Sen. Smith to Miss TV Debate
Harri Anne Smith’s political consultant told the Parlor over the weekend that the Republican state senator would attend “at least two” of the three debates for CD-2 candidates sponsored by AARP, the National Federation of Independent Business, Troy University, and WSFA-TV. Turns out, she will attend exactly two but will skip Friday night’s televised debate because “she had a conflict Friday.”
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what a shock…
Comment by PikeCountyguy — April 14, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
Danny - meant to ask…is this the only one of the three that will be televised or will all three be on WSFA?
Comment by PikeCountyguy — April 14, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Why would she skip the debate? Okay she’s not the best public speaker, but this just makes it look like she’s not in the game at all. Plus, gives the other five hungry wolves a chance to go after Sen. Smith without her being able to defend herself.
Comment by Terry — April 14, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
If the first debate is the only televised one as PikeCounty asked, then I bet Senator Smith wants to prevent herself from looking bad on tv then will do the other two that are not televised. Just a guess. Or she may see what issues are discussed in the first one, how the other candidates do, etc as sort of a primer for when she will actually participate. I don’t buy the fact that she is busy….no event is more important on that date in terms of the race than the debate where every other candidate will be. Unless she has a family emergency or medical issue (someone having surgery, etc) then there is no excuse. If you want to be in Congress, show it.
Comment by pook2 — April 14, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
As has been pointed out - the invites to these debates went out two months ago.
Comment by pook2 — April 14, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
MH where are you? I told you Harri Anne would not show up for the TV deabate. And after watching that truly awful performance on Rickystokesnews.com I now understand why. How in the world any Smith supporter can get on this blog and say she is the best candidate is beyond me. If they do they shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Comment by db — April 14, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
For whatever it is worth, I was in Montgomery yesterday and saw an interview between WSFA and Conwell Hooper. Obviously AARP has hooked up with him to handle their legislative agenda. He was promoting the 3 AARP forums in District 2, but during the interview, I found it interesting that he said AARP had over 500,000 members in Alabama. I don’t know about you, but that is pretty darn frightening. I would hate to piss off that many old goats.
Comment by Jimmy — April 15, 2008 @ 8:27 am
I think she should debate, though I would guess she has been advised not to. I don’t know if these local TV debates are that big of a deal - I never watch them.
Comment by Anonymous — April 15, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
I doubt they will be heavily watched either but the point is she will not participate. I think post #8 is correct that she was advised not to participate in the debate that is televised live on a station that covers the entire district. Does anyone really buy her story that she has a conflict when invites for the debates were sent to all the candidates two months in advance? NO - we don’t buy it. If you don’t want the job…don’t run just for the title.
Comment by HillaryAnneSmith — April 15, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
All you have to do is look at this link to understand why she won’t debate. She’s clearly not ready for primetime.
http://www.mydothan.com/Bingo/041408HASbingoBillStopped.wmv
Comment by HillaryAnneSmith — April 15, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
Old goats? You just wait. I believe you will have a front row seat in a good ole fashion butt kicking! The old goats are going to be the worst nightmare for the nursing home industry.
Comment by Cathy — April 15, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
In the video posted above, the flag on the podium is backwards … if it should even be used like it was.
Stars–Left…Stripes–Right
Comment by SIW — April 15, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
[…] By and large, neither is the other unwanted attention her campaign has received, for example, for missing a televised debate, for introducing an electronic bingo bill for her constituents that she decides they don’t want, for violating Federal Election Committee rules by using state campaign funds to pay for polling related to the Congressional campaign. […]
Pingback by Ant Bites » Doc’s Political Parlor — April 15, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
If I advised her, I wouldn’t want her on a televised debate either….or any other forum I couldn’t control. let’s just be honest about it.
Comment by NotMH — April 15, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
PikeCountyGuy, re comment 2, the two reports I have seen (that are linked from this post above and this one) say that the first debate is televised. They don’t say that the others are televised, so I am led to believe they are not, but that might not be correct.
Comment by Danny — April 15, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
Smith will not debate on TV. Who wants to see that trainweck anyway?
Comment by Possum — April 16, 2008 @ 7:22 am
NO SHOW HARRI ANNE. AS IF WE WANT THAT IN DC???????????????????????????????????? WE NEED A FIGHTER NOT A SIDELINER.
Comment by CHICKEN — April 17, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Well,Of all the candidates running for this district,the one most qualfied in my book,IS the Mayor of Montgomery Bobby Bright.He is a proven leader already.
Everything is so messed up in Washington till it’s going to take some men that know how to take charge and get things back on the right track.AND I feel that he is one of them. He is a good honest man with good morals and valves.Also when he tells you he will do something ,he will.
Comment by downrights — April 20, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Not only is Harri Anne Smith in trouble with the Federal Election Commission, she is in big trouble. She took corporate contributions from her state fund and used them in a federal election. Federal law prohibits the use of contributions from corporations. By, by Harri Houdini, “Now you see her, now you don’t.”
Comment by Paul Douglas — May 2, 2008 @ 1:53 pm