Debate Gate Redux: Is Peter Tesei Ducking the Channel 79 Debate With John Blankley?

The Greenwich Time on September 12 ran a front page story under Neil Vigdor's byline with a headline that there would be no "debate-gate" this election. http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Tesei-and-Blankley-agree-to-multiple-debates-in-2167329.php#ixzz1YPiNOMHO In the story Peter Tesei was quoted as saying he would agree to appear with John Blankley on the Public Access news program "The Word" moderated by Frank Quinn. According to the Vigdor story:

"In 2009, Tesei declined an invitation to go on Greenwich Community Television, citing concerns about the choice of two political figures to lob questions at the candidates -- then-Republican Selectman Peter Crumbine and Edward Krumeich Jr., at the time the senior Democrat on the Board of Estimate and Taxation and a two-time General Assembly aspirant.

This time, Tesei will participate on the condition that the moderator is nonpartisan.

"I have no issues doing Channel 79 as long as it's a format that's fair and equitable," Tesei said."

Stop the presses! A source in the Blankley campaign has complained that Tesei has turned down the proposed date for taping "The Word" and that his campaign manager, Steve Warzoha, isn't returning Quinn's calls to firm up an alternative date. Is Peter's campaign putting off the Channel 79 debate because they are fearful how their candidate might come off sitting next to John Blankley?

Peter ducked the Channel 79 debate last election when he refused to debate Lin Lavery on the specious excuse that I would be posing him questions. When I offered to back-out he suddenly could not find time in his "busy" schedule to debate Lin.

Unlike the formal, formulaic and rigid debating rules foisted by the League of Women Voters that is done before an audience packed with supporters and shown once on Channel 79, "The Word" is taped in an empty room with a give and take between the candidates that allows for free wheeling discussions. Also, "The Word " is shown many times on Channel 79 during the six week window before the elections when voters are paying the most attention. 

I hope that Peter commits to the September 24 taping date currently proposed and this post becomes obsolete. If not, serious questions should be raised about a First Selectman unwilling to debate his opponent on Greenwich Public Access television. Stay tuned!

Addendum: Based on the Tesei campaign’s failure to commit to the date by email dated September 19 Frank Quinn cancelled the taping scheduled for September 24 leaving open the possibility of taping in the future. It certainly seems like Tesei’s handlers are playing out the clock in hopes that the taping never occurs or occurs so late in the campaign it will not be widely viewed. The taping of “The Word” takes an hour and is done on a Saturday morning because the volunteer crew is available then. Surely, Peter Tesei has one hour on Saturday September 24 or on October 1 to sit down with Frank Quinn and John Blankley to discuss his record as First Selectman and his plans for the future?