Mumpower Calls Shuler Out on Debates

PRESS RELEASE


NC 11th District Representative Heath Shuler was an outspoken fan of debates during his 2006 run against Charles Taylor. As an incumbent, he has reversed course and rejected all organized attempts, including one from the League of Women voters, to schedule debates with his challenger, Republican Carl Mumpower. On Friday, Mumpower sent Shuler a registered letter calling for a repeat of the 2006 'eight debate model' and announcing plans to press on with debates, with or without Shuler's attendance.

"My opponent is counting on the 90% probability of reelection for incumbents and the 'Buy America Plan' that helps incumbents purchase their reelection to Congress," said Mumpower. "90% of Heath's 3 million in campaign contributions is coming from special interests from outside of the district. 90% of his campaign will be based on media sound bites designed to keep voters in the dark. Debates offer a risk that his liberal voting record and the mismatch between his words at home and actions in Washington will be publicly revealed."

In his letter to Shuler making a final debate request, Mumpower noted, "I am aware that incumbents are sometimes advised to avoid debates altogether or hold one token effort neat the election as a means of avoiding criticism for dodging face to face contact." "It would be my suggestions that neither approach is in keeping with your earlier position of principle on the importance of public debates in a Congressional campaign."

"I am not interested in letting Heath's campaign play games with this issue for the next two months," said Mumpower. "He just had a 5 week vacation that he supported with a with a 213-212 congressional vote. I will wait one week for him to reconsider his avoidance of debates. After that, I am going to press on with scheduling 'Missing Man' debates throughout the 11th District. Heath's position on the issues will be fairly represented in proxy with quotes, votes, and notes directly attributable to him."

"We are going to debate," said Mumpower. "It is just a question of whether my opponent attends in the flesh or through a cardboard cut-out. I would personally rather take on the real man, but so far he has been able to dodge the accountability."

Carl Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate

Principles first - always.
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Candidate Website


Here are a couple of videos backing up Mumpower, one taken by myself, and the last by Richard Bernier...as we unsuccessfully attempted to get Congressman Shuler to answer the question of debating Mumpower or Smith:



Congressman Shuler runs from me at WCU


Shuler runs from Richard Bernier in Woodfin

The question remains...Has Congressman Shuler morphed into a Washington Insider who refuses to debate his challengers? Use the phone numbers provided in the videos to call the Congressman's Office and ask why he refuses to debate Carl Mumpower or Keith Smith?