WVIA debates set

2012 Congressional Debates to be Broadcast Live on WVIA 


PITTSTON, PA  - The 2012 WVIA Citizens' Voice Times-Tribune Congressional Debates will broadcast live from the Sordoni High-Definition Theater at the WVIA Studios on Tuesday, Oct. 30, Wednesday, Oct. 31, and Thursday, Nov. 1 starting at 7 p.m. each night on WVIA TV. The Debates will also be simulcast live on WVIA FM.

The live debate for the 10th Congressional District between Congressman Tom Marino (R) and Phil Scollo (D) will air on Tuesday, Oct. 30, while the 17th Congressional District live debate between Matt Cartwright (D) and Laureen Cummings (R) will be broadcast Wednesday, Oct. 31. Then on Thursday, Nov. 1 Congressman Lou Barletta (R) and Gene Stilp (D) will debate live for the 11th Congressional District.

The moderator for all 3 debates will be WVIA President Bill Kelly.

Barletta wants 5 debates again

It's déjà vu all over again. In the 2008 campaign Republican candidate Lou Barletta wanted 5 debates , one in each of the five counties Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Monroe of the 11th Congressional District but Congressman Paul Kanjorski's camp would only agree to one on WVIA just before election day.

That worked out so well last time that Barletta has put out the same proposal this time.


Hazleton, PA – Hazleton Mayor and 11th Congressional District candidate Lou Barletta challenged Paul Kanjorski to a series of five debates – one in each county of the district.
“It’s very simple. Either Mr. Kanjorski believes he has a record that he can defend and has the courage to meet me in a debate or he does not,” Mayor Barletta said. “Will he accept my challenge – yes or no? Does Mr. Kanjorski think the people of the 11th Congressional District deserve at least five hours of his time between now and November? If so, he should agree today, right now, to these debates.”
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Here is what Mayor Barletta is proposing:
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• One 60-minute debate in each of the five counties (Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Monroe) of the 11th Congressional District. The WVIA-TV debate scheduled for Oct. 28 will count as the Luzerne County debate.
• Debates will be open to the public and members of the media.
• Campaigns can negotiate terms and format.
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.“Kanjorski will no doubt brush this off and say there will be time for debates, and he will say his staff will handle the requests. After 26 years in Congress, can’t he just tell you yes or no, right now, to five debates over the next four months?” asked Shawn Kelly, a spokesman for Mayor Barletta’s campaign.

Kanjo spokesman Ed Mitchell gave the usual answer to the debate challenge:


“The congressman’s first priority is representing the people of the Northeastern Pennsylvania and believes there will be plenty of time for politics and campaigning in the months ahead.”

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that the only debate we will see between the candidates will be on Oct. 28th at WVIA.