Delaware County
Democratic Party
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October 16, 2003
Contact Comcast and Demand and End to Partisanship in Delaware County
The Democratic team for County Council has decided not to attend the Chamber of Commerce Candidate's Forum scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at Paxon Hollow Country Club. This decision, announced at the October 15 Democratic Leader's meeting, has been met with universal approval among Democratic Leaders who recognize it is time to confront head-on the Republican machine and all those who do its bidding in this county.
Several weeks ago, Comcast Cable helped destroy a proposed League of Women Voters debate by refusing to air the debate if it was attended by candidates from only one party. Now, Comcast has announced they will go ahead and broadcast the Chamber event even though only the Republicans will attend. Is Comcast simply another shill for the Delaware County Republican Machine?
The forum on October 21 is not a real debate. In fact, Jack Holefelder, the Chamber president, is on the record as not even favoring debates. In 2001, when county candidates were attemping to set up a debate with the Chamber and the Republicans, Holefelder said in the Daily Times "We don't feel that the debates are useful." Debates, he said, "are of little value to the general voting public." (Daily Times, July 20, 2001)
Tuesday's event is a pretend debate that allows no time for candidates for the highest office in the county to have a thorough discussion of the real issues that affect real people on a daily basis. Sadly, the forum is designed to allow the Republican candidates the technical ability to say to the public that they are willing to debate their opponents without having to actually face the voters and answer their questions. We will no longer condone this subterfuge on the part of the Republicans by attending only events that protect the Republican candidates from the public.
Paul Scoles, Debbie Thomas and Bob Small have offered to debate their Republican opponents at any time and at any location, provided the debate is a real exchange of ideas with questions from real voters.
Comcast Cable needs to hear from you! Please use the sample email letter below and contact Comcast today to protest their sponsorship of a partisan forum. We can make a difference, if our voices are heard. Feel free to forward this email to other Democratic friends who may not be on this list, and PLEASE LET US KNOW if you contact Comcast so we can track results.
Email to Tony DiTommaso, Director of Comcast's Government and Community Relations:
Copy and paste the following letter into a new email and send to
anthony_ditommaso@cable.comcast.com
Dear Tony,
Comcast Cable has helped quash a proposed League of Women Voters debate between candidates for Delaware County Council by refusing to broadcast an event at which only one party's candidates are in attendance. Yet, Comcast plans to go ahead with sponsorhip and broadcast of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum on Tuesday October 21 despite that fact that it is little more than a pep rally for the Republican Candidates.
I object to this double standard and to the double speak coming out of the mouth of Comcast spokesperson Nissa O'Mara who told the Daily Times that "airing a one-sided debate could be construed as partisan politics, but airing an informational public gathering does not have the same ramification." The distinction between a debate and a forum should be disingenous to Comcast's decision whether to air an event or not. Comcast cannot honestly avoid the appearance of bias by attempting to hide beneath the cover of the event's format.
I object to this partisan decision by Comcast and strongly request that Comcast not air what will clearly be a partisan event.
Sincerely,
Your Name