{"id":2731,"date":"2013-11-03T20:32:14","date_gmt":"2013-11-04T03:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jsharf.com\/view\/?p=2731"},"modified":"2013-11-03T20:32:14","modified_gmt":"2013-11-04T03:32:14","slug":"yes-on-66-campaign-goes-brave-sir-robin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jsharf.com\/view\/?p=2731","title":{"rendered":"Yes on 66 Campaign Goes Brave Sir Robin"},"content":{"rendered":"

When danger reared its ugly head
\nHe bravely turned his tail and fled
\nBrave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin
\n“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That was roughly the approach taken by Abigail Hinga of the Yes on 66 campaign Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

In response to WatchdogWire’s coverage of Amendment 66, News Director Roman Moore of Krystal 93<\/a>\u00a0FM in Dillon invited me and a representative of the Yes on 66 campaign to participate in a radio forum of about 45 minutes, to be aired at least once, and podcast on the site. \u00a0The show was to be recorded at 1:00 PM.<\/p>\n

As I was driving up to Dillon this morning, I got a call from Mr. Moore saying that the Yes on 66 representative had cancelled – without giving a reason – and that he didn’t feel it would be right to continue with the forum with only one side in attendance. \u00a0Mr. Moore asked be for a statement, and I gave him the following: \u00a0“It’s sad that the out-of-state money and union interests that are backing this amendment don’t want the residents of Summit County to have access to a full and fair debate. \u00a0That’s probably because under the new funding formula, it’ll just mean more broken promises to Summit County public school students.”<\/p>\n

It should be noted that Watchdog Wire has not taken an official editorial position on Amendment 66, however, we have devoted a fair amount of time to discussing the inconsistencies of those who are supporting the measure, including\u00a0Governor Hickenlooper<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0ProgressNow’s Alan Franklin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In my conversations with Mr. Moore, he never betrayed his own opinion on Amendment 66, only his desire that his listeners be treated to a full debate on the matter, something that he did not believe was happening. \u00a0In a message to his listeners – aired several times today and tomorrow – Mr. Moore details the difficulty he had with the Amendment 66 team first in securing a representative, and then in retaining one. \u00a0In short, Margaret Carlson, President of the Summit County School Board had agreed to participate. \u00a0She then backed out, to be replaced by a former Summit County teacher, Melissa Wagasky. \u00a0Ms. Wagasky cancelled this morning. \u00a0No reason was given for either cancellation.<\/div>\n

Let’s be reasonable here. \u00a0The Yes on 66<\/em> side has bought a tremendous amount of airtime on Krystal 93 for advertising. \u00a0Without a participant, it was clear that Moore wouldn’t be able to have \u00a0a forum. \u00a0And without a forum, they would effectively muzzle the opposition. \u00a0The way this game is normally played, the side who thinks they have nothing to gain ducks and dodges, while the side who wants the debate accuses them of ducking an dodging. But it’s highly unusual – to say the least – to commit several times to a forum and then pull out of it at virtually the last minute. \u00a0That’s not politics, it’s just poor form.<\/p>\n

 
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