Brown Blows Off Another Debate Invitation; Forrest Asks Why

Oct. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- In the latest in a series of refusals to debate Liz Forrest, Democratic challenger for State Representative in the 189th District of Pennsylvania, Rep. Rosemary Brown has declined an invitation from the Pike County (Pa.) Historical Society to debate at The Columns Museum.  

Over the years, the museum has become closely identified with the flag used to cover President Abraham Lincoln on the night he was assassinated. Part of President Lincoln’s legacy is defined by the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858, which helped make debates a tradition in American politics.

“We have an historic opportunity to carry on President Lincoln’s legacy and give the people of the 189th District an opportunity to hear the candidates for the state House speak at length about the issues facing our Commonwealth,” Forrest said. “By the time Election Day rolls around, the only thing most voters will have heard Rosemary Brown say is, ‘I’m Rosemary Brown and I approved this message.’”

Besides refusing to appear with Forrest on a local radio question-and-answer program, Brown has twice refused to appear with Forrest in a one-on-one debate. In a letter dated Sept. 3, Forrest formally challenged Brown to three debates to take place throughout the 189th District. Brown replied Sept. 10, saying she believes a six-candidate forum to be hosted by the League of Women Voters at the Hughes Library on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 9:30 a.m., and broadcast on Blue Ridge Cable Channel 13, is sufficient.

But Forrest has said repeatedly that the TV forum is not the same as a one-on-one debate. She said Brown prefers the forum because she can “take cover” behind her Republican colleagues and answer fewer questions about “her record of broken promises and failed leadership.”  Forrest noted that at a meet-and-greet event held recently at Saw Creek, many attendees expressed disappointment that there was not the minimum of an open question-and-answer session with both candidates.

“What is Rosemary Brown trying to hide?” Forrest asked. “She needs to explain why she promised new jobs but now we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. She needs to explain why she cut $10 million in education funding for our schools, then sent our tax dollars to fund charter schools in Philadelphia. And, she needs to explain why she’s done nothing to lower property taxes, but managed to give herself a pay raise and better health insurance benefits.”