Karen Schultz Will Debate

Jill Holtzman-Vogel, Republican candidate for state Senate in the 27th District, has declined to attend tonight's League of Women Voter's forum at 7 p.m. at the Carver Center in Purcellville.

"The Loudoun League of Women Voters is very disappointed that the voters of Loudoun County will not get the chance to hear Jill Holtzman Vogel directly answer questions regarding issues that are important to our county," the League stated in its announcement. "Our style of forum uniquely combines the use of area reporters and editors as questioners, followed by an open microphone for members of the audience to ask questions directly to the candidates." - Leesburg Today

Ms. Holtzman-Vogel's absence continues a 2007-2008 trend of Republicans avoiding situations where they might actually talk to people who disagree with them. Raising Kaine has a post today on this subject. In it there is an excellent quote from Tavis Smiley, "When you reject every black invitation and every brown invitation you receive, is that a scheduling issue or is it a pattern?" (With a tip-o-the-hat to The Richmond Democrat)

In contrast, the Democratic candidates this year, and for 2008, have attended a wide variety of debates in a wide variety of forums. For example, Hillary Clinton went before YearlyKos and explained herself to a crowd not predisposed to listen to her. Similarly, Democratic Candidates are attending Chamber of Commerce events, in spite of the fact that most Chambers are predisposed towards Republican candidates.

The Republican candidate's absence from tonights debate just reinforces the hypothesis that Republicans do not know how to govern, while Democrats engage the public and get things done.

Support Karen Shultz for the 27th District.