First topic to debate: how, when to do it

Schaffer pitches Lincoln-Douglas; Udall wants Q&A

By Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Friday, May 9, 2008

Brian Lehmann / Special To The Rocky

GOP Senate candidate Bob Schaffer, at the South East Business Partnership annual luncheon, proposed unmoderated debates.

Brian Lehmann / Special To The Rocky

Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall, also at the luncheon, said debates should revolve around voters asking questions.

U.S. Senate candidates Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall have found one thing - one of the few things - they can agree upon: They definitely will debate.

Whether they can agree on when, where and how remains to be seen.

In a rare joint appearance, U.S. Rep. Udall, a Democrat, and former Rep. Schaffer, a Republican, both spoke Friday to the South East Business Partnership annual luncheon, although they didn't share the podium and refused to pose together for a photo.

Schaffer told the group he wants seven unmoderated Lincoln-Douglas-style debates over the summer, a proposal he put in a letter he gave to Udall at the luncheon.

"I think you'll agree that holding our own debates, on our own terms, focusing on issues upon which we agree to debate is a sensible strategy," Schaffer wrote. "I think these debates could be the high-water mark of the campaign and perhaps renew a national and historic standard of campaign activity."

But Udall later rejected Schaffer's proposed format.

"I firmly believe that the debates we do should allow us to answer questions from the people of Colorado about the issues that are most important to them, but Bob's proposed events do not," Udall said.

The Lincoln-Douglas format, which is used in some speech competitions, is named for the 1858 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, which focused on the morality of slavery.

As for timing, Udall said the debate schedule will have to be worked out but that he was open to having some during the summer.

"We're going to debate - whether it's on Bob's suggested schedule or our suggested schedule or a combination," Udall said after the event. "Of course I want a chance to tell the people of Colorado why I'd be the best choice as the next United States senator."

In brief speeches, both candidates touched on the war in Iraq, rising energy costs and an ailing economy.

"We have a number of enemies around the world who plot every day to try to disrupt our economic way of life," Schaffer said. "I want to conclude warfare as quickly as possible - as a function of victory, not a function of surrender."

Both candidates expressed support for developing renewable energy sources to lessen dependence on increasingly expensive foreign oil.

"Oil at $120 a barrel is strangling our economy. We need to stop talking about our addiction and do something about it," Udall said. "We should put aside red and blue and be green. Being green is about the most patriotic thing we can do."

ryckmanl@RockyMountainNews.com

• May 10, 2008

  4:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  angka writes:

  Here's a question: How many members of Congress who voted for the Iraq war have personally profited from it? How many members of Congress who voted to go to war in Iraq in 2003 went to work for an oil company after they left office, winning an Iraqi oil contract for his firm?

  Answer: Bob Schaffer.

• May 10, 2008

  7:42 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Gene writes:

  "Being green is about the most patriotic thing we can do." . . That says a lot about Udall, and has to be the the most foolish thing I have ever heard.

• May 10, 2008

  7:52 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  farsidefan writes:

  The best thing Schaeffer did was term limit himself. During his time in Congress he was one of the most ineffective members on the hill. Even Musgrave has done more for her/their district than he did.
  He is a closet ultra right wing neocon. You can put lipstick on a pig, etc. etc..

• May 11, 2008

  6:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Froward69 writes:

  well Gene, its not easy being Green ~ Kermit the frog.
  that said you opt for the easy way out. status quo. Staying the course, that you obviously cannot see is the path to ruin. How do you feel if your kids starve to death because the dollar is worthless. and our corporate government sells all of our country's food production to the rest of the world to pay off George bushes debt.

  (btw, we aren't the World bully's you just imagined we are. J Sydney McCain III, ruined the armed forces too.)

• May 11, 2008

  7:46 a.m.

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  soccermom writes:

  What is Bob Schaffer's definition of 'victory'? That should be the first debate.

• May 11, 2008

  noon

  Suggest removal

  JohnHKennedy writes:

  I'm still waiting to find out why Udall won't protect our US Constitution by calling for public Impeachment Hearings prior to the November Election. It is high time we voters learned the truth about the WMD lies that caused over 4,000 killed and over 33,000 maimed US Soldiers. Does Udall condone Bush's expansion of Presidential Power? Doesn't the truth matter to Udall? Udall took an oath to defend the Constitution. Why hasn't he done so. He ducks discussion of impeachment more than he ducks ending the illegal Iraq war by just not sending Bush any more funding bills.

  John H Kennedy, Denver CO, organizer
  Impeach Colorado Coalition http://ImpeachCO.com

  ..

• May 11, 2008

  12:44 p.m.

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  The_Punnisher writes:

  All congresscritters are MASTER-DEBATERS as far as I'm concerned...;-)..

• May 11, 2008

  6:50 p.m.

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  freethinker07 writes:

  The reason why the Democrats won't actually do anything is that they can get more votes by complaining than by doing. If they do something, they have to take responsibility. That is hard for them.

  You see it in the Colorado Legislature. They all complain about low taxes and then fail to propose tax increases because they are afraid of getting clobbered at the polls.

  You see it with DeGette. She doesn't even answer her emails or phone messages.

• May 11, 2008

  7:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Froward69 writes:

  nor does shaffer, cheney or musgrave answer their phone nor return emails.