Macy, Cline clash over debate schedule in 6th District race
Democrat Beth Macy is disputing a debate schedule announced the evening of Aug. 24 by her opponent in Virginia's 6th Congressional District.
Macy challenged incumbent Republican Ben Cline to the debates the week prior and requested a response by the following Monday. Cline announced a schedule of three debates the evening of Aug. 24, including one hosted by the Salem Rotary Club on Thursday.
Macy released a statement the morning of Aug. 25 alleging Cline didn't directly respond to her campaign about the debate schedule.
"I challenged Rep. Cline to three debates, and I awaited his response to work together to come up with a list of dates and venues. He didn’t respond directly," she wrote. "Instead, he issued a blanket announcement of his preferred slate of candidate forums — not actual debates — that amounts to a chicken-you-know-what response."
Macy also alleged Cline's campaign did not respond to an invitation from a media organization for a debate.
Luanne Rife, executive director of Cardinal News, said in an email the outlet invited both candidates to a debate hosted in partnership with Roanoke College and asked for a reply by Aug. 21. Macy agreed to participate, but neither Cline nor any of his campaign staff had responded by early Tuesday afternoon.
Cline's campaign did not immediately respond to questions from the Roanoke Times, but it did release a statement the afternoon of Aug. 24 accusing Macy of playing political games.
"My opponent challenged me to three debates, which now appears to be little more than a messaging ploy. I have always been committed to debating my opponents, accepting and participating in several events during each of my campaigns," Cline wrote. "Apparently my opponent's intention was to play political games, because if she were serious about debating me, she would have accepted the same three invitations that I did."
Macy said in a statement responding to Cline that the invitations from the three groups described them as forums and not debates.
"The country is hurting so much these days, we don't have time for his silly games," Macy said. "He can pick up the phone, call my team, and we will schedule a real debate."
Macy's campaign said it is considering the event Cline announced in Harrisonburg on Oct. 5 and just received the invitation from the Salem Rotary Club. An event scheduled for last Thursday in Frederick County didn't work for Macy, according to the campaign.
"I look forward to working with the Cline team on actually scheduling real debates, in good faith. Rep. Cline doesn’t get to make the rules," Macy said.