When Hearst Newspapers offered to include Mystic Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Merrick Alpert in this past weekend’s story about candidates’ wealth, he declined, basically saying there are more important issues to talk about.
UPDATE:
It’s Monday, March 22 and Alpert today sent out a more formal, chicken-less request asking Blumenthal to debate him a second time.
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Richard Blumenthal for U.S. Senate via facsimile: 860-560-1522
330 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Hartford, CT 06106
March 22, 2010
Dear Mr. Blumenthal,
It is my belief that Connecticut Democrats deserve to have the two candidates competing for the Party’s nomination for the United States Senate stand before them to explain their positions on the serious issues they might be asked to vote on in the Senate. Accordingly, I believe that Democratic voters in this state deserve a rigorous primary, so that they can make an informed decision as to which candidate is best suited to face the Republicans in the fall. It is our responsibility as candidates – both to Democratic voters and to the Democratic Party – to engage in another debate prior to the Democratic State Convention in May.
When you and I spoke at the candidate forum in Stonington on March 13, you told me to call someone on your staff to discuss the possibility. Such a brush-off is an irresponsible disregard of the interests of Connecticut Democrats. This matter should be addressed between the two of us directly, and without delay.
The Norwich Bulletin’s James Mosher reported on March 10 that you claimed to be too busy in your capacity as Attorney General to have time to debate. And your spokesperson was quoted as saying that you will not debate until after the State Convention. However, it is clear that you have consistently been attending Democratic Town Committee meetings and other public campaign events. Your very public schedule suggests that you have plenty of time for further public debates.
I would be pleased to explore with you other formats for an interchange of our views. Perhaps, for instance, we might incorporate a town hall style format and conduct a debate in front of a Democratic Town Committee.
In any event, I respectfully ask that you reverse your position and agree to debate again so that the people of Connecticut may hear from both Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate.
Sincerely,
Merrick Alpert /s/
I find this appalling. I don’t blame Alpert for not wanting to participate. The issues are whats important in this campaign, not the cereal his kids eat for breakfast or where he stops for gas. This just shows that Merrick will be there to stand up for Connecticut. He will be able to represent Connecticut because he is not worried about the superficial things that this article seems to want him to focus on. People actually are running campaigns, and not trying to win a celebrity contest. What I do find funny is that Blumenthal had time to participate and take pictures in his home, answer your questions, and kill a couple hours– when he told James Mosher of the Norwich Bulletin that he didn’t have time for that stuff, he is focused on his job as Attorney General. Did you have a pending lawsuit that you needed representation on Mr. Lockhart?
Comment by ctpolstudent — March 19th, 2010 @ 10:03 pm
ctpolstudent — Merrick is such a man of substance — that’s why he’s sending rubber chickens (made in China, by the way -good job supporting American workers) to the press. You’re right, inquiring into the financial background of our candidates is so small…more high-minded candidates should spend their time convincing us they are serious candidates by sending out rubber chickens.
Comment by TruDem — March 20th, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Merrick Alpert is a smart and very capable man. He rose from very limited means raised by a single mom working two jobs. I have known his family since my earliest days and they are good people as he is. Being a conservative, I disagree with many of his political views but he is the type of person we should be electing to office. Decent, smart, capable and an understanding of what it means to come from a humble background.
It is sad that the Democratic Party won’t listen to him and allow this to be a fair race. It is Connecticut’s loss.
Comment by John Sweeney — March 21st, 2010 @ 2:07 pm
Has anyone of the mindset of Brian Lockhart or TruDem stopped to inquire after the serious message behind Alpert’s satiric mailing? Don’t we Connecticut Democrats deserve the opportunity to understand what each candidate stands for? Last I checked (2 minutes ago), Blumenthal STILL hasn’t shown his constituents the respect of publicizing his positions on any issues. Check for yourself. The only glimpse of his policy stances that he offered us was on the evening he publicly debated Alpert on FOX-61. And that was hardly an impressive performance.
What that debacle of his made clear was that he is in lock-step with the Administration’s misguided commitment to the war in Afghanistan; that he believes that the best way to reduce our federal deficit is to postpone the next moon launching; that the most efficient way to curb the costs of health care in this nation is to reduce the number of beatings that abusive male spouses in our society perpetrate – not to mention his confounding claim that somehow his lawsuits create jobs.
What in the world do Democrats in this state see in a candidate like Blumenthal, who lies to the public (about being too busy as AG to campaign for the Senate), accepts special favors from the Democratic Party absent a formal endorsement (see Norwich Bulletin), and lacks the conviction or sense to make his stances on the issues known. Does he think that we CT-Dems are so complacent (or ignorant) as to elect someone into office without knowing whether that person is actually the candidate who can best promote their particular interests? He better not naively think that patting himself on the back for his past services to this state is enough to secure himself a seat in Washington in this unforgiving political climate.
If you ask me, Alpert should do whatever it takes to get Blumenthal back in front of the public whose support he seeks, so that the two of them can talk plainly about how to fix the serious problems that face this state. Satiric or not, the message is crystal clear – and now that people are paying some more attention, it’s time for Blumenthal to start acting like an actual candidate for the United States Senate and engage the issues.
Comment by SeriousDem — March 21st, 2010 @ 9:57 pm
Thanks for the thoughtful post, SeriousDem,
I’m saying if Merrick’s campaign had time to mail out rubber chickens, the candidate could have particpated in our story. I just find it humorous that the campaign dismissed our report as a trivial waste of time and yet thinks rubber poultry is somehow serious politics.
Comment by Brian Lockhart — March 22nd, 2010 @ 9:56 am
Merrick Alpert has been the most impressive candidate I have seen and heard from this election season for any office.
Comment by David — March 22nd, 2010 @ 12:19 pm
–SeriousDem made a very good point. The message behind the chicken is a satirical one. Mr. Lockhart, your own message above said that Alpert’s response was that there are more important issues to talk about– isn’t this one of those more important issues? Isn’t the issue of a lack of representation the one we want to talk about?!
I could put a rubber chicken in a box with a letter and mail it quickly, it wouldn’t take that much time– and I believe the message behind it (after reading the note along with it) is that the Attorney General does not want to give the people of Connecticut the fair primary that they deserve. For all too long, there have been coronations in this state. As SeriousDem said, and I will also support, as of right now (12:36 Monday, March 22) the Blumenthal campaign has yet to post anything about his stances on issues or what he will do for Connecticut as U.S. Senator. In fact, the website actually includes headline not about him as a candidate for senator, but what he is doing as Attorney General.
Connecticut needs someone who will represent them, who will tell the citizens their stances on issues and let us vote based on who best represents us. Let us NOT forget the Coakley experience.
Comment by ctpolstudent — March 22nd, 2010 @ 12:42 pm