We have an important update to the ongoing debate between State Senator Tom Kean Jr and US Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr regarding the issue of debating. Three weeks ago we noted that State Senator Tom Kean Jr had agreed to debate Senator Bob Menendez, but it seems he has now changed his mind, at least somewhat...he thinks. Well, he's not sure, so he's just going to cancel so he doesn't have to worry about it. The Menendez campaign responded with a statement:
Kean, Jr. has informed NJN that he is backing out of the debate they are set to sponsor on June 26, the second of two such appearances agreed to by both campaigns more than two weeks ago. Kean has cited a conflict with a State Senate session scheduled for Monday, even though the debate is not slated to begin until 8 pm, long after the Senate is likely to conclude business.
“You continue to rely on your cowardly habit of throwing insults at Senator Menendez from afar, afraid to defend your own record and your own positions on the issues of concern to the voters,� DeMicco wrote in a letter to Kean, Jr. “We have informed NJN that we are prepared to go ahead with Monday evening’s debate, and we expect you to do the same. You did not simply make a commitment to NJN and Senator Menendez; you made a commitment to the people of New Jersey to debate the issues in this campaign. We expect you to live up to it.�....
As you know, the NJN studio is located only a few blocks from the Statehouse, allowing you to avoid Route 1 on your way to the broadcast. We do not expect you to encounter heavy traffic on the short trip from the Senate Chamber to the studio. Furthermore, you will be able to access the studio without riding an elevator or coming into contact with the New Jersey press corps.
Next week, we hope the candidates will come back to discuss the merits of debating and answer the important question "Should we or should we not have debates?"
Of course, we were half-joking. Even though he's a masterful self-debater, we assumed even Kean Jr would see the irony in debating the topic of debating. But it looks like we may have to lower our expectations bar another notch.
Yesterday, Senator Bob Menendez challenged Kean Jr to a live, televised debate to take place before the end of the month.
Through his spokesperson Jill Hazelbacker, State Senator Tom Kean Jr, who favors debates, agreed:
"Senator Kean will be happy to participate in any debate."
But US Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr, who wouldn't know his position if it hit him in the face in the form of a brick, disagreed.
Three Republicans involved in the Kean campaign said a TV debate with Menendez is not likely to happen before the fall -- largely because they don't view Kean as ready to go head-to-head with Menendez at this time.
Fascinating.
We don't even want to jokingly speculate about what the next debate topic might be. Nothing is off-limits.
Today is our third installment of our ongoing debate series between State Senator Tom Kean Jr and US Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. Today's issue: flip-flopping. We know that the two candidates could go back and forth all day on this issue, and probably change their positions during the course of the debate, so in the interest of time and our collective sanity, we've asked them to each to submit a brief statement.
This is part two in an ongoing series of debates between Tom Kean Jr and Tom Kean Jr. Today, they debate the controversial issue of stem cell research.
Last November, Tom Kean Jr was asked his position on embryonic stem cell research and was indecisive, saying only:
This is a very emotionally charged issue; clearly it needs to be given a lot of thought.
A month later he had made up his mind. Tom Kean Jr, who sat on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, voted in favor of a measure which would provide $350 million in funding for stem cell research facilities. His position was unmistakably clear:
Asked if he now favors embryonic stem cell research, Kean added simply:
"Yes."
On a recent visit to Israel, he again expressed his support for the research and even talked about the difficulties preventing the research from moving forward:
Kean, visiting Hadassah at the culmination of a weeklong trip to Israel, told hospital officials that he supports such research and reported about problems obtaining approval for state initiatives in New Jersey.
It's likely that he was referring to those Senators in his own party who vote against measures to fund stem cell research facilities. Senators such as Tom Kean Jr, who yesterday voted against $250 million in funding for stem cell research facilities:
All 10 no votes yesterday came from Republicans, including Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union), a U.S. Senate candidate.
This debate will probably continue for months, but one wonders if they'll be able to find a middle ground. With Tom Kean Jr supporting $350 million in funding for stem cell research facilities, and Tom Kean Jr's opposition to a smaller plan providing only $250 million in funds, it will be an interesting debate to watch. And that's what politics is all about: two sides, with seemingly irreconcilable positions, pandering there way to a solution. Stay tuned.
Earlier this week, Kean Jr's primary challenger John Ginty challenged Junior to a debate on immigration. Although Kean Jr turned down the initial offer, he later reversed his position and did engage in a spirited debate - with himself.
Two weeks ago, Tom Kean Jr said that we should find a path towards legal status for illegal immigrants:
under his plan illegal immigrants would pay back taxes and $2,000 in fines and go to the back of the line to get citizenship if they're to receive work visas.
When asked if reforms being debated in Congress should force deportation of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country, Kean said "I think that should be included in the bill, yes."
But while Kean Jr wants illegal immigrants deported, Kean Jr thinks they should be allowed to stick around for a while:
Spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said he still supports temporary work permits that would allow illegals to remain in the country for some period.
Kean Jr countered by saying we shouldn't reward those who enter the country illegally:
Rewarding those who broke our laws with a clear path to citizenship is amnesty.
Kean Jr disagreed. Asked if he would support a bill recently passed by the House to strengthen border security...
...Kean has said he opposes its provision making illegal immigration a felony.
Join us again next week when Tom Kean Jr, who supports raising taxes will face off against Tom Kean Jr, a strong opponent of all tax increases.
