HUNGER STRIKE DEBATE SET FOR OCTOBER 15
Where: Cuyamaca College Communication Arts Theatre, Room B-117
Rancho San Diego; 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy
When : 7p.m. – 9p.m., Saturday, October 15
Ray Lutz for Congress 2010
www.VoteRayLutz.com
Media Contact: Brennan Purtzer, Media Director
619-447-3246 / [email protected]
OCT 15 CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE FOLLOWS 11-DAY HUNGER STRIKE
San Diego County, Calif. (Oct 2, 2010) –
Congressman Duncan Duane Hunter has said he will finally step up to
debate his eager general election opponents on October 15, at a East
County Chamber of Commerce debate. The congressman refused to debate
his opponents until Democratic Candidate Raymond Lutz and Libertarian
Candidate Michael Benoit staged an 11-day “Hunger Strike for Democracy
back in August.”
On the morning of August 19, just hours after Lutz appeared on CNN to
discuss the hunger strike, a representative from Congressman Hunter’s
campaign hand delivered a debate acceptance notice to the Lutz office.
Though Lutz ended his hunger strike, which garnered him national
attention and a forthcoming article in The Nation magazine, his
“insurgent” campaign tactics have persisted. He has led marches,
protest and demonstrations, and founded a non-partisan national
organization, Debate For Democracy, to advocate for congressional
debates in every district.
And despite the lack of cooperation from the Hunter campaign, Lutz and
Benoit have continued their campaign to reach out to voters across the
expansive 52nd congressional district. They have already held debates
(inviting Congressman Hunter to each of them) in the communities of
Alpine, Ramona and Lakeside/Santee. They have upcoming debates
scheduled for Poway, Clairemont Mesa and Borrego Springs, though the
congressman has not confirmed attendance for any of these events.
“Hunter’s reluctance to debate represents a disturbing trend,” Ray
Lutz said. Earlier this month, Republican Congressman Darrell Issa
(CA-49) backed out of a commitment he made earlier this summer to
debate his Democratic Challenger Howard Katz.
However, not all debate trends are negative. While Hunter has made it
clear that he is not interested in allowing the voters of his district
to pose questions about his record and ideas, Republican
Representative Brian Bilbray (CA-51) has gone out of his way to
request more debates from his counterpart, Democratic Challenger
Francine Busby.
The October 15 debate, which will be moderated by a television anchor
and broadcast locally, is expected to be well attended. Audience
members will be encouraged to ask challenging questions, especially
with recent allegations of immorality in light of the Boehner Sex
scandal and controversial earmark requests.
Where: Cuyamaca College Communication Arts Theatre, Room B-117
Rancho San Diego; 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy
When : 7p.m. – 9p.m., Saturday, October 15
Ref: www.debatefordemocracy.org
For media inquiries, contact Brennan Purtzer, media coordinator, at 619.447.3246