McCann vs. Benton debate postponed
Monday, Mar 7, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
A debate planned for Monday night featuring the candidates running in the 50th district state Senate Republican primary has been canceled.
Challenger Bryce Benton’s campaign notified The State Journal-Register on Sunday afternoon that Benton would be unable to participate in the Monday night event, which was to take place at the SJ-R building.
Benton is out of state because of a family member’s serious illness, spokesman Aaron DeGroot said.
Benton is challenging incumbent state Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview.
* This doesn’t appear to be a ploy by Benton. Click here to see why. His dad just had a double lung transplant. He was discharged from the hospital over the weekend, but I’m told the recovery is not going well. The Benton campaign says the candidate will reschedule the debate.
So, please, take it easy in comments. Thanks.
- Century Club - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:34 am:
Dad coming home from a double lung bypass vs a State Senate seat? Dad - every time.
- Norseman - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:34 am:
Best wishes for a speedy recovery of Benton’s father.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:37 am:
I wish the SJ-R had done more to explain the situation. They left it seeming like it was a convenient excuse. As a result, the social media responses were over-the-top.
I hope Bryce’s dad is doing okay and I hope both sides cool off for a couple of days. This race is definitely in need of a break/breather.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:39 am:
As someone his age, opposite political affiliation, wish Benton family the best. And he chose family over everything else. I do commend him.
- MSIX - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:42 am:
Many of us have been there. Family first. Always.
- Aldyth - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:44 am:
Putting family first is an admirable trait. Best wishes for his father’s recovery.
- Honeybear - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Wow, okay that’s totally not good. My prayers for Benton’s father. As much as I want McCann to win, I really hate it when something happens like this. It kind of brings it home doesn’t it. Life is fragile.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:47 am:
Saw emphysema up close in my family. Terrible disease.
Praying for a good outcome.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:48 am:
Family first.
Period.
End of story.
You make any hay out of this, beyond bad firm, it would be tasteless.
- Annonin' - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:49 am:
Prayers for Benton, his father & his family for a speedy recovery
Maybe SJ-R could ask his paymasters — $uper$tar, Proft et al — to stand-in
- Threepwood - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:51 am:
Exactly why I go to you first, Rich. My thoughts are with Mr. Benton and his family.
- illini97 - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:51 am:
Good choice on Benton’s part. I do agree the SJ-R story could have been a little more upfront about the seriousness of the issue.
- Mama - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:55 am:
Yes, family should always be #1.
- Commander Norton - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:59 am:
Yes, let’s have a debate between Dan Proft and whichever labor leader is most itching to take him on. That would be far more enlightening (and entertaining).
- Corporate Thug - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:59 am:
While I’m no fan of Mr. Benton’s politics, wishing the best for he and his family on his father’s recovery. Never like to hear about things like this. Family comes first. Always.
- said so - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:05 am:
Regardless,this candidate has not been vetted. We only know he is Rauner’s candidate. I would be doing the whole “best wishes” sing song if the media were doing their jobs instead of not vetting this candidate.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:16 am:
Said So - you obviously have not read much or any of Bernie Schoenberg’s or Doug Finke’s articles or columns. And the media in the rest of the district is small enough that “vetting” is not realistic. Other than the Jacksonville Journal-Courier and maybe WLDS, most media outlets in the rest of the 50th have minimal staff and limited resources and/or contacts.
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Said so - the man’s father is apparently fighting for his life, a you can’t bring yourself to do “the whole ‘best wishes’ sing song”….you’re all class, without the cl
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:32 am:
==I would be doing the whole “best wishes” sing song==
Some people have no class when it comes to things like this
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:34 am:
I support McCann, but my thoughts and prayers are with Benton and his father/family. There will be time to debate later. The place to be is at his father’s side.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:36 am:
Demoralized - nope, which is why I hate when this stuff gets dragged out on Facebook and why I wish the SJ-R had done a bit more digging. Bryce put info about his dad on his personal Facebook page. Not hard to find.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:37 am:
@said so - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:05 am:
=I would be doing the whole “best wishes” sing song if the media were doing their jobs instead of not vetting this candidate.=
Really?
- RNUG - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Suspect the SJ-R just ran the Benton press release. If it was a case of the paper trying to be “neutral”, it didn’t work in this case. The campaign has been so hard fought people automatically suspect something.
Either the campaign should have been more forthcoming / specific or the SJ-R should have made a phone call and asked if they could be more specific.
- A guy - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:55 am:
With no snark whatsoever, I’d say this CF crew has handled this with the compassion it deserves. Save one commenter. There’s always one. Prayers and best wishes to Mr. Benton.
- obfuscator - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:12 am:
i’m definitely not a fan of benton and those funding him, but as a guy with a father in recovery after heart bypass surgery, i have nothing but respect for his decision and i hope for a successful recovery.
- Century Club - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:44 pm:
=I would be doing the whole “best wishes” sing song if the media were doing their jobs instead of not vetting this candidate.=
You know, there’s a Benton/McCann thread here literally every day where that type of post might be more on-topic (and tasteful).