Democrats 
Letters To The Editor
Published in Idaho Statesman
When Republicans Decline To Debate, All Idaho Voters Lose
by Richard Stallings
Sept24, 2006
Let's take a trip through time, to the year 1858 and into what was then
America's frontier.
All across the state of Illinois, citizens were excitedly preparing stages for a
series of debates between two great orators — Democratic U.S. Sen. Stephen A.
Douglas, and a tall, quirky state legislator and Republican upstart named
Abraham Lincoln.
Thousands of people came out to watch these masters of language. They were
brilliant debates about the affairs of the times. Transcripts can still be read
at http://www.nps.gov/ archive/liho/debates.htm.
It was a festive occasion. While the candidates were not particularly kind to
one another, these two titans of American politics of the day behaved as
gentlemen. And when they were finished, the people who heard them gained a
better understanding about the positions of the candidates, and expanded their
own knowledge and views of the nation and the world.
After the election, Douglas, the incumbent, retained his seat in the U.S.
Senate. But the Illinois debates of 1858 set the stage for the presidential
campaign two years later. In 1860, it was Lincoln who prevailed, becoming
America's 16th president and the man who would forever change the world with his
decision to stop the south from seceding and ending slavery.
Today, interested observers no longer have to hitch up the wagon or ride scores
of miles into town to hear such debates. We have magical technology that lets us
broadcast moving pictures and words instantly across the state and across the
country. All you need is a remote control, a comfortable chair and an hour of
time.
For a generation in Idaho, we have had a history of participation in statewide
debates broadcast on Idaho Pubic Television; the only truly statewide television
network, built specifically with the idea that some information, from emergency
broadcasts to political debates, ought to be free and easily accessible to every
Idahoan.
And for a generation, in every election cycle, statewide candidates have
participated in such debates.
Now we have three statewide candidates — Butch Otter, James Risch and Donna M.
Jones — who, for whatever reason, are refusing to debate their Democratic
opponents.
Nobody forced them to run for statewide office; yet they are asking all of you
for your votes. The least they can do is stand up, make their views public and
let the voters judge for themselves.
This year, three of my Democratic friends find themselves shut out of fair play
— Jerry Brady, Larry LaRocco and Jackie Groves Twilegar. I am encouraging them
to do anything in their power to persuade their opponents to the statewide
debate stage, even if that means withholding themselves from other regional
debates. After all, why should citizens in one region be more informed than
citizens in another?
Finally, I call upon all those who hold the democratic process dear, to people
of all political persuasions: Contact these Republican holdouts and reiterate to
them their duty to debate.
Who knows, perhaps one of these six candidates will be America's next Abraham
Lincoln.
Richard Stallings is chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former
congressman from Idaho's 2nd District.
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