PI Original Josh Kalven Friday November 13th, 2009, 11:24am

IL-11: Kinzinger Afraid Of Recorded Debates?

On Tuesday, the conservative group Concerned United Taxpayers hosted a debate featuring the four Republican primary contenders in the 11th Congressional District.  One of the candidates, David McAloon, had a member of his campaign filming the forum (as is quite common in ...

On Tuesday, the conservative group Concerned United Taxpayers hosted a debate featuring the four Republican primary contenders in the 11th Congressional District.  One of the candidates, David McAloon, had a member of his campaign filming the forum (as is quite common in this day and age).  But apparently it was too much for frontrunner Adam Kinzinger to handle, as the Kankakee Daily Journal reported (subscription required): 

Before his candidate had arrived, Kinzinger campaign manager Erik Rayman picked up the campaign literature and fliers and left the four-candidate event saying the debate rules agreed upon more  than a week ago had changed. 

Rayman was upset because the debate, sponsored by Concerned United Taxpayers, allowed a video camera inside the community room at the Bourbonnais Municipal Center. He said all had agreed not to allow video cameras.

Here's some video of moderator Andrea Taylor announcing that Kinzinger and his campaign manager had exited the building "for whatever reason":

And here's Taylor's spot-on comment to the Journal:

But, she said, allowing cameras inside a debate is not an unreasonable request. “If he thinks there are not going to be cameras at future debates he might be wrong,” Taylor said. “You can’t get away from video. This is going to happen. I don’t understand a temper tantrum like this.”

It's 2009, Adam.  There's no hiding anymore.

Also, it's worth noting that, in an August 30 letter to the Bloomington Pantagraph, Kinzinger attempted to criticize incumbent Democrat Debbie Halvorson for not holding any public meetings on health care.  In fact, like many other members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, she had opted to hold several tele-town halls on the issue (with thousands of participants).  

Comments

A CAMERA!!!!!! OH, THE HUMANITY!!!!!!!!!!!

I suspect the first rule in the Republican candidate's handbook states that video recordings are devastating to their public image and are to be avoided at all costs.

Well, how about an incumbent candidate that is afraid of live meetings with her constituents? The same candidate said she didn't have time to do a live meeting but she did have time for a long vacation and she did have time to do a "townhall" meeting over the phone with cherry picked calls only. Now there is gutless for you!

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