Aishah Hasnie, writing for WANE, has an article about incumbent U.S. Representative Mark Souder ducking debate requests from his third District Republican challenger, Bob Thomas.
“I do not believe that Bob is a credible candidate,” said Souder. “I believe when somebody is nominated by someobody, rather than self declared, that you have an obligation to debate.”
This, of course, is a more politically advantageous way of ducking a debate than saying something hewing closer to what some might call “reality”:
I do not believe I would win a debate. My long time incumbency comes primarily from a lack of serious primary challengers over the years and the heavily Republican district I represent. Nobody supports me with any real vigor, and, like an unwanted party guest, I have stayed long, long after I promised I’d leave. My record is not very good, and in a debate, I would probably stick my foot in my mouth. If I avoid debating, I can probably use the power of incumbency and paid media to weather this primary storm and then rely on party affiliation to beat Dr. Hayhurst in the general election.
(Full disclosure: I know not a thing about his challenger, Bob Thomas.)
I don’t know anything about Bob either, being a democrat, but its time for Souder to go. He pledged that he’d only stay for 12 years, then broke that promise to become a career politician. During the time I’ve lived in Indiana, he’s gone from a bobble head yes man for the Bush administration to yet another Just Say No republican in the Obama administration. He’s bland, uninteresting, and doesn’t do anything that I can see except get up and claim victory on the VA right before the election. I doubt Hayhurst will win in IN 03, but maybe we can get someone who’s going to actually do the job, and maybe even step up and lead a little for ALL his constituents, regardless of party.
And maybe monkeys will fly out of my butt too.
Thomas’ TV ads claim that Souder votes with his liberal buddies (Pelosi
and Reid) in Congress and that Souder isn’t conservative enough
for the district.
Typical incumbent behavior.