* Remember last week when I told you that Republican Marty Ozinga’s campaign was whining about the Southland Chamber’s choice of moderators for this Thursday’s candidate debate?
It would be hard to imagine a presidential debate moderated by MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. Similarly, we cannot imagine a congressional debate moderated by Kristen McQueary.
Well, Ozinga has now pulled out of that debate. Here’s his press release…
“Both of our campaigns [including Green Party candidate Jason Wallace] have notified the Southland Chamber that we will not be participating in their candidate forum Thursday morning. Although we regret having to miss an opportunity to come before voters and discuss the issues important to Illinois’ working families, it became clear that Debbie Halvorson used her family ties to slant in her favor what was pitched as a fair forum by a purportedly non-partisan organization.
“Senator Halvorson’s husband was the Chairman of this chamber in 2004, and still serves on the board. The forum was to be held at her alma matter, where the senator herself serves on the board. The chamber employee who was responsible for the planning of the forum is an avowed partisan who worked for Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin from 1996-2004. Unlike all other candidate forums to which we’ve been invited, a member of the general public wishing to be present at the forum was required to register with the chamber first. The chamber initially tried to exclude Green Party candidate Jason Wallace - again, something that no other sponsoring organization has attempted to do thus far in this race. Lastly, the chamber chose an opinion columnist as the moderator, rather than an objective news reporter.
“With all these ‘coincidences’ piled on top of one another, we had become convinced that this forum was intended as nothing more than a pep rally for Senator Halvorson, masquerading as a fair and informative candidate forum. We are disappointed in Senator Halvorson for trying to pull the wool over voters’ eyes. This is what Illinois voters are tired of - the same old brand of Blagojevich-style politics coming from Rod Blagojevich’s favorite Springfield politician. This is isn’t change - it’s just more of the same. We are confident that voters will reject Senator Halvorson’s shameful tactics, but we look forward to participating in several already-scheduled candidate forums with her as the campaign progresses.” [Emphasis added.]
OK, let’s parse, shall we?
The Southland Chamber is probably the most influential and important organization in the entire region. Its board of directors and executive committee have prominent members in both major political parties, community leaders and quite a few of the more powerful local business owners. Its membership list is huge.
The Southland Chamber vehemently denies - and has told Ozinga’s campaign - that Halvorson’s husband played any role whatsoever in setting up this debate.
The “Chamber employee who was responsible for the planning of the forum” identified in the press release was not the same person who actually did all the work. So, that’s a bogus claim as well.
As I wrote before, Kristen McQueary is a solid local columnist and the campaign’s attack on her was way over the top. The SouthtownStar is arguably the region’s most important newspaper.
Governor’s State University is an often-used spot for these sorts of functions. I was a participant in a set of legislative debates there several years ago. GSU is to the Southland what SIU is to southern Illinois.
So, let’s total up the Ozinga disses: Southland Chamber; Kristen McQueary; SouthtownStar; GSU.
That’s pretty much everybody who is anybody in that region.
Heckuva job, Ozinga.
And, even if he’s absolutely right about everything (and he’s wrong about everything), if Ozinga can’t deal with a supposedly “hostile” environment on his home turf, how’s he gonna cope with the truly hostile environment of a Democratic controlled US House?
*** UPDATE 1 *** Statement from Halvorson’s campaign manager, Brian Doory…
“Whether it is failing to make his views known or even honor his commitments, Martin Ozinga continues to show contempt for local voters by selfishly making up the rules as he goes along.”
“Marty Ozinga is a member of The Southland Chamber of Commerce, and yet he still decided that it wasn’t worth his time to debate his opponents on issues of concern to his fellow chamber members.”
“This disappointing action speaks volumes about Marty Ozinga and his campaign. If he cannot even stand up and address business issues among his fellow chamber members, how can he expect to communicate with regular voters on the issues important to them?”
“Marty is afraid of being held accountable. He is afraid voters will discover he contributed $23,000 to the governor. He is scared voters will learn he supports the EJ&E deal. And most of all he is afraid of being held accountable for not being on the side of voters.”
“Even though Martin Ozinga is on the wrong side of the tracks on the EJ&E Acquisition, and so many other issues important to local voters, it’s deeply troubling that Martin Ozinga lacks the courage to look people in the eye and tell them he’s not on their side.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** No surprise, but the forum is now canceled. From the Southland Chamber…
The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce is deeply disappointed to announce that this morning, Marty Ozinga, the Republican nominee in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District, withdrew from the Southland Chamber’s 11th Congressional District Candidate Forum. The forum, which was scheduled to take place this Thursday, September 25, 2008 at Governors State University at 8:00 a.m. and would have been moderated by Kristen McQueary, columnist for the Southtown Star newspaper, has been canceled.
The Green Party candidate Jason Wallace, Democratic candidate Debbie Halvorson and Republican candidate Marty Ozinga were invited to participate in the candidate forum. All three candidates responded and accepted the invitation without reservation or condition.
Late on evening of September 18, the Southland Chamber was notified via email of the possible withdrawal of Marty Ozinga, citing “doubts about the fairness of this forum.” The Ozinga Campaign went on to say that the moderator, “Ms. McQueary is not an objective news reporter.” As a condition of participation, the Ozinga campaign requested the removal of Ms. McQueary or the addition of a second moderator. The Ozinga Campaign also questioned the venue, Governors State University, stating “the forum will be held at Halvorson’s alma matter, where she serves as a Director on their Board.”
The Chamber stands by its strong commitment to host a fair, impartial and informative forum for its members and voters of the 11th Congressional District. Furthermore, the Chamber stands by its choice of Kristen McQueary to moderate a fair and impartial forum with questions provided by the Chamber.
The Chamber is deeply disappointed and saddened to learn of Mr. Ozinga’s decision not to participate.
*** UPDATE 3 *** With a hat tip to a commenter, this is what Ozinga’s press release claims…
The forum was to be held at her alma matter, where the senator herself serves on the board.
But check out the board list. She ain’t on it.
Oops.
*** UPDATE 4 *** From WJBC…
Debbie Halvorson says she’ll attend the event to talk with voters.
And, the SouthtownStar Managing Editor, Dannis Robaugh responds to all this weirdness…
“As the SouthtownStar’s politics and government columnist, Kristen McQueary has hosted and moderated many candidate forums over the years. We are confident the Southland Chamber forum would have been conducted with the consummate professionalism McQueary has shown every time she¹s been asked to serve as a host.
“In the Southland Chamber format, it was clear McQueary would have been reading questions prepared by Chamber members. The SouthtownStar is pleased to have been associated with the Chamber’s effort to educate voters in the 11th Congressional District by providing them an opportunity to see the three candidates respond to issues of the day.”
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- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 10:37 am:
Odd. A GOP candidate scared of the Chamber of Commerce?
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 10:46 am:
==rather than an objective news reporter==
Um, Oz….there aren’t any of these around any more (if there ever were). Why is he so scared of McQueary? Not my district, but this smells like a deal breaker for any undecided voter….
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 10:48 am:
Ozinga’s advisors blew this call. It’s now apparent that he doesn’t have what it takes to get elected and is clearly running scared.
- anon - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:10 am:
Go Ozinga! Way to stand up to the machine and politics as usual - and way to back it up with validated points, this is excellent.
- Snidely Whiplash - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:11 am:
“And, even if he’s absolutely right about everything (and he’s wrong about everything), if Ozinga can’t deal with a supposedly “hostile” environment on his home turf, how’s he gonna cope with the truly hostile environment of a Democratic controlled US House?”
While that point does have merit, it is equally important to note that this debate could have been the deciding factor in the election, with undecideds utilizing the debate to make up their minds. So, with the ASSUMPTION that everything Ozinga says is true, he would be a fool to go there and be nailed to the cross over Bush policies while his opponent gets softballs lobbed at her.
That said, I really do feel for the people of that district. What a “choice” they have. I wouldn’t want either one of those two as my congresscreep. That race is the ultimate example of the two extremes of what it takes to be elected to congress: tons of money, or the backing of a political machine from which that candidate sprung. And woe to us all when one of them has both.
That’s why I can’t understand the extreme emotions on both sides of this argument. It’s not as if either candidate is one who can generate genuine support among voters in and of themselves. This is just a partisan pit fight over a previously safe R district that is now vulnerable. The R’s will fight to the death to keep it, and the D’s will do the same to get it for themselves.
- JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:23 am:
But wait, there’s more…
Martin Ozinga is a member of the Southland Chamber.
http://tinyurl.com/4mr6gu
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:26 am:
Interesting the green guy agreed with Ozinga
- Levois - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:27 am:
I think we can congratulate Ms. Halvorson on her probable win in November now!
- Snidely Whiplash - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:39 am:
Being a member isn’t the same as being on the board. It just means you join and hope to get some business from other members. I think he can dash those hopes now, though.
- stones - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:46 am:
Unbelievable! Even Obama appeared on the O’Reilly Factor. McCain has been on most of the major “liberal” network programs.
Apparently Ozinga lack the “stones” to debate with Halvorson.
- Been There - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 11:55 am:
==== JonShibleyFan @ 11:23 - Martin Ozinga is a member of the Southland Chamber.=====
He should have gotten himself on the chamber board. That way he could have manipulated the forum himself. Then Halvorson would have dropped out also. Then it would be the Green guy one on one with Kristen. But he dropped out so that would leave Kristen up on stage by herself.
What was his campaign staff thinking? Now instead of educating the voters (many of them chamber members with GOP leanings to begin with) he gets negative media coverage instead of impartial coverage from probably most newspapers and TV stations (and not just the Southtown). I can just imagine the headlines tomorrow “Ozinga Not Ready to Mix”.
Just the kind of person we want to see in Congress.
- GOP'er - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:07 pm:
Stick a fork in Ozinga. He’s done.
- Will Co Anon - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:10 pm:
This is a HUGE tactical mistake by the Ozinga campaign. It makes him look weak, evasive, and lacking substance. I saw both candidates at a joint appearance last week. While Halvorson was substantive and confident, the only thing I can recall from his presentation was that being a concrete truck driver is a pretty good job.
This race ain’t over but the fat lady is humming.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:14 pm:
It’s OK.
Most voters don’t care about this.
How many voters would watch it?
How many articles would appear in the local papers about what was said during this debate?
Debates are not sacrosanct. Especially not this year.
I know journalists and politicos live for these things, but no one else does.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:22 pm:
While this makes Ozinga and his team look silly, I agree with VM. Who cares? When was the last time a Congressional debate actually caused the race to shift one way or the other?
Snidely’s got a good point. What a mess of a race this is. It’s nasty and it pits the two worst parts of politics against one another: money and influence.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:24 pm:
VM, weren’t you proclaiming last week that this was all a transparent ploy to lower debate expectations for Ozinga?
Just sayin…
- green line - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:37 pm:
Olberman did moderate a presidential debate. The Dems did that funny thing at Soldier Field last fall and Olberman was the moderator.
- Bill - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:51 pm:
===It makes him look weak, evasive, and lacking substance.===
He looks that way because he is. Ozzie is a joke who used his own money to get an initial bump. It’s all over now.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:11 pm:
If blowing off debates/forums was the kiss of death we would be talking about Congressman Oberweis now. Foster blew off a ton of these including one by that well known partisan group, the league of women voters.
- POTUS44 - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:44 pm:
Ozinga has exposed himself as a complete coward, except I am thinking of a similar but harsher descriptive term. I am also surprised, though, about the Green guy. I would think he’d take all the exposure he can get, and relish a one on one debate with Halvorson. Where else we he get such attention? The whole world is going to hell in a handbasket, and Ozinga’s campaign with it. What a blunder.
- Mountain Man - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:17 pm:
Rep. Halvorson, welcome to Washington DC.
Ozinga needs these debates to prove himself up to the task of advocating for his district. This proves he is weak. He’s the “Johnny come lately” underdog in this race…he should be taking an “anytime, anywhere” approach to debates.
- Lisa Zeigler - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:19 pm:
The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce is deeply disappointed to announce that this morning, Marty Ozinga, the Republican nominee in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District, withdrew from the Southland Chamber’s 11th Congressional District Candidate Forum. The forum, which was scheduled to take place this Thursday, September 25, 2008 at Governors State University at 8:00 a.m. and would have been moderated by Kristen McQueary, columnist for the Southtown Star newspaper, has been canceled.
The Green Party candidate Jason Wallace, Democratic candidate Debbie Halvorson and Republican candidate Marty Ozinga were invited to participate in the candidate forum. All three candidates responded and accepted the invitation without reservation or condition.
Late on evening of September 18, the Southland Chamber was notified via email of the possible withdrawal of Marty Ozinga, citing “doubts about the fairness of this forum.” The Ozinga Campaign went on to say that the moderator, “Ms. McQueary is not an objective news reporter.” As a condition of participation, the Ozinga campaign requested the removal of Ms. McQueary or the addition of a second moderator. The Ozinga Campaign also questioned the venue, Governors State University, stating “the forum will be held at Halvorson’s alma matter, where she serves as a Director on their Board.”
The Chamber stands by its strong commitment to host a fair, impartial and informative forum for its members and voters of the 11th Congressional District. Furthermore, the Chamber stands by its choice of Kristen McQueary to moderate a fair and impartial forum with questions provided by the Chamber.
The Chamber is deeply disappointed and saddened to learn of Mr. Ozinga’s decision not to participate.
###
The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce is a premier business leadership organization providing cutting edge, value added services to all members of the regional business community. Our mission is to represent and promote the best interests of the regional business community and its members by working to improve the economic climate, business environment and community image of the Chicago Southland region.
- what a damn lie - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:45 pm:
I went on GSU’s website, Ummmmmmmmmmm legislators can’t be on University Boards, and she’s not on the board of GSU
This campaign is just nto ready for prime time,
- Southern Will Co. voter - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:35 pm:
Mr. Ozinga’s lack of political savy is showing. What an opportunity he missed. Debbie Halvorson can just about stand around and wait for November now.
- wc kid - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:35 pm:
Let me start by saying that he should have done this debate. However, I don’t think this hurts him that much. The Southland Chamber and the SouthtownStar have far greater meaning in Southern Cook County than in Will County. There are exactly zero precincts in Cook County for the 11th. The parts of the 11th in Will that are impacted by the Southland and the Southtown are basically Frankfort, New Lenox, Crete, and Monee Townships. Ozinga will win Frankfort and New Lenox Townships. Halvorson will win Crete and Monee. This does not sink Ozinga’s ship. I doubt people in Joliet, Morris, LaSalle-Peru, and Bloomington care about the Southland or the Southtown.
- Snidely Whiplash - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:03 pm:
No, but I think the point is that there may be the perception that he is afraid to debate …
- Been There - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:08 pm:
wc kid. most of your assessment is correct. Except the Joliet area is a substantial coverage area for the Southtown.
- Lisa Zeigler - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:16 pm:
I have fielded media calls today from Kankakee, Bloomington and some other downstate media that I am not familiar with. They apparently are taking notice.
- the wonderboy - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 6:29 pm:
Since this one is cancelled…I’d like to invite everyone to the debate between the candidates which will take place next week at Illinois State University. Should be an interesting night…Thursday, October 2nd in Bone Student Center at 6:30. Hope to see you all there.
- Squideshi - Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 8:37 pm:
While I may not agree with the Ozinga campaign’s assessment of McQueary, they have earned a great deal of MY respect by simply refusing to participate in this sham. I myself had personal correspondence with the President of the Chamber, and I found their process to be anything but fair, impartial, objective, or nonpartisan. The fact that they even considered excluding Jason Wallace–one of the three established party candidates–should have been enough alone in order for the candidates to refuse to deal with this organization.
I commend the Ozinga campaign and give them kudos because, whatever their motivations may be, they are standing up for democracy–better competition in our political marketplace of ideas–by refusing to participate in this so-called “debate.” Plus, the fact that the Ozinga campaign was willing to issue a joint press release with the Wallace campaign, giving solid acknowledgment of their agreement that to try to exclude Wallace was wrong, and indicating that this played a part in their refusal, demonstrates a certain level of integrity to me.
Now, don’t get me wrong–I still don’t agree with most points in the Republican platform, and by extension Ozinga’s platform; but I think being willing to work WITH Greens like this makes it much more likely that we can at least have civil disagreement, and debate, on the issues on which we disagree.
Plus, this is a great strategic move if the Ozinga campaign were trying to win support amongst Greens and friends–a constituency that it would normally be hard for them to reach. “Democracy” itself is, and has been, one of the biggest issues for many Greens for quite some time. If we were using Instant Runoff Voting, Ozinga might have just earned himself the #2 slot on many Green ballots. WAY TO GO OZINGA!