Drew Pritt to Debate Kim Hendren at UALR (UPDATE)
If you have ever thought to yourself, “Man, I would love to go watch Michael Gravel have a serious debate with Ron Paul,” then you - one probably read this blog several times a day and - two you are in for a major treat tonight in Little Rock. Progressive Democrat (which mean really liberal) Drew Pritt will take on 80’s Democrat turned today’s gaffe prone Republican Kim Hendren in a debate at UALR.
I know about this debate as Pritt has emailed me at least half a dozen times. Somehow they
wrangled Arkansas News Bureau David J. Sanders into serving as the ring master for this circus. The debate will begin at 7:00 tonight in the Donaghey Student Center, Room C but if you want to have your photo taken with the candidates get there for the meet and greet at 6:30.
Now I am wrestling with the decision of whether I go get some quality flip cam of this event or stay home and watch the undefeated New Orleans Saints take on the New England Patriots (who ‘dat!) on Monday Night Football.
……………………………………
UPDATE – I went to the event and I must admit that I was wrong. It was not a circus. It was much worse; it was boring. About 10 people gathered in the large UALR meeting room to hear from Pritt and Hendren. It appeared to be mainly Pritt friends and Hendren’s wife. The above video gives you a little bit of flavor for how it went (youtube is down – video forecoming.) About half the time was spent discussing how horrible the rest of the field was for not coming and the other half on how wonderful the two of them are for meeting with the ten people in the room instead of focusing on money. Oh, and Hendren defending raising taxes. More on that later.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
November 30th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I, personally, hope you chose the latter.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Watching these two losers play like they matter in the Senate race is beyond laughable.
Id rather watch the Browns play on MNF again…
November 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Saints….I don’t get why you want to hear either
sorry
November 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Wow thats a lot of hot air in one room! Neither guy is their parties candidate yet and not likely to be. Why are they debating?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I hope you’re watching football right now.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:16 am
For the record, it was good to see Jason, as well as those who showed up. It was a small crowd, but I have to ask, with all the focus on the money race….why such negativity against direct democracy? I agree with Senator Hendren that we need more of these meetings. The person named “w” on here took your vote away by saying the nominees have been predetermined. Says who? Sounds like a campaign staffer who is worried his candidate is too much like Lincoln Lite if you ask me.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:28 am
Drew:
I loved how i read yesterday on a blog (forget which, maybe arktimes) how 50+ people on facebook said they were going and 150+ “maybes”. 10 /= 50+ FYI.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Drew Pritt Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I am extending a challenge to the other Senate campaigns here.
State Senator Kim Hendren has agreed to debate me in a series of Lincoln-Douglas style debates. Though I emailed twice and called the candidates, so far most of the other candidates have politely refused to respond. Even though on Facebook it’s open to all candidates for U.S. Senate, 34 have confirmed attendance, and 96 more said they maybe will be there.
From Dave Kinkaids blog.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:37 am
Jason, your post is highly unfair to Mike Gravel and Ron Paul.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
Drew I did not say that that at all I said it made no sense for this debate to take place u should be debating blanche. If u win the primary then debate the republican candidate
December 1st, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Honestly it’s no suprise only 10 or so showed up. Who the heck knew about it beforehand?
December 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Who gives a rat?
Drew, get a real job. edited
December 1st, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Actually check the Facebook record. Those many did confirm and said maybe. It would have been better attended had more of the media helped spread the word as Elizabeth says.
“W” it makes sense for ALL of us to debate. To say wait on the results of the primary is ridiculous. Let all the candidates debate and then lets hold those who skip out, accountable.
Apparently :
* CURTIS COLEMAN
* GILBERT BAKER
* BLANCHE LINCOLN
* CONRAD REYNOLDS
* FRED RAMEY
All of them care more about dialing for dollars than answering questions from the people of Arkansas. Yes it was 10 people and not friends like Jason assumes. They are voters nonetheless and at least :
* TOM COX
* BUDDY ROGERS
* JOHN GRAY
All three had the decency and the character to contact me BEFOREHAND to say why they couldn’t participate. Cox was pre-scheduled and Rogers & Gray only would come if all the other candidates were there.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Oh good Lord… who is John Gray?!
December 1st, 2009 at 4:45 pm
The Green Party candidate and a Mayor in NWA.
Hey, “WeatherDawg”, I own two businesses and pay taxes….so yes I have a REAL job.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Drew – Have you challenged your primary opponent to a debate or are you scared of being rejected? I didn’t see Vic in your list above.
December 1st, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Vic who?
Yes I challenged Blanche along with the others.
December 1st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Why would vic be there I thought we were talking about the us senate race?
December 1st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Drew:
How many races have you ever actually filed for?
December 1st, 2009 at 11:26 pm
For two candidates who are not running against each other to take time to debate each other seems a total waste of time. Once the primary is over the Dem, Rep and Green party candidate should have a good debate. I dont blame anyone for not showing up at this side show!
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
W part of the problem with the way politics is today is the partisanship. We should hear from anyone who seeks to be a U.S. Senator because they will represent ALL of Arkansas, not just one party.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:33 am
Sorry you are right – Blanche not Vic.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 am
No Drew each party should choose their candidate and then the voters should vote. Its the way it works. You should be running against Blanche in a Dem primary. I believe that the Senate is to partisan but elections are designed to be that way. I could care less what you have to say in a debate I only care about what the Republican Candidates have to say once that primary is over then I like so many people will turn our attention to the general election. YOu are just trying to make a name for yourself and Kim Hendren for some reason helped you.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Comparing Ron Paul to a “80’s Democrat turned today’s gaffe prone Republican” is not an accurate comparison. Even since he’s been in politics, Ron Paul has been an unflinching champion of liberty. He is for limited government, low taxes, personal responsibility, individual liberty, and free markets. He is more conservative than most politicians who claim to be.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
JS – Agree with you 100% that Hendren and Ron Paul are not similar on the issues. The comparsion was their are/were both non-frontrunner Republican primary candidates who have a tendency to speak freely.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
W if we had party registration in this state, your argument might have some more validity. But we have a lot of Republicans who vote in the Democratic Primary because of down-ballot races for County Judge, Sheriff, etc. If you believe intra-party debates should not happen, then that is your opinion and you are entitled to it, but 10 people showed up for this debate. And I believe more would show up for more debates. This is democracy in action and its only a good thing.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 am
Very true, Jason.
Although, I think there’s a difference between speaking freely and suffering from constant foot-in-mouth. Sometimes I wonder if Hendren and Joe Biden were college roommates.
Mr. Pritt–
Seem seem like a very nice person, but I just hope you know that your far-left “progressive” views are at odds with most Arkansans. You’d be a great candidate in New England, though.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
JS there is this common misconception that progressive views are at odds with most Arkansans. Who are these “most” Arkansans?
* 683,000+ Arkansans are without health care coverage. If just one of them has a friend that agrees they need to have health care (a plausible reality) than that means 52% of Arkansans support health care reform.
* 35% of Arkansas workers are members of a union. Add in a spouse, best friend, parent, and you have 70% who understand the importance and need for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
* 25% of Arkansans identify with the GLBT Community and a majority oppose discrimination and with a true and honest discussion would understand the need to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Our state was the first to elect a female as U.S. Senator. We have elected repeatedly Dale Bumpers, J. William Fulbright, Bill Clinton, Jim Guy Tucker, and many other progressives to office.
I am an Arkansan and don’t want to move to where it’s politically popular but make the necessary changes where I live for the better.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Mr. Pritt I think you are an interesting candidate and wish you luck angainst Senator Lincoln. While you are correct that many Republicans vote in the Democrat primary I firmly believe that both parties should choose their candidates then move forward. I wouldnt brag about 10 people showing up more people than that will show up to look at a bad car wreck. If you are really running against Blanche then you need to be going after here not wasting time on any Republican candidate at this point.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I am not running against anyone. I am running for an office. However, I am wondering if this is the race to be making and if I am the right challenger. For me, this has always been about the issues.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:02 pm
if you dont realize that you are running against Blanche and the winner of that race will run against the winner of the Republican Primary you are in the wrong race Drew.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
W, that I understand, but it was more an act.
December 3rd, 2009 at 4:41 am
Because web boards make it so hard to convey meaning, when I say an act, I mean as an act in making a point. An act of making a statement that we should focus on issues and on individuals who seek to represent us….not partisan politics and who best dials for dollars.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Ihope the 10 people liked your little act
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
W you have misconstrued what I said. Do you work for FOX News or CNN???? Theres more than 10 people that matter. You know what, why don’t you step up and run a race before you give advice.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Ron Paul is not a gaffe-prone Republican. He is a wise and careful speaker.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Drew Pritt most likely drop out of the race before the primary season begans.I remember back when he ran for Lt. Governor. He called me uneducated. I thought it was funny since I did finsih college and he dropped out.
Back when he ran for Lt. Governor, I exposed him on my blog “The Shamgar Report.”