September 16, 2010 08:26 AM UTC

Rep. Markey refusing to debate Gardner

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• by: Libertad

Shocking news from CD4 comes with a last minute announcement from the Congressman to refuse a debate with challenger Cory Gardner.

Under terms calling for a polling threshold 50% lower then Presidential debates require, ACP and other candidates were not invited. Yet these same terms existed in 2008 for the debate sponsored by 9News & The Coloradoan.

Republican Gardner was saddened by Markey’s late refusal to address the voters.

Gardner’s campaign spokeswoman, Rachel Boxer, expressed disappointment that the debate had been canceled.

“Debates are an important part of the process and help voters make informed decisions,” Boxer said. “That’s why it is a shame that this debate is being canceled because Betsy Markey has dug in her heels and won’t agree to the ground rules set forth by 9News and the Coloradoan.”

Similarly shocked the sponsors had this to say…

“We are absolutely surprised that an important debate between the leading candidates for the 4th Congressional District is being cancelled because Rep. Betsy Markey is trying to change the debate policy that has been in place at KUSA-TV for dozens of years,” Dennis said.

“These debates are intended to give the voters a chance to listen to the leading candidates propose and defend their positions in representative government. The debates are not intended to let the candidates dictate the content or the format. The televised format is immediate, informative and the best way to serve the constituents of the 4th District,” she said.

Coloradoan President and Publisher Kim Wilson said: “It is very unfortunate that Rep. Betsy Markey is unwilling to participate in what was sure to be an informative dialogue between the two leading candidates in the 4th Congressional District. In the end, it’s the voters who lose out when this type of decision is made.”

http://www.coloradoan.com/arti…