Va. GOP's Youngkin debate excuse - 11 year old $250 donation by moderator

[underpants]

Youngkin to skip marquee debate over moderator’s donation to Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/youngkin-skip-debate-judy-woodruff/2021/07/12/8311282c-e355-11eb-8aa5-5662858b696e_story.html

RICHMOND — Republican Glenn Youngkin will skip what is typically the premier debate of the Virginia governor's race, saying he objects to the moderator, PBS NewsHour host Judy Woodruff, because she once donated $250 to the Clinton Foundation's Haitian earthquake relief fund.

By refusing to square off with Democrat Terry McAuliffe at the Virginia Bar Association debate later this month, the political newcomer and former Carlyle Group executive is breaking with a 36-year tradition. Every aspiring Virginia governor has participated in the VBA debate since 1985.

Woodruff donated $250 in 2010 to the foundation’s Haitian earthquake relief program, at the time led by two former presidents — Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush. Its formal name was the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Woodruff has moderated several VBA debates for governor and U.S. Senate in the years since.

“Judy’s donation to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund was in response to bipartisan call by fmr prezs Clinton & George W. Bush in 2010 for relief for Haiti following devastating earthquake. Seeing it thru any other lens is completely misleading,” Just tweeted. “And it should go without saying, Judy — over the course of her distinguished career — has never donated to a politician or any political party.”

[FSogol]

1. Youngkin won't debate because he is an extremist, Trump-loving, wingnut. He's going to hide

behind ads until the election.

[dsc]

2. There should be an empty chair set up in his stead

and NPR should, in every single, solitary, instance refer to him as the candidate who refuses to debate.

[blm]

3. Admitting he is too indifferent to donate himself.

Too cheap.

Too callous.

[underpants]

7. Great point.

[lagomorph777]

4. OK.

Terry McAuliffe wins by default, and gets a free hour of TV.

[bearsfootball516]

6. That's how I always thought it should go.

Refuse to debate? No problem. The other person gets a free, televised 1 hour town hall.

[rogue emissary]

11. +1

[spooky3]

5. wimpy wimpy wimpy nt

[DemDaDemDem]

8. Youngkin is utterly desperate.

McAuliffe is a former governor with name recognition and a solid record to run on. Virginia is now solidly blue in statewide races. Youngkin knows he's going to get absolutely stomped, just like the current governor, Ralph Northam, beat up on Ed Gillespie in 2017, Tim Kaine trounced Corey Stewart for senate in 2018, and Mark Warner won big against Daniel Gade last year.

[underpants]

9. Gillespie's was an odd campaign

He just popped up places with no press to cover it. The stealthiest campaign ever. It was like he was trying to keep a secret.

I’ve heard Wilder a couple times recently on talk radio in Richmond. He is super pissed about how Fairfax was treated and it’s pretty clear he really doesn’t like MacAuliffe.

[crickets]

10. Youngkin - former Carlyle Group executive

Well, that company name is an unpleasant blast from the past. Oof.