In the first gubernatorial debate since Adgate, the Bluewater Wind deal, and the Eminent Domain Debacle, John Carney, Jack Markell and Mike Protack will appear together in a forum sponsored by La Esperanza, the Latin Community Center and Voices Without Borders, in a Delaware’s first debate focusing on Latino issues. The debate will take place at the Dover Downs Conference Center at 7 pm tomorrow.
However, I wonder if the debate will focus entirely on Latino issues. Could there be an opportunity for Jack and John to address Adgate and the other contentious issues that have arisen between over the last weeks?
Given that the September 9th primary is fast approaching, I am sure one or both of the Democratic candidates will seek some confrontation with the other. Having a debate concentrating on Latino issues does not bar such confrontation, since Latino Delawareans are also concerned about alternative energy, the economy, healthcare, good and open government, ethics and property rights. Those are Latino issues too. But the more interesting thing to me is the presence of Mike Protack at a Latino debate, and the absence of Bill Lee.
First, given Mike Protack’s recent criticism of Bill Lee’s short lived approval of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, I wonder what reception will greet Mr. Protack. It is one thing to attempt to win a GOP primary using the failed wedge issue of illegal immigration. It is quite another to do so at a debate sponsored by Latino groups.
Second, GOP Frontrunner Bill Lee will not be attending due to his “policy” of not debating prior to the September 9th primary. Here, Bill Lee is demonstrating cowardice. Obviously he has declined debates with Protack because he and his fellow establishment Republicans view Protack as a perennial nuisance, and they rather not give him a voice in this election. But if all Protack is is a nuisance, why would Bill Lee be afraid of debating him? If he is such a better candidate than Protack, with better Republican positions, surely Mr. Lee can defeat Protack on the issues in any debate at any time. I hope Protack points out Lee’s cowardly absence from this debate. I am sure he will.
If you want to go to the debate, bus transportation is available from both La Esperanza in Georgetown and the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington. For more information, call La Esperanza at 854-9262, or the LACC at 655-7338.