PEORIA -- The Peoria ACLU-sponsored federal candidate forum on the Constitution and Civil Liberties on Sept. 25 took place as scheduled but 100 percent of the Republicans failed to show up.
Is this now a national strategy, what with Sen. John McCain suspending his campaign and making noises about ditching the Sept. 26 debate with Sen. Barack Obama?
Are Republican ideas so indefensible that they cannot be discussed or debated in a public forum?
State Rep. Aaron Schock never accepted the invitation to the ACLU forum, no surprise since he has not appeared at any candidate forum where questions can come from the public.
He's also blown off the Peoria Area World Affairs Council, the Campaign for Better Health Care and Eureka College, all sessions where the public could attend and ask questions. HIs two opponents appeared and discussed the issues.
Schock is scheduled for a television debate with his congressional opponents for the 18th Congressional District seat, on WEEK-TV at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6. But that will be a highly structured event without audience questions.
Oddly, Republican candidate for the US Senate Steve Sauerberg also did not appear at the ACLU forum, even though he had accepted the invitation and talked about how it conveniently fit his schedule. An aide called an hour before the forum and canceled, but gave no reason.
A third party Senate candidate, Chad Koppie of the Constitution Party also canceled after asking for an invitation.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat seeking reelection, never agreed to appear since Congress is in session, but sent his regrets along with a letter expressing support for civil liberties.
That left the two remaining candidates for the 18th Congressional District seat, Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer. They both support civil liberties, and while they elaborated on their ideas -- in fact Schafer commented that this was the most interesting forum he has participated in -- there was little disagreement between then.
They both are against the excesses of the Patriot Act such as warrantless wiretapping, favor church-state separation and won't impose their moral code on others. Callahan is pro-choice. Schafer is pro-life but said he opposes any constitutional amendment, including one that would ban abortion, and he won't send doctors to jail for performing abortions.
One star of the evening was the historic GAR Hall where the event was held. It's been cleaned up. No longer a little down-at-heels, it was the perfect venue for the event, with its historic photos and stained glass windows.
Portraits of Washington and Lincoln on the elevated stage overlooked the proceedings. One wonders what these two presidents would have thought about a political process where some candidates are now afraid to face the public, but expect to be elected anyway.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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