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.
