“…if candidates don’t have to publicly answer questions about their records and agendas during the campaign, it will be harder to hold them accountable once they’re in office.”
“It’s been months since the people of the third district have heard from David Young, Rod Blum is literally running out of press conferences, and Steve King won’t even debate his opponent. Kim Reynolds hasn’t had an official press conference since July and won’t let her Lieutenant Governor debate. Iowa Republicans have forgotten that this is a democracy where people, not corporate special interests, are in charge, and Iowans will remind them of that fact this November,” said Iowa Democratic Party Spokesperson Tess Seger.
Excerpts from the editorial below:
DES MOINES REGISTER: Why are Iowa GOP incumbents hiding from voters?
“The Register’s editorial board spent much of last week meeting with candidates for Congress and for governor, talking about their qualifications for office and plans should they be elected.
But if you watch the videos on DesMoinesRegister.com or check the schedule, you’ll notice who is absent: All of the Republican incumbents.
One Republican operative told us the campaign’s decision was influenced by a perception that the media have been hostile, especially since President Trump has been in office. Another said campaign leaders objected to editorials citing an incumbent’s voting record on health care because that doesn’t reflect his position on the issue. (We think our editorials have been accurate. But if the congressman met with us and discussed his record, perhaps he could persuade us otherwise.) Others say they don’t expect to receive an endorsement, so why should they bother?”
“But these meetings aren’t just about endorsements, and Republican incumbents aren’t just dodging the Register. They are snubbing you, the voters. They’re avoiding having to defend their records or expose their plans to probing questions. You should ask them why they’re hiding.”
“Campaign and congressional office staff for Rep. Steve King, 4th District, who is seeking a ninth term, didn’t even bother to respond to the invitation, issued in late August, or to subsequent emails and phone calls. King has also refused to debate his Democratic opponent, J.D. Scholten, and he has held precious few public town halls in his district in recent years. It shows a disturbing lack of accountability to voters.”
“Gov. Kim Reynolds, who was neck-and-neck with her Democratic challenger in the recent Iowa Poll, also declined to meet with the board.
Reynolds’ challenger, Fred Hubbell, spent an hour with Register reporters and editors on Tuesday.”
“Reynolds, on the other hand, abandoned her weekly news conferences in July. She hasn’t scheduled meetings with other editorial boards around the state. Instead of answering questions about her agenda, which is still largely under wraps, she is spending millions on ads demonizing Hubbell as being out of touch.
Some of her supporters are worried, with good reason. Reynolds has agreed to participate in three televised debates, including one sponsored by the Register and KCCI-TV, airing live at 7 p.m. Oct. 10. It’s the first time she’s debated as a statewide candidate. Editorial board interviews are a lower-stakes opportunity to prepare for the sorts of questions she’ll field from media debate moderators. They also allow her to spend more than 60 or maybe 90 seconds answering questions about complex issues like Medicaid privatization and tax reform.
Maybe these candidates are getting bad advice from their well-paid consultants or maybe they think their supporters will cheer them for thumbing their noses at the media. (Reynolds’ decision to bring in Trump Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to headline a fundraiser may be a clue to which choice is closer to the truth.)
But if candidates don’t have to publicly answer questions about their records and agendas during the campaign, it will be harder to hold them accountable once they’re in office.
Don’t let them hide from you.”