That could well be a framed quote on Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell's Juneau office wall. He's basically found a way to avoid any situation where he might be forced to "tell the truth" in a setting where his version of the "truth" can be compared to that of U.S. Rep. Don Young's version. He has yet to appear on the same stage as Rep. Young, at the same time.That's too bad, because any opportunity for them to be compared to each other, will leave most voters looking forward to voting for either Diane Benson or Ethan Berkowitz, the Democratic Party contenders in the August 26 Alaska Primary.
There are currently four forums scheduled that match all the contenders for the AK-AL U.S. House seat:
August 4 Decision 2008: Anchorage KTUU Channel 2 News Congressional Debate
August 12 Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Congressional Candidate Forum
August 20 Running: KAKM Candidate Forum for US House candidates
August 22 Soldotna Congressional Candidate Forum
There is also a Candidate Forum scheduled to be held by the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce between Sean Parnell and Don Young, on August 1. According to Blaine Ashcraft, the Ketchikan Chamber's Executive Director, there are currently no plans for holding a forum there between Diane Benson and Ethan Berkowitz, but, he says, "that could change."
I'm particularly intrigued about Parnell's possible future appearances in these forums, because he did so terribly in the Hispanic Affairs Council of Alaska forum in May. As a Democrat, I want people to see our candidates and the GOP's. I'm convinced of five things:
1. When people see Benson and Berkowitz appear on the same stage with Young and Parnell, they will be more likely to vote for Benson or Berkowitz.
2. The more people who vote for our ticket in August, the more will vote Democrat in November.
3. If less than 75,000 people vote Democrat in August, Berkowitz will win.
4. If more than 85,000 vote Democrat in August, Benson will win.
5. In order for Democrats to elect Begich in November and to gain a majority in our state legislature, at least 80,000 need to vote Democrat in August.
headline is a famous saying by Michael Kinsley