is afraid to debate.I believe it’s due to the fact that she is clueless about what the prevailing issues are and how she would deal with them.I think the word STUPID is the correct term!


Dennis
Comment posted October 13, 2010 @ 8:29 am

Michele Bachmann’s a federal tax attorney, constitutional scholar and small business owner.

Taryl Clark’s a small-town politician who’s never had a job in the private sector.

Clark will be bringing a knife to a gun fight.


Bud
Comment posted October 13, 2010 @ 10:24 am

Dubya had a college degree also,and he was still stupid and devoid of any common sense Denise!


Scott Peterson
Comment posted October 13, 2010 @ 11:28 am

“Michele Bachmann’s a federal tax attorney, constitutional scholar and small business owner. ”

So she’s a lawyer who survives on government subsidies.

“Clark will be bringing a knife to a gun fight.”

Then why spare her? Why pass up an opportunity to annihilate the incompetence of an opponent on live TV?


Rob C
Comment posted October 13, 2010 @ 12:03 pm

There can be no doubt that Ms Bachmann wants not part of any forum that would reveal her ignorance and radical ideas, as has happened in the past when she has been questioned.


Red-Eagle
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 10:02 am

She’s not afraid to debate – she’s afraid of words with more than two syllables, which often appear during debates.

Seriously, how can anyone in the 6th district not be ashamed to be represented by an overtly racist hypocrite? Is it just that the 6th district has *that* many racists? I just find that hard to believe.


Thomas Butler
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 10:45 am

Dennis –

“Clark will be bringing a knife to a gun fight.”

At least she’ll show up.


Michael Cavlan RN
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 12:14 pm

Keith Ellison has not only refused to debate me and the ideals of our campaign but he has cancelled a number of appearances at events, after I have publicly challenged him to a debate.

If Andy Birkey or indeed the Minnesota Independent want any information on this so that they can write an article on this, they can contact myself at ollamhfaery@earthlink.net

Or simply google you tube michael cavlan keith ellison to watch where we did so and then we you tubed the encounter.


Michael Cavlan RN
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 1:35 pm

I look forward to being proven that I am wrong about the Minnesota independent.

After all, gaining the endorsement of Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney and Cindy Sheehan is big enough news.

However, gaining the endorsement of a National Muslim Women’s organization when running against the nations first and only Muslim member of Congress, well that is huge groundbreaking news.

We look forward to the Andy Birkey and Minnesota Independent doing a story on this.

Prove our suspicions wrong Andy.


dirtyspeed
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 2:30 pm

Owning a business, small or big, doesn’t qualify you for a government office position. When you own a business you are pretty much a dictator. You don’t have to work with your 435 other co-owners, it’s all you. You make the decisions. This is why the new breed of Republican politicians are so frustrating. They have that private sector mentality and public service does not work the same.


GWB
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 2:49 pm

This is how you hope to get news coverage, Michael? Couldn’t you at least confine your scolding to the comment field of a post that’s actually about the race you’re running in?


Michael Cavlan RN
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

GWB

It is precisely because our campaign gets NO COVERAGE at all that I have felt compelled to do so.

I mean seriously after all

I have been banned from

Debates by the League of Women Voters
Any Corporate media coverage at all.
Most “progressive” media coverage in Minnesota (and outside Minnesota example the Nation)
Op Ed News (where I used to be a regular contributor)
Common Dreams
Any Trade Unions Groups (I am a decades long International Trade Union Activist)
My own former union (I am a Registered Nurse and my old Union, the MNA will not screen me or even talk to me)

The list just goes on and on. Oh yes and local “peace” groups “leadership” run when they see us.

I am a Registered Nurse, specializing in Burn and Trauma Intensive Care

A week after Sept 11, I went to DC after the government asked for help to treat some of the victims of the Pentagon attack

I lived in northern Ireland for 15 years and so understand terrorism and it’s real causes

in 2004, I was one of the Official Green Party Observers in the Vote Re-Count in Ohio

Our campaign has earned the endorsement of Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Cindy Sheehan, Former US Senate candidate Brother Ray Tricomo and the Kalpulli Island Organization.

Now we have earned the endorsement of a National American Muslim Women’s Organization.

We are running against the first and only Muslim in Congress.

Can someone please explain to me what part of this is NOT newsworthy?

The only credible explanation to me is open, naked political bigotry. Not to mention
corporate control of, well everything. Including all the said “liberal” “peace groups.”


Betty
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 3:21 pm

Main Street Forum tonight in Woodbury at 7PM at Central Park Valley Creek Road and Radio Drive, behind Kowalskis. Leave time for traffic. Work being done on Radio Drive.


Michael Cavlan RN
Comment posted October 14, 2010 @ 3:22 pm

As an aside, there is no coverage at all on this race. Except for the KSTP debate organized by the League of Women Voters. Which I was excluded from.

the Uptake is a perfect example. They have coverage of the Congressional races inn CD 1,2,3,6, and 8.

Now while there may not be any real competition in CD 4 with Betty McCollum, that is not the case in CD 5.

in fact I strongly suspect the the DFL has done polling in CD 5. Which is why the people who own Keith Ellison tell him to not engage in debates. They are in desperate damage control.

That is why I am here. It has become one of the last forums for this discussion left.

Oh and I am not “scolding”, I am suggesting that perhaps the Minnesota Indy could do a story on this.

Again, what part of our campaign gaining the endorsement of a National Muslim Women’s organization, when we are running against the first and only Muslim in Congress is NOT newsworthy.


John
Comment posted October 23, 2010 @ 8:14 am

I just think Michele Bachmann’s not sure how to find her way to our state….god knows she’s been everywhere but Minnesota….


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