More debates and more democracy

June 14, 2012

The Washington Post reports, "The general election for U.S. Senate officially kicked off Wednesday morning with Democrat Tim Kaine announcing that he would agree to eight broadcast debates. The debates, which will be aired on TV and radio across the state, will be held in geographically diverse regions of the state and are sponsored by a cross-section of organizations."

Progressive Point: The right to vote and choose our leaders is at the heart of what it means to be a Virginian and an American. Making an informed choice requires having access to all the facts, not just the ones corporate-funded Super PACs care to share.

Politicians may be able to rely on shadowy Super PACs to launch their negative attacks for them, but the candidates still have to face the voters. Multiple televised debates will allow voters to hear from the candidates themselves--not more partisan attack ads. Virginians deserve to hear candidates' answers first hand about how they'll work for our families. Virginia has never solved anything with less democracy or less inclusion, and we won't now.

Get the Facts: According to the Washington Post, the proposed eight debates are:

• Radio One 2012 Senatorial Forum: Richmond, late August (date and venue TBD). Broadcast on Radio One stations (TV broadcast TBD).


• WJLA-TV, POLITICO & Virginia FREE: Arlington Campus, George Mason University. Sept. 14. Broadcast live on WJLA in D.C., and available to ABC affiliates throughout Virginia.


• Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce & NBC4: Capital One Tysons Corner Complex, McLean. Sept. 20. Broadcast live on NBC 4 in DC, and rebroadcast on Sunday, September 23.


• Randolph-Macon College, The Richmond Times Dispatch & the Virginia Chamber of Commerce: Randolph-Macon College, Ashland. October date TBD. Broadcast on media partners WWBT NBC-12 and WCVE Community Ideas Stations in Richmond.


• WSLS-TV and Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg. October date TBD. Broadcast live on WSLS-TV and made available to other television stations statewide.


• Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce: Norfolk, Oct. 18 or 19 (TBD). Broadcast live on WVEC-TV (ABC affiliate) and to be rebroadcast at a later date TBD.


• League of Women Voters of Virginia & AARP Virginia: WCVE Studios, Midlothian. Oct. 8. Broadcast on CBS-6 in Richmond and WCVE-TV (PBS).


• Virginia State Conference NAACP: Fredericksburg, Oct. 26. Broadcast on WWBT NBC-12 in Richmond.

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