To the editor:
Finally, after dogged persistence from his opponent, his Royal Highness, John Kerry has agreed to debate his challenger Ed O'Reilly.
Kerry has also dictated the terms of the debate. But let's look at the terms Kerry has decreed.
It will take place on a weekday morning (so few working people will be able to attend), it will not be televised live, but buried on a Sunday morning (God knows the dangers of a live, uncontrollable, spontaneous flow of information) and it will last 20 minutes (so the senator has a small window of opportunity for mistakes).
I was surprised to discover that Sen. Kerry views Mr. O'Reilly as such a formidable opponent. This must be the case, as why else would a U.S. senator who has made a run for the presidency decline to meet a man who earned the right to challenge him at the convention in a civilized exchange of ideas at a public forum.
He says he does not have time. He took a lot of time off from being a senator to run for president and I don't begrudge him that, but as a voter in Massachusetts this race is just as important to me.
A debate is not a free-for-all attack on the incumbent. There is a moderator to ask the questions and control the event, questions about the Iraq war, energy policy and education. Why is Kerry afraid to participate? Of course in reality, we all know why.
Kerry doesn't think he has a chance of losing this race. Why expose himself to the chance of looking less then deserving of being a senator, when by doing nothing, he thinks he will win?
Well he hasn't done nothing; he has recently released a commercial letting us know that he helps veterans. Yes, that is a great thing. but TV commercials do not replace facing questions and standing up to say what you believe in during a senatorial debate. Debate and democracy go hand in hand.
I'm sure Kerry has done many fine things, but don't rest on your laurels, senator.
Don't run from the challenge. Give the democratic process a chance and let the voters see you side by side with Mr. O'Reilly and make their choice.
Michelle Mustone
Witham Street, Gloucester
