What happened to Rand Paul’s debate any time, anywhere position?
Check this out:
The Metropolitan Republican Women’s Club (of Louisville), an affiliate member of the Kentucky Federation of Republican Women, has, for many months, been organizing a Public Forum for all of the Republican senatorial candidates as a public service to the citizens of Kentucky. This event has taken on special significance since KET will not be televising a debate this year.
In a letter to KFRW President Willee Cooper, Metro President Julie Hinson wrote, “His withdrawal at this late date is unfathomable. To withdraw just 13 days prior to the event while dedicated volunteers labored and expenses were incurred is unacceptable. Our expenses include among other things hall rental, insurance, and printing. These are not insignificant. I had fliers advertising the event printed that can now not be used.”
This process to get on Candidate Paul’s schedule began on Dec 21, 2010, during a telephone conversation with campaign manager David Adams when he confirmed that Rand Paul would participate in the MRWC Public Forum on March 17, 2009, in Louisville. President Hinson then followed this discussion with a detailed letter dated February 18, 2010. She not only mailed this letter to Paul headquarters, but hand delivered it to the candidate at the Jefferson County Lincoln Dinner. She spoke with Rand Paul personally and he never gave any indication whatsoever that he would not attend.
President Hinson further stated: “Let me assure you that this event will go forward with or without Candidate Paul. His absence will obviously not go unnoticed. KFRW is a strong force statewide in electing Republican candidates at all levels and has played an important role for over 50 years. Women voters are a majority of the electorate, and we are saddened by Candidate Paul’s failure to recognize our entire organization’s importance in the election process. It is our hope that once he considers the opportunity that he is conceding to his opponents, that he will standby his original commitment and appear.”
Really smart move, isn’t it? Backing out of the Metropolitan Republican Women’s Club debate.
49 responses so far ↓
1 briansmith // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:38 pm
OMG. I wouldn’t deliberately piss off one Republican Woman, much less an entire \ederation of them.
2 briansmith // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:39 pm
F. Also.
3 wondering // Mar 9, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Can’t Rand Paul just please go away?
4 immelmann // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:02 pm
He probably will indeed go away . . . to D.C.
5 anonymous // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:16 pm
That’s not far enough.
6 Mark // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:17 pm
He has a good reason for backing out. Check out who the moderator is.
7 jake // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Oooh, a lady who contributed to Grayson is moderating! How scary!
Just how many Paultards have been responsible for various events Paul has participated in? 4? 5?
It’s a debate/forum. Questions are asked – get this – in front of people. And the candidates get to answer in front of people.
8 Rusty Shackelford // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Sooooo, Rand backs out of one event and he’s a flip-flopper now? Even though we have no report as to WHY he dropped out. There are legitimate reasons to cancel an event. Attacking without the facts is just silly.
9 Sue // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I’m not surprised by this at all. Given Rand’s recent track record at the Lincoln Day Dinners throughout the state…this afront seems par for the course!
http://reddiva.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/regular-everyday-occurrence/
Having been “campaigned” by Paul and Co. myself, I know exactly how these women feel!
That’s part of the reason that I’m voting for Bill Johnson. http://kentuckybill.com
10 GH // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Who cares who the moderator is .. what difference could that make if he is so confident he has this election in the bag and is so strong on the issues what difference could that possibly make ? He is showing the public he is not Senator material. OH and Please dear G-d don’t let him get near Washington !
11 jake // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Actually, “Rusty/KOTH Character,” we do have reports. Including the one in a comment left by me above.
12 Michael Brown // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:14 pm
How is it that in politics, behavior such as this, and by the candidate himself, is somehow considered acceptable. In any other profession or circumstance, other than dire emergency, death or illness…such action would either be considered grossly irresponsible or obnoxiously arrogant, neither of which is befitting a candidate running for high office.
13 kilowat // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Rand pulling a Bunning think he will send a video ! maybe he has another Ky machine gun shoot to go to
14 Wake Up Call // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Of course there’s an explanation Rusty…it’s either arrogance or paranoia…take your pick or perhaps it’s both.
15 AttentionWhore // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Maybe, Rand Paul doesn’t want to waste time arguing about Gitmo and abortion with Trilly. Because that is all the last debate was about.
Isn’t John David Dick moderating? Didn’t he go after Paul in the Courier Journal recently?
16 jake // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:54 pm
If he had concerns and this wasn’t an amateur move, he could have mentioned his concerns during the debate/forum so people knew better than to fuck around.
Since he didn’t, well, he comes off sounding like quitter Sarah Palin.
17 AttentionWhore // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I just visited Paul’s website. It appears he is doing a debate in Louisville this Saturday. Why would anyone plan two debates in the same city during the same week?
Did Trey Grayson pull out of Saturday’s debate?
18 anonymous // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Wait until Ron Paul takes of his Rand Paul costume. You never see them in the same place!
19 John Smith // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Rand did not show on Feb. 20th for the Restore America rally in Frankfort .
Rand did not show last week out side Jim Bunning office.
Rand is not going to be in Frankfort on the 27th for the Second Amendment March.
People who back Rand need to stop and think….
20 Mike Stephens // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Rand Paul was beaten badly in the debate in Paducah. That’s why he is canceling. Trey RINO did the same thing. You watch, Bill Johnson will show and give real answers, not panders.
21 Noah // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I personally was told by David Adams last may that Rand would debate anytime anywhere he could get a hearing. This isn’t surprising for him, given that he’s now for an Iraq war he was against 6 months ago
22 Lisa Graas // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:47 pm
I think Dr. Paul keeps forgetting this is a “REPUBLICAN” primary. Maybe he has a CNN interview that day…..or something equally self-serving.
23 Lisa Graas // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Oh, yes, that’s right. Thanks for reminding me, AW. Grayson hasn’t confirmed the debate planned by the Tea Party groups. I wonder if Grayson and Paul are playing “dueling debate confirmations”. Bill Johnson has confirmed both events.
24 A Patriotic Nurse // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:50 pm
I will say I am somewhat surprised that he would do such a thing, but after hearing him moan and groan about attending Lincoln Day Dinners and ticking off an 85 y/o lady here in Kentucky and whining that he would rather be at home with his sons, I am more amused than surprised. Apparently he thinks he has this sewn up! Does he know something we don’t?? I am sticking with Johnson, a true conservative..HONOR-DUTY-COUNTRY.. EDIT: links posted without formatting or permission are read as spam – deleted.
25 TweysToWimpy4Ky // Mar 10, 2010 at 12:42 am
There is a debate this Saturday and Twey has failed to confirm his appearance. Trey is still a liberal Bill Clinton loving Arlen Specter RINO who’s loved by this liberal blogger along with Jackie Consway.
26 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 7:53 am
Uh, the event this Saturday is being put on at the Evangel Gay-Hater Frank Simon church. And a debate? Hardly.
Trey Grayson would be wise not to align himself with bigoted closet case Frank Simon and crew.
27 David Sinclair // Mar 10, 2010 at 8:27 am
This was to be a very biased “debate”, the people in charge were already backing Grayson. Not much of a story here.
There have been several debates that Trey has backed out of. If the debate only has Gurley, or Jenson, then it really isn’t much of a debate is it?
28 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 8:35 am
That’s the ticket! Act like this is no big deal and it will go away.
Unfortunately for you, dear Paultards, Trey Grayson hasn’t backed out of any debates he’s already agreed to. Especially not after tons of money has been spent promoting the event and securing facilities.
But don’t let things like reality get in the way.
29 CKT // Mar 10, 2010 at 8:43 am
Rand is demostrating a serious personality disorder here with his Paducah debate performance, his snubbing of numerous Lincoln Day Dinner Events, Snubbing other 9/12er groups. Now this?
It all adds up to Paul telling all of us we are just minons to be used and pissed on at his pleasure. Just like the treatment we currently get from our “Political” class!
Who asked about the Moderator?
Isn’t John David Dick moderating? Didn’t he go after Paul in the Courier Journal recently?
More Whahh! from the cry baby elitist. If he can’t handle the heat here in this calm harbour Paul will surely lose it in the open waters of Washington DC. Trouble being for you Paultards is Dr. Paul has had a nice life and has never been in a position to have to “Take” direction. Get it? He is the lead person in his small business, in the other charitable organizations he leads. So here you get the elitist “It’s about me and what I want” attitude.
I campaigned for this guy but had the guts to admit I screwed up. Paul has zero leadership ability and has a royality complex. I woke up, now you Paultards need to do the same, take personal responsibility for yourselves.
Bill Johnson has real world experience in a variety of circumstances. He has been in situations that require dealing with various parties for large corporate deals. He can handle a difficult crowd and get what he was sent into the fray to get a good deal for his employer. You can insert DC and people and understand this.
It’s Bill Johnson at http://www.kentuckybill.com were you can read the material on the site and get the calendar of events so you can/could follow him or meet him personally. He will answer if you ask?
30 John Clark // Mar 10, 2010 at 8:44 am
Rand/Ron, like Father/ like Son, this cancellation is by no means the first and not the ‘political’ last. But please everyone, let us not call him a ‘teabagger’.
I care too much for the Movement that stands for Freedom, Liberty, Honor and Country to have it in any way connected to what I have heard from Rand Paul.
We at least are spared from hearing Ron’s views over again !!
Kentucky knows better.
31 Wake Up Call // Mar 10, 2010 at 9:00 am
Perhaps he will be on the Alex Jones show instead talking to his band of truther supporters. They love a good conspiracy story.
32 AttentionWhore // Mar 10, 2010 at 9:52 am
Perhaps, Rand Paul plans on working that day. Bill Johnson is unemployed, so he can be anywhere anytime. Until he spends his life savings, then, his ass will be a slave to the man!
Trey only blows off work to go see his kid at school or watch a basketball game. See Trey’s twitter.
33 JD in Pewee Valley // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:08 am
Rand Paul is nothing more than a marketing trick, like Obama. When he is cornered and asked to go off his pre-approved talking points you find out his real character. You find out that he is more interested in what is good for him (camera time for contributions and gaining of personal power) than what is good for KENTUCKY! If he wins the primary he will most certainly lose in the general. If for some reason he did win the general he would go to DC and NOT champion the cause of Kentucky first but instead worry about his own personal agenda.
He is willing to trade and discard, at least in the election, his most fundamental policies in order to win. Claiming as recently as last summer that he wasn’t sure he would run “on the Republican Ticket” because he was still hedging his bets to see if he could make it as a Libertarian or Independent.
I too was at a Lincoln dinner where he spent 1/5 of his time complaining about being at “yet another Lincoln Dinner”. He never once asked for our vote but instead lectured us about this or that policy and never talked about what was good for Kentucky.
Why are all his supporters from outside of our state? Why doesn’t this crowd of Paulites let Kentuckians pick OUR Senator?
34 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:12 am
The Trey-Eating-A-School-Lunch meme was cute for a minute.
But I think it’s a bit disingenuous to continue harping on him for going to Take Your Parent To School Day or whatever.
35 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:20 am
Wait! JD Sparks speaks!
Maybe he’ll assault Rand Paul…
36 Sue // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:24 am
The following is the ‘reason’ for cancelling by David Adams on his fb page (I have screen shots)
“When the invitation was first presented to me, it was portrayed as a candidate forum with each candidate to be given equal speaking time. That would have been fine and I was perfectly willing to overlook any concerns I may have had about this event under those circumstances. The February 18 letter was the second one sent by MRWC and presented a much different scenario than I had previously agreed to. Attending this event didn’t become less of a priority until the group changed the rules. If they had played it straight with us, this whole episode could easily have been avoided.
When the rules were changed in the Feb. 18 letter it became clear that the debate was not at all likely to present a level playing field for the candidates.”
Obviously he does not give any specifics as to how the “playing field” would not be considered level. Which I find incredibly ironic coming from a man who has worked tirelessly to tilt said field in his candidates favor!
Essentially Adams’ remark can be interpreted:
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”
37 Sue // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:29 am
“I know that third party candidates can’t win in KY. Although I’m a libertarian at heart, I’ve decided to run as a Republican. Once I win I’ll be able to promote my father’s principles and work towards reforming the Republican party”~ Rand Paul 2009
38 Jill // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:32 am
Funny how Johnson supporters are going Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa since the most accurate polling firm in America showed that their candidate only had a tiny 5% support. Hell even Gurley Martin could pull that much support.
39 UK Alumni // Mar 10, 2010 at 10:59 am
Rand Paul is a dilettante elitist just like his father. He’s not looking for a competition, but a coronation.
40 AttentionWhore // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:41 am
J.D. Sparks is a teabagging idiot!
41 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:44 am
I don’t know that he is an idiot, and I think that’s a bit defamatory, but he’s definitely an assaulter.
42 Fortune teller // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:49 am
I’m going to inject some reality. If Rand Paul survives and wins the primary, he’s most likely toast in the general election. He has gone out of his way to alienate most of the GOP base (as well as County GOP officials) throughout the state in one form or another. While his appeal is strong with most indy’s (who can’t vote in the primary unless they’ve changed their affiliation) and the Libertarians, he will need a solidified GOP base to win in Novemeber. I have a feeling that many of this base will be sitting on their hands come November. I know certain GOP bigwigs who are still smarting over Ron Paul not unifying with the base after his primary loss in 2008. This campaign is about getting an ideology elected rather than a candidate. Rand Paul’s contempt for Republicans becomes more apparent every day.
43 robbie // Mar 10, 2010 at 12:33 pm
There is also a Republican debate scheduled for this Saturday in Louisville. This phrase was in the announcement: “we will have an open mic for part of the time when you can ask your question.”
If Dr. Paul’s concerns are regarding being asked questions on-the-fly, maybe he should withdraw his confirmation for being at this event too. Could work in his favor really, as it’d be one less crowd that would witness his disrespect for many of his fellow Kentuckians.
44 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 12:54 pm
robbie: He’s not backing out of the Saturday event because it’s being put on by his dear friend, Frank Simon, and the Evangel faux-Christianity group.
That’s an alignment I think most teabaggers would denounce in a heartbeat if they took the time to examine it. I think it shows Rand’s true, non-”liberty”, non-based-in-reality colors.
45 wondering // Mar 10, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Paul. Grayson. Conway. Mongiardo.
Four words, translated, which mean “Kentucky’s screwed for the next six years.”
46 jake // Mar 10, 2010 at 2:03 pm
That’s odd…
When I check the Google, the translation is, “Pootie Tang was a good movie.”
47 Rolf Lindgren // Mar 10, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Sore Loserman.
48 Michael // Mar 10, 2010 at 4:40 pm
“More Whahh! from the cry baby elitist. If he can’t handle the heat here in this calm harbour Paul will surely lose it in the open waters of Washington DC. ” CKT
You are absolutely on target. Washington isn’t a town for whiners. Probably the only other city in America less forgiving is NYC. Somehow one senses the Jr. Paul thinks the establishment in D.C. is waiting for his arrival to “set things straight.” If this is his thinking, he is delusional and the elder Paul should be ashamed in not issuing the warning. Given the fact the members presently there, or those newly elected in the fall going there are not ignorant of the Paul’s strategy, a great deal of his time will be spent combating the opposition he is sure to find as one who flirts on the radical fringe. As one who personally worked on Capitol Hill from 2000 to 2004 for the nation’s top grassroots political organization… I can assure you Mr. Paul would not be receiving the reception he may be expecting. He will quickly find there is a well prescribed and well defined pecking order inside the beltway.
49 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Mar 11, 2010 at 2:16 am
John Clark, many people stand for “Freedom, Liberty, Honor and Country” in this great nation but would go nowhere near Tea Party organizations or so-called “Patriot” groups. Also, the idea that only a specific breed of conservatives are more freedom-understanding and patriotic than the rest of us is abject nonsense, not to mention arrogant.
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