Letter to the Editor: Former candidate calls for 7th District debate

Our country is at war, jobs continue to leave our state, and the nation is at odds over many moral and social issues. It is time that we, the voters of southwest Missouri, see for ourselves what the choices actually are from the candidates we have for Congress.

Kevin Craig, a Libertarian, has been hard to reach and largely unavailable to the media. Jim Newberry, a Democrat, refused offers to debate in his primary but has since had a change of heart. Roy Blunt, the Republication incumbent, continues to mislead the voters by saying he wants to debate, then has his staff deliver official excuses as to why he cannot.

As a former candidate for this same office, I think it is time for all three of these gentlemen to step up to the plate and show us, the voters, who they really are.

The truth of the matter is that there will be no publicly broadcast debate if the incumbent chooses to avoid the event. Our previous congressman, Mel Hancock, had no qualms about taking on challengers in debate forums, whereas he had nothing to hide. Roy Blunt, however, has participated in only one debate during his nearly eight years in office.

The little-known fact that the Friends of Roy Blunt want to remain secret is that during the single 1996 KOZK-televised candidate forum, Mr. Blunt lost the debate. He did so poorly that his handlers must have advised him to stay away from TV cameras and rely on the straight-ticket Republican vote to get elected, because that has been his strategy ever since.

It would be refreshing to see some politicians with enough backbone to face off in debates. I’m sorry, but serving the people of the 7th District does not include campaigning for GOP House candidates in other states. Unfortunately, saying you want to debate but can’t find the time is a ridiculous excuse for having a political yellow belly. On a side note, voting a straight ticket for any party is a sad excuse for being a lazy, uninformed voter.

It is time we all step up to the plate and make the best decisions we can. It’s our government, and we decide who we want to manage it. As for the 7th District candidates for Congress, I have some advice: We are citizens of Missouri. If you want my vote in November, you have to Show Me what you’ve got. Besides, could the president of these United States get away with saying he was too busy to debate?

Doug Burlison,

Springfield