After Desperate Debate Stunt, Ernst Has Spent Election in Damage Control Avoiding Questions on Ongoing Scandals, Failures in Washington
Down in the polls and still facing the fallout from one of the most humiliating debate gaffes in the history of Iowa politics, Senator Joni Ernst has refused to show up to key editorial board meetings, even those with a long record of endorsing candidates from both parties, and nonpartisan forums in a desperate effort to avoid answering questions on her failures in Washington.
Ernst’s absence is in stark contrast to her embarrassing debate stunt in June (that backfired) when she said, “Let’s let Iowans hear what we have to say.” Since then, her scandal-plagued re-election campaign has dodged questions on her ongoing dark money scandal, her support for the GOP lawsuit that could gut coverage protections for pre-existing conditions, and how she sold out Iowa farmers to her Big Oil donors.
ERNST REFUSES TO MEET WITH KEY EDITORIAL BOARDS
- Quad-City Times Editorial Board: “Unfortunately, Ernst declined to meet with the full editorial board for a more extended conversation, just as she’s refused to meet with other newspapers in the state.”
- Des Moines Register Editorial Board: “Sen. Joni Ernst refused to meet with the Register’s editorial board to answer our questions about her one term in the Senate.”
- Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial Board: “Ernst declined to meet with our board in 2014 and 2020.”
ERNST SKIPS NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE FORUMS
- Empower Northend Candidate Forum in Waterloo: “Several candidates running for office were invited to take part in the forum. That includes … Senator Joni Ernst, and her challenger Theresa Greenfield. Only Greenfield showed up.”
- U.S. Voter Series: Medicare Anniversary Town Hall: “It was disappointing that Senator Ernst could not find the time to participate in the town hall” – Jane Duax of Davenport.
Not to mention, Senator Ernst refused to show up in person to the final US Senate debate – which was riddled with technical issues due to the last-minute switch to a virtual setting – because she was in Washington hypocritically breaking her vow that a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year should be left for voters to decide.
“Despite her desperate attempts to hide, Senator Ernst can’t run from her six years of failure in Washington. Ernst’s record of partisan games and political corruption are indefensible, and yet another reason why voters will replace her with Theresa Greenfield this election,” said Jeremy Busch, Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson.