Lassiter Questions "Attack Dog" Debating Rules, Focuses On Main Issues....Road To Victory

TV debate canceled after Lassiter protests rules

A debate over debate ground rules forced the League of Women Voters Monday to drop plans for a televised face-off between Charlotte's two mayoral candidates.

The League had scheduled an Oct. 27 debate between Democrat Anthony Foxx and Republican John Lassiter. It was to air on WTVI, WAXN and WSOC-TV.

But the debate collapsed after Lassiter refused to accept a League proposal that would have allowed six rebuttals during the hour-long forum. He wanted no more than three.

"There was some hardball being played on the other side and they thought I would blink," Lassiter said. "My position's been pretty consistent."

Foxx said he was disappointed.

"We want to support the organizations in this community that want to hear from both candidates, and we support the rules that they establish," Foxx said. "We don't think that any last-minute strong-arming is in the best interest of the community."

Foxx and Lassiter have around two dozen joint appearances scheduled before the Nov. 3 election. More than any other, the League of Women Voters debate is a mainstay of Charlotte campaigns.

"I don't know what to make of it, I was surprised," said Amanda Raymond, the League's debate director. "I hope there will be enough other avenues to know where the candidates stand."

It's not the first time debate rules have become an issue.

Organizers of tonight's debate for Kids Voting wanted to give each candidate five rebuttals. After efforts by the Lassiter campaign to reduce that, it will remain five.

Last week, the Foxx campaign issued a news release saying Lassiter complained about the number of rebuttals that were to be allowed at a forum at Johnson C. Smith University.

Foxx, who has been trying to draw distinctions with his opponent, said Lassiter "may have a problem with those differences being exposed."

"If John Lassiter thinks he's going to dictate the rules of engagement, and his personal wishes matter more than the community organizations that are bringing us to the table, he's absolutely wrong," said Foxx.

Lassiter said he's trying to answer more questions from the public, not from Foxx.

"There's a real value in using limited time in a debate to answer questions of folks who are there," he said. "I've had six general elections and now three primaries. I've debated in small audiences and on TV. I don't run away from the opportunity to talk about the issues."



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Sources: Charlotte Observer, Google Maps