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Voters deserve debates
After the traditional Labor Day start of the fall campaign season in Virginia, charges and counter-charges are flying in the Seventh District Congressional race, which pits Republican incumbent D. French Slaughter Jr. against challenger David M. Smith, a Democrat from Winchester.
So far, however, the campaign has largely been a battle of the fax machines — with press releases issued daily to the district’s newspapers. That is convenient for those news reporters and editors who are covering the campaign, but it leaves the candidates increasingly isolated from the voters of the district — their constituents — the people to whom they are ultimately responsible.
Both candidates have been on the campaign trail, but so far their appearances have been limited to rallies and scheduled events.
Mr. Smith has invited Rep. Slaughter to join him in a series of debates throughout the district — but so far the incumbent has declined the invitation. One of Mr. Slaughter’s aides did stand in for him during an appearance last month in Winchester, but the congressman was absent.
We urge Mr. Slaughter to reconsider.
The voters of the Seventh District, a sprawling, 23county area ranging from Frederick County in the north to the western suburbs of Richmond, deserve to hear the two candidates discuss the issues. They deserve to see the candidates side-by-side; to hear them talk about their positions outside the carefully orchestrated campaign rallies and press-the-flesh appearances.
Sending a proxy as a stand-in is not an acceptable substitute for hearing the candidate in person, addressing issues of importance to the voters. Incumbency has its privileges, but a refusal to engage in meaningful debate is not one of them.
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