Citing "prior commitments," Democrat
candidate for the US Senate from Illinois, Alexi Giannoulias, abruptly
backed out of a debate with his Republican opponent about Israel and the
Middle East. Curious though, "Giannoulias, his Republican
opponent, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), and other local politicians had
agreed to participate in the forum months ago" and the Giannoulias'
campaign had confirmed the State Treasurer's availability,
according to the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA).
The
debate was arranged by the non-partisan Protect Our Heritage public
action committee and 16 other Jewish organizations, including several
Chicago area synagogues. Besides debating, the candidates would
also answer questions from voters about Israel and related
matters. Evidently, that was too scary for Giannoulias, whose
opponent is known as one of the most knowledgeable House members on
foreign policy, as well as arguably Israel's best friend in Congress.
"As
Iran continues its pursuit of nuclear weapons and terrorists threaten
Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, our next U.S. Senator should not be afraid
to stand up for our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East," Kirk
said in a statement. Giannoulias did not respond to multiple
phone calls from JTA.
No sooner had the
Giannoulias campaign turned tail on Illinois' pro-Israel constituency
than the Democrat running for Kirk's old seat did the same. Dan
Seals, who has run twice unsuccessfully for Congress from Illinois Tenth
District, announced that he too would skip the forum and not debate his
opponent, Bob Dold, or submit himself to voters' questions. Seals
said that Giannoulias' drop out gave the prospect of a forum
"inherently weighted in favor of the Republican candidates." Yet,
the fact that the constituency and area tilts towards Democrats never
stopped Kirk or Dold from meeting the voters.
While
neither Democrat will tell us why they really dropped out, people
familiar with the candidates have said all along that Kirk and Dold are
far more knowledgeable and incisive, certainly about Israel and foreign
policy, than their Democrat opponents. Democratic campaign
strategy hopes that Illinois has become such a blue state that Democrats
start with an automatic advantage and voters will choose Democrat
candidates no matter how unqualified, as long as they do not throw their
lack of ability in their faces -- which seems to be what Giannoulias
and Seals just did.
