Claiming media bias, Idaho lieutenant governor candidate Giddings pulls out of debate
Idaho Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, on Friday backed out of a statewide debate with House Speaker Scott Bedke in their race for Idaho lieutenant governor, claiming media bias.
It’s the latest cancellation, coming just a few days after U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, pulled out of a debate with challenger Bryan Smith.
The Idaho Debates are a collaboration among the Idaho Press Club, which selects the reporter panelists; Idaho Public Television, which provides the moderator and broadcasts the debates live statewide on its network as well as online; the League of Women Voters of Idaho; and Idaho’s public universities.
Giddings had previously committed to take part in the debate, scheduled for Monday, as had Bedke, according to a news release from The Idaho Debates sent Friday by Idaho Press Club President Betsy Russell.
On Monday, Giddings’ campaign spokesman confirmed to Idaho Public Television by email of her participation, but also demanded to know who the reporters on the panel would be, saying, “We require that panelists be approved beforehand.”
That has never been permitted, for any candidate, according to the release from Idaho Debates.
“The Idaho Debates partners don’t reveal reporters on the panel to any candidate in advance,” Melissa Davlin of Idaho Public Television, the scheduled moderator for the debate, said in the release. “This is so campaigns can’t pick and choose who asks questions of them. We tried to work with the Giddings campaign within the parameters of our rules.”
Giddings’ campaign spokesman, Zach Lautenschlager, sent an email to Davlin on Friday pulling out of the debate.
“The decision to withhold the names of the panelists on the false pretense that this will suddenly make them fair and respectful leaves us with very little choice,” Lautenschlager wrote, according to the release. “We are forced to refuse the invitation.”
Davlin said the debates cannot be held without at least two candidates.
In the end, the people who suffer from this trend are the voters. Debates give voters an opportunity to see how candidates interact with one another and how they answer questions on the spot, not via canned press releases and simplistic campaign ads.
Debates
Idaho Public TV’s regular Idaho Debates series focused on the Republican Primary will begin next week. All debates begin at 8 p.m. Mountain Time.
April 19: Attorney general
April 25: Superintendent of public instruction
April 26: Secretary of state
Voters guide
The Statesman’s guide is planned for publication May 1. It will include candidates’ answers on key areas of policy in statewide, congressional, state legislative and local races.
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The Statesman’s editorial board is interviewing candidates in a variety of statewide, congressional and legislative races. Endorsements will be released periodically on the editorial page and online. Check our website for endorsements you may have missed.
This story was originally published April 15, 2022 at 12:02 PM with the headline "Claiming media bias, Idaho lieutenant governor candidate Giddings pulls out of debate."
