Kagen Blows Off Debate to Attend Campaign Fundraiser

Press Release

Kagen Blows Off Debate to Attend Campaign Fundraiser

In one of the more bizarre episodes you'll ever see on the campaign trail, Congressman Steve Kagen arrived thirty minutes late to a debate on Tuesday night...and left fifteen minutes before the debate was scheduled to end.

All total, Kagen stayed for about fifteen minutes and took only two questions at the debate sponsored by the Brown County Medical Society held at St. Norbert College. Now we know why Kagen dodged most of the debate - he was raising campaign cash.

Kagen was at a fundraiser held at Gippers Bar & Grille on Tuesday night with State Representative Jim Soletski, according to Soletski's Web site (http://www.jim4assembly.com/upcoming.html).

"Congressman Kagen put raising campaign cash ahead of talking to voters," said Gard. "It's time for Congressman Kagen to stop hiding behind nasty attack ads and join me in a debate about are real differences on the best way to create good jobs and grow our economy."

Fifteen different independent organizations are planning to hold a forum with Kagen and Gard. While Gard has agreed to all of them, Kagen has yet to agree to any of the remaining debates.

"I have already agreed to each and every debate request that has been put before us. I think we owe voters throughout the Eighth Congressional District the opportunity to hear us discuss the differences we have on important issues," Gard wrote in his letter to Kagen. "That's why I hope you'll reconsider your decision, and agree to the remaining proposed debates. These organizations have put time, energy and effort into trying to give voters the chance to tune out the TV ads and hear directly from us. I hope we won't ask them to cancel these debates."

Gard sent Kagen a letter yesterday asking him to reconsider his apparent decision to cancel several debates. Gard had also invited Kagen to join him at a series of town halls to discuss gas prices during the five-week Congressional vacation last month. Kagen refused to participate then as well.

"What is it that you are afraid of talking to voters about," Gard asked in his letter to Kagen. "Your votes to raise taxes? Your vote to give healthcare to illegal immigrants? Your vote to give millions of taxpayer dollars to bailout Fannie Mae? Your refusal to see Medicare patients in your clinic?"

Organizations that are attempting to arrange a debate between Gard and Kagen include: Project Vote/UW-Green Bay/Wispolitics, WTAQ Radio, League of Women Voters Appleton Chapter, League of Women Voters Green Bay Chapter, Harmony Café, Village of Hobart, UW Marinette/Marinette Chamber of Commerce, AARP, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, WHBY Radio, Door County Advocate, Wrightstown Post-Gazette, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups District 7, Pathways and Healthcare United.

Source