Who is afraid of a little healthy debate? No, this comic is not about Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.
Last week, it was U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin who did not feel compelled to massage his schedule and participate in a televised debate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Inhofe. The News 9 debate was competing with the OU softball team’s national championship game and the Jan. 6th congressional committee hearings, so perhaps Mullin’s absence went unnoticed by some.
But public discourse is a foundational idea in American society, and most have come to expect it from our elected leaders and candidates for such positions. Thus, when a presumed “front runner” does not agree to participate in a political debate, for one reason or another, it detracts from the process and lessens the knowledge voters have available to them for making an informed choice at the polls.
Sure, a politician who believes they hold a big lead in an election may want to “play it safe” and avoid answering questions on camera, but what good does playing it safe do for the people that politician seeks to represent? Is the purpose of running for office to win at any cost, or is it to influence society as a leader?
Sometimes, it seems like candidates only seek office to tout themselves and run advertisements that create some sort of narrative about them for the public. Mullin fancies himself a fighter in his TV ads, so if the U.S. Senate primary heads to a runoff, perhaps he will agree to a debate if it opens with some sort of feat of strength.
Past Sundaze comics
Overtime: The match continues with special sessions
Professor Swadley and the cheese-melting machine
Call me Tag Agent: In Catoosa, a replacement steps up
Where Mother’s Day comes sweeping down the plain
It’s a tough life being ‘The Patriot’
Frugal rabbit worried about the price of eggs
‘Resistance is futile’: Beware of the Borg in election year
Oklahoma’s mysterious case of The Winchester Burger
Night owls want daylight saving time to be permanent
The power of bitcoin mining in Oklahoma
Does Holland have a snowball’s chance for the Senate?
David Holt rides wave of popularity to reelection
Oklahoma winter weather drifts in and out of our lives
Tom Brady retirement talk: Goodbye to the GOAT?
Urban OKC chickens ready to live their best lives
Oklahomans having the wrong type of Dry January
However you say it, omicron variant tests our resolve
In 2022, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
Tune up the air conditioning on Santa’s sleigh
Atoka Public Schools: ‘The leaders in southeast Oklahoma on esports’
Our precious: OU will haver a new football coach soon
Gaining function: Hunters fear of COVID-19 in deer
Infrastructure bill will fuel perpetual construction
Squeegee your third eye for the new congressional map
Zuckerberg’s Meta description previews new nightmare
‘Stop trying to figure out a way to retrofit the old jail’
Edmond voters say: Not in the backyard of my park
QuikTrip in OKC means delicious competition
Oklahomans sniffle through invasion of the allergens
Big bet: Restarting the conversation on sportsbook
Sick and tired of summer each September
Waiting for our old buddy, Personal Responsibility
Finally burger time? In-N-Out should be in OKC
The delta variant is getting a little too trendy
Git along little dogies: It’s SEC or bust
California fires bring the hazy days of summer to OKC
Western lows: The unclear motivations of Western Heights board members
Despite housing prices, more mosquitoes moving in
