There was a time not too long ago when debates were an election year staple and candidates typically squared off for two or more debates. That expectation appears to be in jeopardy this election year in two important races: The 6th Congressional District and the Massachusetts House’s 9th Essex District.
Instead of simply agreeing to squeeze in two debates prior to the Nov. 6 election, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and Republican Joe Schneider are circling each other and exchanging insults like tantrum-prone kids in a sandbox.
Schneider, a successful businessman and veteran who is new to politics, challenged Moulton, also a veteran who is running for a third term in Congress, to three debates. He isn’t going to get them; Moulton agreed to only one debate at Endicott College on Wednesday. Endicott is in Beverly — doesn’t it make sense to have a debate in Lynn, the district’s largest city?
To his credit, Schneider pointed out how Moulton challenged U.S. Rep. John Tierney to debate in 2014: “Massachusetts families deserve better than a Congressman who ducks and hides. I will debate Congressman Tierney anytime, anywhere,” Schneider quoted Moulton as saying.
If Moulton was willing to debate a fellow Democrat four years ago then he should be chomping at the bit to face off with a Republican.
It is disappointing to see Moulton, through a spokesman, brand Schneider’s debate challenge as ” … a desperate attempt to gain some press attention, as would be expected from the party of Trump.”
That statement fails to treat the voters — much less Schneider — fairly and respectfully. Moulton takes pride in holding “town hall meetings” across the Sixth Congressional District and providing online access to these appearances. But listening to Moulton chat with constituents is a long ways from hearing him field challenging questions from an opponent.
The same can be said about the 9th Essex race between state Rep. Donald Wong and challenger Matt Crescenzo, who are debating debating. After all, what is an election in Saugus without some sort of controversy? The pair squared off in Wakefield, where four precincts are represented in the Massachusetts House by the 9th Essex representative. But Saugus is the political heart of the district and it makes sense to hold a second debate in the town prior to the election.
Wong, a veteran politician and well-known town businessman, has no reason not to debate. He convincingly beat Democrat Jennifer Migliore (who worked for Moulton) in 2016 following a debate that saw Migliore toss everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at Wong.
Schneider got it right when he said ducking debating is tantamount to disrespecting the voters. It’s easy to make a case that debates occasionally, but rarely, change voters’ minds about candidates and set the facts straight on important election issues. But Americans like drama and excitement in their elections and they deserve to have candidates square off for an hour or two and exchange ideas.
The election is two weeks away; that’s plenty of time for Moulton and Schneider, Wong and Crescenzo to agree on times and places for debates in their respective races. Now is the time to end the debate debates and simply debate.
