[Vision2020] The so-called debates

[Bruce and Jean Livingston]

I appreciate the spirit of John Danahy's posting, below, but I need to address the following point on behalf of the MCA:

The MCA has no intention of endorsing any candidates in the upcoming election.  We made a decision last spring not to take positions in this year's partisan elections.

In non-partisan City Council races last year, the MCA did endorse candidates.  Until very recently, our web site stated that our committee on elections and debates was interested in "supporting and electing" candidates in the city and the county who were in accord with our "mission statement."

The MCA mission statement, reprinted in full below, states that our vision is of a community of "strong, non-partisan grassroots democracy."  In line with that mission, we sought this fall to encourage community discourse and encouraged people of all political persuasions to attend the MCA debates and ask questions.  Consistency to the non-partisan goal in our mission statement led us to our decision last spring that we would not take a position on the partisan county and state representative races in the primary then, and the general election this fall.  We took no positions on any partisan race, then or now, contrary to some postings that have made their way onto Vision2020.

The mission of the Moscow Civic Association is to protect and enhance inclusive and cooperative community values by broadening public discourse, organizing and inspiring civic participation, and striving toward progressive and sustainable community development. 
Our vision is of a just and equitable society, a community in which information on important issues is readily available to the citizenry, a place of strong, non-partisan grassroots democracy. 

Specifically, we strive to support and/or promote a thriving community space with: 


  a.. An open, responsive, and accountable local government 
  b.. A vigorous public education system 
  c.. Local community-based businesses 
  d.. Artistic and cultural events 
  e.. Ethnic, racial, gender, lifestyle, and religious diversity Civil rights 
  f.. An integrated community for people of all ages 
  g.. Close relations and coordination with neighboring communities and institutions 
  h.. Thoughtful and sustainable development in such areas as environment, transportation, housing, and agriculture. 

Bruce Livingston
Moscow Civic Association
Committe on Elections and Debates

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Danahy 
  To: Vision2020 
  Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004 1:35 PM
  Subject: [Vision2020] The so=called debates


  I have been trying to follow the fracas concerning the MCA so called debates.  As I understand it, the MCA, an organization of like minded people with a stated goal of endorsing candidates for office, tried to get a meeting with the specific opposing candidates and the organization.  Such a meeting would then allow the MCA to choose a candidate to endorse.  The meeting would be purposely set up to allow the members to ask specific questions of the opposing candidates.  This is not a debate!



  Apparently, the MCA got agreements from individual candidates to appear, knowing the proposed format.  The local branch of the Republican Party objected to the format, calling the MCA partisan.  The Party then tried to get the publisher of the local paper to be the organizer of such meetings, calling said publisher a non-partisan entity.  Say what???  Who do they think their kidding??



  We have yet to see a real debate.  What we have seen is carefully controlled campaigning within a limited setting.  The Republican Party can certainly decline the meeting set up by the MCA, but to do so because the MCA is partisan, and then suggesting their own partisan meeting, reflects the overwhelmingly narrow view that has brought about a deeply divided country.



  If Tom Trail does not want to submit to the questions of a group like MCA then he should just say so.  The MCA will then be free to endorse his opponent, if they so wish.  The same can be said with the other candidates.  For the Republican Party to intervene and prohibit such a meeting is to pretend that the views of the members of the MCA do not count.  It is, in effect, denying a portion of this community access to the political process at the most basic level.  Shame on you!!!



  John



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