Congressman Dent’s campaign informed PA2010.com that they prefer independent Jake Towne – who is running as a private citizen under no political party – be silenced and barred from debating Dent this fall.
Towne stated, “I take objection to their actions as anti-democratic and a sign of weakness. Congressional races should not be similar to sports teams duking out a popularity contest, we should have a healthy debate on the issues – for the good of the PEOPLE. My novel-yet-simple “Our Open Office” idea for accountable government and how to solve the unemployment problem deserve to be heard.”
The Towne campaign has accepted invitations to two debates, including the major one held by the Morning Call. Towne has issued challenges to both Dent and Callahan to debate since the fall of 2009 with no response. In November 2009, he wrote both career politicians saying:
“The times we live in are not normal. The dollar is in crisis and unemployment is rampant. Civil liberties are restricted more with each passing day. We have apparently endless wars continuing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. I am traveling the district and the people are hurting. Congress’s solutions of more spending through the stimulus plan and more taxation via the Cap and Trade bill on energy and even our health care seem dubious at best.”
Last week the Callahan campaign sent a spy to videotape a “Towne Hall” event, indicating they are also worried about Towne’s independent campaign. Towne has appeared on PCN TV, FOX News several times, and Russia Today on foreign policy.
Ballot access requirements are far more demanding for independent campaigns than for the two major parties. While he is running for US Congress, Towne must collect nearly twice the number of signatures required to run for President of the United States or Governor of Pennsylvania. Towne’s campaign is one of the largest independent campaigns in the nation, raising over $40,000.
Towne is a chemical engineer who worked in the semiconductor industry prior to running for office as an independent private citizen, including the past 4 years in China. Towne has promised to accept only the median household income and not enlist in the congressional health care or pension plans. The remainder of the $174,000 salary will be donated to local non-profit hospitals. He also champions sound money and a novel-yet-simple form of accountable and transparent government, “Our Open Office” which is linked below.
(Sent in a press release 7/22/2010. FYI the campaign is throwing a Freedom Concert to celebrate on Friday, July 30th, details here!! A few talks given by Jake on PCN TV, FOX News, and Russia Today are below.)
That’s a sure sign that Dent is running scared. He prefers that Jake Towne, running as an independent and private citizen, be silenced? Not worth debating? That should convince the electorate where his concerns lie!
Dent is insulting the intelligence of the 15th District and showing his true colors. He fears the revelation of his un-Constitutional voting record. Throw the bum out, so he can hang-out with his bankster-buddies.
It’ll be interesting to hear Callahan’s thoughts on this.
Will Callahan risk being seen as weak if he also wants Jake out of the debate? Or will he prefer Jake be kept in the debate?
@Rebekah
Jake will take more votes away from Dent than he will from Callahan. Callahan knows this so he has no reason to try an silence Jake.
Dent is safekeeping his testicles in a Chinese take-out box so that he doesn’t have to use them during the course of his “campaign.”