{news} CT Post on Duffee's exclusion

[David Bedell]

What's interesting here are the Republican and Democratic state chairs'
reactions.  Of course they both agreed with the shut out, but when
Republican chair Chris Healy refers to the Green and the Libertarian as "a
side show and a freak show," I wonder if he means to say which is which.

David Bedell

http://www.connpost.com/ci_10711512

Shays/Himes debates begin Tuesday

By KEN DIXON
Staff writer
Article Last Updated: 10/13/2008 06:31:18 PM EDT

The battle for the Fourth Congressional District will reach the crucial
debate stage Tuesday, when Republican U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays and
Democratic challenger Jim Himes finally engage in the first of seven joint
appearances.

Healthcare will be the focus of the 8 a.m. debate sponsored by the
Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) on the campus of Housatonic
Community College.

>From there it's 14 miles down Interstate-95 for a noon-time, televised,
hour-long confrontation before the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce at the
Norwalk Inn.

Party leaders expect Himes and Shays to do what they do best. The incumbent
will stress his 21 years of experience and bipartisan record. The challenger
will attempt to tie Shays to the unpopular Bush administration.

"If you're Jim Himes, what is your compelling reason to get rid of Chris
Shays," asked Chris Healy, Republican State Central Committee chairman. "If
you're Chris Shays, all you have to do is be yourself and show your
authenticity and ability to connect with the people you work for." Healy
said Himes's campaign has been too negative.

"Jim Himes seems to think George Bush is running for Congress," Healy said.
"I think it's going to be very difficult for him to make any case that
people of 4th Congressional District haven't had a great congressman for 21
years."

Nancy DiNardo of Trumbull, Democratic State Central Committee chairwoman,
said Monday that Shays's record will be the central focus.

"I think what Himes has to do is show that on the issues that are important
to the Fourth CD-- the economy and the war -- that [Shays] has been with
Bush, Cheney and McCain every single time," said DiNardo. "When Congressman
Shays said the economy was 'fundamentally strong' it clearly showed that
he's out of touch."

The compressed debate schedule includes seven head-to-head meetings in seven
days, after months of broadcast commercials, direct mail and personal
appearances throughout the 17-town district, which stretches from Greenwich
to most of Shelton.

Debate organizers said they did not invite Green Party candidate Richard
Duffee and Libertarian Michael Anthony Carrano to participate because it was
determined that their campaigns are not viable and time is better spent
showcasing Shays and Himes.

Healy and DiNardo agreed Monday with the decisions to shut out the
minor-party candidates.

"I think those are distractions," Healy said in a phone interview." The
third and fourth-party candidates, until they can demonstrate they have some
critical mass, are a side show and a freak show."

"I think these are very important times and it is crucial for people to have
the opportunity to hear from the candidate who has a chance to be a
congressperson," DiNardo said.

According to Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, there are only 272
Green Party members and 209 registered Libertarians in the district, which
has about 650,000 residents.

Duffee, a retired lawyer, said he is contemplating complaining to the
Federal Communications Commission because both News 12 Connecticut, which is
taping today's noon-time debate, and the Rocky Hill-based WFSB Channel 3,
which will tape a debate in Stamford on the 20th, are not giving him a
voice.

"I've been shut out of almost everything," Duffee, of Stamford, said in a
phone interview.

But News 12 Connecticut, a cable station, is not required to provide equal
time. Three calls to WFSB, the state's CBS affiliate that has been trying to
expand its advertising base and coverage into southwestern Connecticut, were
not returned on Monday.

Paul Timpanelli, president and CEO of the BRBC, said the issue of inclusion
was addressed by the council's 18-member executive committee and a
government relations committee. "The only question I asked is whether a
third-party candidate has any opportunity to make headway and if the answer
is yes, should they participate?" Timpanelli said. "On both answers it was
no. "

Brian Griffin, vice president of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, said Shays
and Himes were the only candidates invited because it's clear the
minor-party candidates are not serious contenders. "We don't feel we shut
anyone out," Griffin said.

Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for public relations at Fairfield
University, said Thursday night's 90-minute debate in the Quick Center is
being sponsored by campus Democrats and Republicans. In a phone interview,
she said Duffee has been offered interviews on the university radio and
television stations, as well as a chance to set up an informational table at
the Barone Campus Center "to give them an opportunity to speak with students
and faculty who go through that area." Milcarek said the university has
tried to get in touch with Carrano, who has failed to respond.

Richard Lion, the Libertarian Party's state chairman, said Monday he's had
the same problem in contacting Carrano. Lion said he wasn't surprised that
the party is excluded from the debates. "That's kind of standard operating
procedure," he said in a brief phone interview Monday.

Joseph J. McGee, vice president for the Business Council of Fairfield
County, said that having fringe candidates detracts from the already short
amount of time Himes and Shays can share in the debate scheduled in Stamford
next Monday. "These are the two candidates," McGee said. "One of these is
going to be the congressman. Third-party candidates have legitimate concern,
but we have concerns too."

Jara Burnett, president of the League of Women Voters of Connnecticut, said
last week that Duffee and Carrano failed to meet basic criteria for
inclusion in the debate, including "running vigorous campaigns."

List of debates:
Today Time: 7:45 a.m. Sponsor: Bridgeport Regional Business Council
Location: Housatonic Community College, Beacon Hall, 900 Lafayette
Boulevard, Bridgeport
Today Time: 1 p.m. Sponsors: Norwalk Chamber of Commerce/News 12 Connecticut
Location: Norwalk Inn & Conference Center, 99 East Avenue, Norwalk TV: Will
be shown at 8 p.m. on News 12 Connecticut.
Thursday, Oct. 16 Time: 7 p.m. Sponsor: Fairfield University's campus
Democrats and Republicans Location: Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts,
1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield
Date: Sunday, October 19 Time: 11 a.m. Format will be a forum, not a direct
debate Sponsor: Temple Israel Location: 14 Coleytown Road, Westport
Sunday, Oct.19 Time: 3:30 p.m. Sponsor: League of Women Voters Location:
David Clune Center for the Arts, Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Road,
Wilton
Monday, Oct. 20 Time: 10:30 a.m. Sponsor: Business Council of Fairfield
County Location: UBS Conference Center, 400 Atlantic Street, Stamford TV:
Will be recorded by CTN, the state-government channel and WFSB Channel 3,
for future broadcast.
Monday, Oct. 20 Time: 7 p.m. Sponsor: World Affairs Forum Location: Ball
room Holiday Inn, 700 Main Street, Stamford