Mr. Hoffman and tonight's debate
Some questions have been raised about Doug Hoffman's involvement -- or lack of involvement -- in tonight's debate.
According to the Plattsburgh Press-Republican, Mr. Hoffman's spokesman, Rob Ryan, suggested that the Conservative sat out the debate because of NCPR's involvement.
According to the newspaper, Mr. Ryan suggested that NCPR is a "liberal" news organization and that our involvement in the forum was an obstacle to Mr. Hoffman taking part.
NCPR has had only cordial and professional contact with the Hoffman campaign. Our reporters are friends and acquaintances with members of Mr. Hoffman's staff and family.
To suggest that we would treat Mr. Hoffman unfairly is simply baseless.
What's more, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Ryan had every opportunity to raise concerns about the format or structure of this event.
They never did so. Indeed, when I saw Mr. Hoffman this afternoon, in person, he apologized for not taking part -- but still failed to offer a good rationale for remaining on the sidelines.
Even if one had concerns about our motives, it's fair to ask:
If Mr. Hoffman felt unable to articulate his views in this setting, how will he perform in Congress, a far more combative and challenging venue?
I think anyone listening to the debate will understand our purpose very clearly. We worked hard to refocus the conversation on bread-and-butter issues affecting the 23rd House district.
It would have been profitable for everyone if Mr. Hoffman had chosen to take part and share his own views.
--Brian Mann, NCPR
Labels: election09
posted by Brian Mann @ 10/28/2009 08:23:00 PM
28 Comments
28 Comments:
Perhaps the real reason for his absence is that he hasn't enough familiarity with the local issues of the district to have an opinion or a position. If the old adage "all politics are local" is true (and I think it is) too have no position on the issues of most importance to the people propose to represent would make one look rather foolish in a debate.
Hoffman not attending is lame.
jpm
This is one of the most pathetic excuses I've ever heard.
Its complete lack of any credibility is laid bare by the fact that even if the mythical NCPR bias was the reason for him weaseling out of this debate, it doesn't explain his chickening out of the debate in Syracuse.
I suspect that all his time hobnobing with national figures on the far right has prevented him from learning much about the local issues facing the district and he's afraid that a real debate would lay this bare.
I mean if he had any guts, he would've gone to the debate. He could always whine bias after the fact, like the leader of the fascist party in Britain. At least then, people would have the opportunity to judge for themselves.
Hoffman has a dilemma: he doesn't know a thing about local issues; he doesn't want to reveal it; he needs some excuse--any excuse--to duck debates. Bingo. Change the subject and blame the media!
hmm... someone who'ld rather go to nyc and appear on elitist right-wing media programs than debate his opponents in a local public forum? I thing that's who i want to represent me! really owens and scozzafava should run ads saying he'ld rather go to nyc than debate and meet with voters.
Brian Mann: You deny that you would be unfair to Hoffman -- and then you attack Hoffman.
Interesting.
You guys are getting too worked up.
Like the rest of us, Doug Hoffman will prove to be his own worst enemy.
Mike
For the record, nothing in my post attacks Doug Hoffman.
I simply question, fairly I think, his campaign's rationale for not appearing.
My job as a journalist is to get us as much information as possible out to the public as quickly as possible.
If that's a bias, then yes -- I'm biased.
I wish Mr. Hoffman had come to answer questions last night so that voters could make a more informed decision.
-Brian, NCPR
First off, NCPR and NPR are left leaning, no way to argue that. But the news coverage is excellent compared to most other sources. And to call Beck an elitist is laughable! The guy is a success because he's smart and works hard. Plus he has a wicked good sense of humor. Still, Hoffman should have taken part in the debates. I'm not thrilled with him, but am left with the choice of Hoffman or one of 2 Democrats.....who can do the least damage to whats left of our economy and nation?
I think it's worth pointing out that -- as far as I can tell -- the poster named "Brian" and Brian Mann are different people...
This post has been removed by the author.
And I will also add that the "I'm afraid of the big bad Liberal Media" excuse is getting old, fast...
Hoffman proves yet again that he's completely controlled by the Ultra Cons. Even his excuse for not attending last night's debate is right out of their play book. When it's clear you have no substance and the fraud is exposed, blame the darned liberal media. Classic right wing play calling and oh so predictable.
First off, NCPR and NPR are left leaning, no way to argue that.
i would certainly argue with that! i think npr does a good job of being balanced.
Chris, anyone who's noticed my previous disagreements with Brian M on this blog would have figured that out. But given that elections always generate a lot of new (and mostly ephemeral) traffic to blogs, it was worth pointing out.
And I've always been amazed at the gall of politicians who refused to comment to certain media outlets and then whined that said media outlets weren't reporting their side of the story.
I'll condemn Hoffman for avoiding NCPR when others condemn Scozzaflava and Owens for not demanding equal time on Beck's program. Deny away, but anyone with their eyes open know public radio is in the tank for liberals. Not a big deal because it's good to have access to the latest silliness, but expecting Hoffman or any conservative to take a grilling from leftists while the other candidates get a free pass on answering tough questions from a conservative perspective is unbalanced. Can't blame Hoffman from wanting to focus on the issues of concern to his contituency. Smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation...does anyone believe NCPR give a darn about these topics?
NCPR is on the left ...... side of my radio dial, but that's it.
The reporting that is provided is very balanced. I would rather listen to NPR/NCPR than any of the majors news outlets. I count on getting the news from NCPR on my way to work every morning.
I enjoy listening FOX news as well, but as our POTUS has suggested, they are not a news organization.
Biran and Gang: Keep up the excellent work.
Sure, NCPR is just filled with conversations about the size and scope of government. They're practically to the right of Limbaugh.
"I'll condemn Hoffman for avoiding NCPR when others condemn Scozzaflava and Owens for not demanding equal time on Beck's program."
So we're back in third grade now? A debate and a talk show are two completely different contexts. Your comparison is as laughable as your candidates excuse for not showing up last night and another play from the ultra cons play book.
From the NCPR main page:
"Last night, Republican Dede Scozzafava and Democrat Bill Owens, candidates for New York's 23rd district in the House of representatives, met in a public forum at SUNY Plattsburgh.
The third party candidate, Conservative Doug Hoffman, declined to participate. The public forum was co-moderated by Lindsey Lyons, president of the student government association at the State University at Plattsburgh, and NCPR Airondack Bureau Chief Brian Mann.
Owens and Scozzafava responded to wide-ranging questions collected from the forum's sponsors,including United University Professions, the Student Association of SUNY Plattsburgh and the League of Women Voters, and from civic organizations, interest groups, and journalists. They also took questions from the audience. Martha Foley has more."
My god, the lists of organizations and individuals offering questions is just crazy liberal! Where's the ghost of Joe McCarthy when you need him? Now I see why Hoffman refused to participate (sarcasm intended)!
A liberal wouldn't acknowledge the biases of the groups listed. "University proffesions"...yeah, that's a fair minded group of people.
Glen Beck is honest about his programs being opinion based, NCPR is not. I don't give NCPR any bonus points for pretending they are objective.
One way or the other conservatives will win in this battle thanks to Hoffman. Either he wins which is the best possibility or Owens wins sending a message to Repugs they can't expect to run liberals anymore and get the support of conservatives. Not subjecting himself to grilling by a bunch of liberals about a bunch of liberal issues was the right decision. My confidence in Hoffman's ability to distinguish between right and wrong is growing.
3:11, hmm... unwillingness to meet with constituents who could potentially disagree with you seems like a willing quality for a member of congress.
I'd call NCPR a constituent in the same vein as Owens and Scozzafava. Why subject yourself to slanted questions which totally ignore your message?
NCPR wasn't going to ask a series of questions about the size and scope of government. Shoot, they willfully ignore Scozzafava's fiscal record of spend and tax and instead claim conservative opposition to her is based primarily on abortion and homosexual marriage.
NCPR, like much of the local media, wants to focus on issues they feel best serve their political viewpoint. They ignore or diminish the core issues central to Hoffman's message.
Hoffman's real consitituents are the people he seeks to protect from the intrustion of more government into our lives. I believe this of greatest importance to the majority of the district.
His answer on the influence of outside interests was brilliant. He's not worried about owing outsiders anything since they joined him. He didn't join them. The so-called outside interests share the the same values as Hoffman, and probably the majority of the district. Unlike the dems and repubs who demand party loyalty, Hoffman only has to live up to his principles to satisfy his supporters.
I applaud Hoffman for staying low against his enemies without proper cover. Must have been an infantryman in the army.
"hermit thrush said...
First off, NCPR and NPR are left leaning, no way to argue that.
i would certainly argue with that! i think npr does a good job of being balanced.
October 29, 2009 10:23 AM"
I have to respectfully disagree. While I don't listen to NCPR or NPR everyday since I retired, I did for decades. I have never heard NCPR or NPR hold a Democrat or Liberals feet to the fire. I have never heard NCPR in particular support a conservative point of view, but on countless occasions have heard the progressive view supported as the norm. It's only balanced if you start from the left in the first place.
It's still good news, don't get me wrong. But it's not balanced in the sense of just reporting the news as it is. There's a plain slant to many of the stories and opinions.
Like the previous poster I don't have a big problem with NCPR, but they do represent the views of the left. I'm not thrilled that they receive government (read: taxpayer) money but other than that I'm okay with them being leftists. We need to hear all sides.
I do wonder why so many in the left media run from identifying their politics? Say what you want about the media on the right, they don't try to hide who they are. Is the left ashamed of their ideology?
lol, I love how Brian Mann removes anything critical of him in these posts.
Once again, his arrogance shines through again!
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