MERKT STEPS UP CALL FOR DEBATES
AMONG GOP CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
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WITH ONLY THREE REPUBLICAN HOPEFULS LEFT, TIME TO LAY OUT STANDS ON KEY PUBLIC ISSUES
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URGES MEDIA TO HOST WEEKLY DEBATES

Rob Andrews Disrespects
Local Educators, Students

Andrews withdraws from debate,
leaving local educators and students
having wasted two weeks of preparation

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 1st District, sharply criticized U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews for suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from an agreed upon debate to be held at Sterling High School on October 21.

The debate, which was scheduled to be a digital town hall meeting with students from schools across the district videoconferencing together to ask questions of the two candidates for Congress, had been planned for several weeks. Some of the best students at Sterling High had been preparing for two weeks, developing their questions for the candidates.

Now, due to Rob Andrews’ inexplicable waffling and flip-flopping, all of their hard work is likely to go to waste.

“This is truly outrageous,” Glading said. “Rob Andrews has disrespected the voters of the 1st District time after time. Perhaps the only people he had left to disrespect were young people, some of whom are not yet of voting age, and somehow he found a way to disrespect them too.”

“I offer my sincerest apologies to the students of Sterling High School, the teachers, and the administrators whose hard work went to waste due to Rob Andrews’ conduct,” Glading added. “Even I am surprised to see Mr. Andrews stoop this low.”

“Yet again, Rob Andrews has proven to the people of the 1st District that if he says one thing, the opposite is true,” Glading concluded. “Plain and simply, a man’s word should be his bond.”

Andrews Ducking Debates

After chasing Lautenberg all over the state,
and after promising to debate,
has Rob Andrews lied yet again?

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 1st District, has questioned Rob Andrews’ claim that he would debate the issues and run a spirited campaign in this year’s election.

Andrews has withdrawn from two previously agreed upon joint appearances, the first being a candidates forum at the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce on October 17, and the second being a digital town hall debate hosted by Sterling High School on October 21.

Glading will appear as scheduled at the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce and is working with Sterling High School to reschedule the digital town hall debate after Andrews abruptly withdrew.

“Rob Andrews spent months chasing Senator Lautenberg across the state in this year’s Senate primary, challenging him to as many as 21 debates,” Glading said. “Rob said that the voters deserved to hear where the candidates stood on the issues, and that not holding multiple debates was disrespectful to the voters. Now it appears that Mr. Andrews’ words were as empty as his congressional record.”

“We know that Rob Andrews has a history of not telling the truth,” Glading continued. “When Rob Andrews told the press at his coronation in Bellmawr that he would gladly agree to a series of debates, it rang as hollow as his claims that ‘under no circumstances’ would he return to the congressional race.”

“Just like Camille Andrews said she would run a spirited campaign but held no events and met no voters, Rob Andrews has, yet again, taken the voters for granted in the 1st District,” Glading added. “We have met more than 13,000 voters since the beginning of August, and they all say that Mr. Andrews has never knocked on their door, called them, or shown any interest whatsoever in their concerns.”

“Now those of us who suspected that Rob Andrews would lie once again have, unfortunately, been proven correct,” Glading concluded.

If you missed the first presidential debate you probably relied on the media to tell you who won.  

BTW, you're not alone. TV audiences for presidential debates have been shrinking for more than two decades. McCain-Obama Round 1 drew 30 million fewer viewers as compared to the Carter-Reagan debate in 1980.

These days the media relies on instant national polls to proclaim a winner.  

Dale Glading Challenges
Rob Andrews To Six Debates

Congressional candidate reminds incumbent
of debate demands in previous campaign

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, has challenged incumbent Rob Andrews to a series of six debates between now and the November 4 election. Glading has suggested that three debates would be held in Camden County, two in Gloucester County, and one in Burlington County.

A copy of the letter Glading sent via registered mail to Andrews’ home is below:

Dear Congressman Andrews:

I was deeply disappointed by your recent decision to break your promise and re-enter the race for the 1st Congressional District. After repeatedly vowing not to run under any circumstances, you have further tarnished your already damaged reputation by not keeping your word. More importantly, your lack of truthfulness and the entire placeholder charade have disenfranchised tens of thousands of Democratic voters.

I entered the race back in January because I believe that our district deserves a congressman who cares more about his constituents than about his own political ambitions. Considering your recent deception of the voters, I am even more convinced that my decision to challenge you was the right one.

In your unsuccessful primary campaign against Sen. Frank Lautenberg, you challenged him to a series of seven debates. According to your own press release, no one should be “anointed to their Senate seat rather than face his opponent in fair and open debates on the issues that matter most to our families.” I agree and believe that the same standard applies to the U.S. House of Representatives.

A series of debates would show the voters the respect they deserve as they decide who is better equipped to represent them in Congress. As you said during the primary season, “the people of New Jersey who are working harder than ever to make ends meet for themselves and their families deserve no less.”

With this in mind, I respectfully challenge you to a series of six public debates prior to the General Election on November 4th. Based on the composition of our district, I would suggest three debates in Camden County, two in Gloucester County and one in Burlington County.

As time is of the essence, I ask that you reply to my challenge by September 19th so our respective campaigns can make the necessary arrangements. I look forward to your prompt reply and to a public discussion about our respective positions and the challenges facing the 1st Congressional District.

Sincerely,

Dale M. Glading
Candidate for Congress, NJ-1

Camille Andrews a No-Show at Town Hall Debate

Congressional candidates invited
to town hall debate in Blackwood;
Glading appears, Andrews a no-show

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, was the sole participant in a town hall debate held last night at the First Baptist Church in Blackwood. His opponent, Camille Andrews, failed to appear at the debate and refused to acknowledge her invitation by a respected member of the South Jersey community.

“GOP candidate debates solo,” The Courier-Post, Richard Pearsall, July 1, 2008
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/NEWS01/807010362/1006

"An invitation was sent to both candidates, but Ms. Andrews did not respond," David L. McMurray, the pastor at First Baptist said, referring to Camille Andrews, the wife of the congressman and the nominal Democratic candidate for his seat. "You will have to make your own conclusions about that."

Camille Andrews could not be reached for comment Monday.
…
Putting the congressman's "batting average" at getting bills passed at ".002" Glading characterized the Democrat from Haddon Heights as ineffective and out of touch and contended that Andrews' wife -- "or whoever the Democrats decide to run in her place" -- will only provide more of the same.
…
Both Rob and Camille Andrews said in April that they want a fair and open process to pick his successor.

What has transpired in the intervening three months has not been open.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised,” said Glading. “It was one thing for Camille Andrews to refuse to respond to my challenge, but to refuse to even acknowledge an invitation from a respected member of the community is inexcusable. It smacks of the kind of arrogance that is unbefitting of someone seeking public office.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the town hall meeting last night, and I am looking forward to many more,” Glading added. “It’s time we had a representative in Congress who listened to the people and shared their priorities. I’m going to be that representative when I’m elected this November.”

“The incumbent has mailed it in for the past 11 years,” Glading continued. “Rob Andrews has been tired of the 1st District since 1997, when he first decided to move on and run for higher office. Ever since then, he has put it on autopilot and failed to represent his constituents. It’s time we had someone who really cares about the people rather than his own political ambitions.”

“The people of this district simply can’t take any more of this abuse,” Glading concluded. “The Andrews-Norcross machine believes your taxes are too low, your government is too small, and you don’t know how to run your own life. Well, they’re wrong, and the people of this district won’t stand for it any longer.”

Glading Accepts Two Debate Invitations

1st District congressional candidates
invited to debate in Blackwood and Pine Hill;
reform candidate Dale Glading accepts immediately

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, accepted two invitations today to debate his opponent before a town hall audience.

The first debate will take place on Monday, June 30, at the First Baptist Church in Blackwood. The debate will last from 7:00 PM through 8:30 PM, and citizens from across the 1st District are encouraged to attend with questions. Refreshments will be provided following the debate.

The second debate will take place on Thursday, July 31, at the Hope Chapel in Pine Hill. The debate in Pine Hill will last from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. As with the first debate, citizens are encouraged to attend with their questions.

“I am thrilled that these two venues have invited the candidates to appear before the voters of the district and answer their questions,” Glading said. “Despite my opponent’s refusal to accept my debate challenge earlier this month, I am hopeful that she will finally come out of the smoke-filled back rooms and appear before the voters.”

Members of the media may attend both debates and should contact the campaign via telephone or e-mail to coordinate credentials and availability.

Camille Andrews Refuses to Debate the Issues

Dale Glading challenges Camille Andrews to six debates,
Andrews refuses to respond by deadline

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, challenged placeholder candidate Camille Andrews to a series of six debates on June 5. Despite receiving Glading’s letter by certified mail well in advance of the June 13 deadline, Camille Andrews refused to respond to the challenge.

“It is disappointing to the citizens of our district that Camille Andrews has chosen not to follow in her husband’s footsteps in desiring to publicly debate the issues affecting the people of New Jersey,” Glading said. “Camille Andrews is hiding from the voters of the 1st District, choosing to spend her time instead in the smoke-filled back rooms of the party machine.”

“I will not allow Camille Andrews to again deny the people of the 1st District the opportunity to participate in this election,” Glading added. “I intend to hold the six town hall debates I challenged Camille Andrews to participate in, regardless of her attendance.”

Glading stated in his June 5 letter the desire to hold six debates, with three in Camden County, two in Gloucester County, and one in Burlington County. He also expressed a desire to hold the first debate in June.

The Glading campaign is currently open to invitations from all venues for the town hall debates, and interested parties should contact the campaign via telephone or e-mail.

“Camille Andrews and Frank Lautenberg have something in common: they are scared to debate the issues before the people,” added Tim Saler, Glading’s campaign manager. “Leaders like John McCain, Dick Zimmer, and Dale Glading have repeatedly asked their opponents to participate in town hall meetings to discuss the issues affecting the American people.”

“Their opponents have consistently refused to participate, and it is an insult to the voters that people like Camille Andrews and Frank Lautenberg think they can represent us without ever hearing our concerns,” Saler concluded. “Enough is enough. It’s time we send real leaders who care about our concerns, like Dale Glading and Dick Zimmer, to Washington instead.”

ZIMMER CHALLENGES LAUTENBERG TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE ON DEBATES

2008 Lautenberg Should Listen to 1982 Lautenberg, Republican Senate Candidate Says

Zimmer Says Voters Deserve To Hear Different Views on Taxes, Spending and Change