To debate or not to debate, that is the question…
Funded by her husband’s Pelosi-powered war chest, Democrat Stephane Moore is running for Congress in Johnson, Wyandotte and Douglas counties on November 2nd.
Moore hopes to replace her mysteriously absent-from-the-scene husband, Kansas congressman Dennis Moore. Channel 19/KCPT and the Kansas City Star have agreed to host and air a televised debate with her opponent, prominent, budget-cutting Republican, Kevin Yoder.
But now Moore is playing games with the rules.
First, she cut the debate from 60 minutes to an half an hour. Less chance for a slip from her ruby-red lips...
Then congressman Moore’s third wife refused to participate in the one-and-only televised debate on Thursday, October 7 in the white bread confines of Johnson County Community College. Instead, she insisted the debate be moved out of state to a relatively high-crime area–KCPT’s headquarters just east of 31st and Main in Kansas City, Missouri. Curiously, media sources at the Star and KCPT say Moore cited "fear for her safety" as the reason for the move out of the district. When pressed, her aides told Channel 19 and the Star they had concerns about Tea Party protesters showing up at Juco to boo her.
Fear for her safety? Citizens actually in attendance? Huh?
Maybe it runs in the family. Hubby, Dennis Moore hasn’t taken a live question from the public since April, 2009.
The newspaper and Channel 19 acquiesced to both of Moore’s demands. But now – even more preposterously – Stephane is demanding that a dark horse, third-party libertarian candidate, with little hope of winning, be given equal time. Somewhat obviously, she’s trying to split the conservative vote because libertarians don’t vote for Democrats.
Notably during her husband’s five terms in Congress, Dennis Moore debated pretty much wherever he was asked to, but insisted that fringe candidates like Libertarians be excluded.
The latest: Debate moderator Nick Haines (KCPT’s Executive Producer of Public Affairs) and seasoned Star political reporter Jim Sullinger called Stephane’s bluff.
And as of yesterday Moore says she will not be attending the debate.
Should Moore fail to show, the Star and Channel 19 say an empty chair with her name on it will be placed at the debate table.
I say good for them.
Will the decidedly demanding Democratic Damsel show up? Stay tuned!
Tracy Thomas
Old and almost dead
Man I am shaking my head at politics in this country.
I used to write my congessmen… I thought maybe I could do some good….. I used to write Dennis Moore. I used to call Dennis Moore. I never got Dennis Moore. All I got was his flunkys who were expert at deflection and getting rid of me and making me not want to give input again.
No matter the topic… they deflected.
I was happy to see Dennis Moore say he was hitting the road UNTIL his fkn wife shows up wanting his spot … WHAT IN THE HOLY FK?? This makes no sense..
It makes no sense that Meg Whitman has now spent 199 million dollasr to MAYBE be governor of California…WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT FOR A JOB THAT PAYS $170,000 PER YEAR?
The answer is if you control the public purse, you can make back $119,000,000 and more…and that is fking sick…
Why does his wife wanna be a congressperson….TO CONTROL THE PUBLIC PUSER ….IT IS SICK!!
Politics in this country is run by BIG MONEY DONORS… everyone knows this, no cares.
You DONT CARE… yeah YOU … YOU reading this …YOU DONT CARE!! IF YOU DID YOU WOULD SPEAK UP….but nope you wanna rattle on about sports or someother BS… drivel…while our country is fkd.
If you did care….you would do something. Why am I the only one to even comment on this thread?
I watched Eddie Murphys movie “The Distinguished Gentlemne” the other night.
That movie is actuall scary true, it is supposed to be funny, but it is scary.
That movie is 20 years old, and it focused in on how corrupt politics is. It showed that regualar people with real concerns have no voice. It focused on how BIG MONEY DONORS OWN THIS COUNTRY.
AND NO ONE CARES….
If no one cares…… then they will get what they deserve. No one is minding the store.
In a quick 20 years China now owns America. They own 900 billion of US debt, and they control US.
We allowed unfair currency practice to prevail. We transferred all of our manufacturing to China… We shipped them US DOLLARS.. and they shipped use plactic crap…… which is worn out..and now China is the richest country to ever exist… this occured in just the last 20 years.
and no one cares.
I am old…I will be dead soon. I never had kids. So I cant really lose on this … I have had a great time, but the party is over… we are at the end….. AND NO ONE CARS…..NO EVEN TALKS ABOUT IT….YOU PEOPLE ARE FKING RETARDS!!!
WHY AM I THE ONLY POSTING ON THIS TRHREAD, WHILE THE CHIEFS THREAD GETS 50 REPLIES…….
no one will even read this…no one cares…The USA is fkd..it is juts a metter of time before we default on the debt..and the natioanl currecny will not be Dollars ..and you will all wonder what happened..
20 years from now it will be too late, and whne you look it will be EASY AS FK TO SEE HOW THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS RUINED…
Of course this Moore bitch wnats smoke and mirrors…the truth would be too hard to swallow.
Ptolemy
Wow! I had to rub my eyes when I read this column. Unflattering political words for a Democrat on this site? Say it ain’t so! Satan’s nipping-out in Hell this morning.
Nice work!
JAM
Sad thing is that she will probably get elected because people know the name and not what this ODD COUPLE has been doing.
Overall the Moore scare of his district and being harmed has to be one of the strangest stories in politics in many years.
mark x
…how novel, running for Congress but never actual .. uh … ‘run’ …
Has anyone actually seen this “Stephane Moore” live?
Kicky
Why do media outlets keep giving Tracy Thomas a platform to spew her bitter form of crazy? She is neither interesting, nor intelligent and I am plain tired of her.
I am not saying that Moore’s actions be without scrutiny, but what is the point of little digs like pointing out that she is the Congressmen’s third wife?
_____________
HC: That was pretty catty!
Jim Fitzpatrick
Good piece, TT — a lot of interesting points, all of which make it appear unlikely that the mantle will remain in the Moore family.
P.S. This is your editor speaking: You misspelled Stephene’s first name. It’s strange enough that her name doesn’t have an “i,” but even stranger that it has no “a.” But that’s the way it is.
Tracy Thomas
good catch, fitz! thanks. google is tricky–but not infallible. it pulls her up under 3 different spellings. the key thing is, now kcconfidential.com is BREAKING local political news!!
fbasehor
Stephene know not to show up at a fight without a weapon.
smartman
The solution to this problem is for voters to write in Lew Perkins. Hell, after one term in Congress Lew will have some serious pork sent back to Kansas.
mojhawk
I just don’t understand why people are upset with the establishment in politics. She really said afraid for her safety? Weak!!! As far as Dennis not taking live questions that kind of starts at the top of the Democratic party these days at least not from reporters that aren’t big fans.
John Altevogt
I’ve heard that Dennis’ mind was slipping. Has it gone south that far that he is no longer capable of public appearances? If that’s the case, shouldn’t he step down? Kansas shouldn’t be represented by an empty shell whose voting card is being used as a proxy by Nancy Pelosi. OF course, unfortunately, if Stephene wins, it will once again be represented by an empty shell.
John Altevogt
By the way, how’s it feel to work on a site that actually breaks news that might offend the establishment, Fitz?
DPW
Stehene Moore ha! ha! ha!
Johnny Utah
good story. I love reading tracy thomas’ work. it’s her voice that I can’t stand.
What is it with political wives thinking they can replace their husbands when they have zero experience? Jean Carnahan was the worst senator either state has seen in 50 years.
John Altevogt
Just checked, why isn’t this story in The Star?
Jim Fitzpatrick
Ingenious idea from smartman…I can see the ad now: “The Kansas Beef Council proudly endorses Lew Perkins for Congress: He’ll bring home the bacon.”
bschloz
She doesn’t think the Tea Party will go to 31st St.?
Looks like an easy win for GOP.
Thanks for posting.
Max
I interned for Congressman Moore and have a lot of respect for him, but this stunt of having his wife run is ridiculous. The real Kevin Yoder is a stand-up guy and would serve as a good legislator. I just hope he hasn’t been replaced by “I need to act like a Tea Party moron to get elected” Kevin Yoder.
tacitus
I’ve been to both sites. I’d take 31st and main over a junior college any day. Furthermore, the production quality and engineering staff would be better at KCPT headquarters.
But anyway, that really is an amusing story.
Tracy Thomas
at juco, there would be a public audience, and a format allowing questions from the public..
but at kcpt, due to miniscule studio size, it’s a closed studio and NO audience!
note, there is now one other debate, 9/22, non-televised, with op chamber, but it costs $35 to attend! just announced, and they already closed the reservations. the fix is in!!! the libertarian is included, so that diverts 33% of the debate time away from stephene. in most two way elections, the outcome is 52 to 48%. when there is a 3rd party libertarian, they siphon off 5% of the vote–but almost exclusively from the republican. so that can tilt the race results.
(sorry for lower case– i am typing one handed–broken arm, wrist, knee and heel from a ladder collapse. 8 weeks so far in a nursing home–4 more to go. tt)
Jim Fitzpatrick
Let’s hear it for Tracy the Trooper! (Sorry to hear about that, TT. Hope you’re mending well.)
craig glazer
Liked Dennis Moore alot, he ended my Johnson County Probation early from the Vern Miller Case in the mid 70’s. I helped him defeat Margret Jordon when he ran for DA in the mid 70’s. He always came into Stanfords in Westport when it was a hot restaurant. Nice person. Wish him well.
John Altevogt
The Star just covered a debate, apparently held in KCK, and the Libertarian candidate was included in the debate.
Rick M
At least Moore had the decency to publicly commit to supporting health insurance reform and for his trouble received death threats. And as distasteful as the naked nepotism in this campaign, the thought of a House led by the likes of Boehner and Cantor is more frightening.
The Independent Rage
I doubt it really matters if she debates or doesn’t debate. Fact is, most Independents are going to be voting against her regardless. Which is why she likely fails come November. Damn pesky Independents.
Betsy
I understand Dennis Moore was at the Overland Park Parade this weekend, as a spectator. His appearance was gaunt and sickly- “like an old man”.
Raises a lot of questions? Is he ill? This would explain why he wouldn’t run again. Is his seat a “Gift” to his wife? Is he waiting to release the information about his condition closer to the election for the sympathy vote?
He’s still an elected official, on the payroll- he owes the 3rd District some answers.