Sen. Richard Burr will appear before the N.C. Medical Society on Friday morning in Raleigh to talk about health care, but it won't with any of his possible Democratic opponents.
At one point, the Medical Society extended an invitation to include the Democrats considering running against Burr in 2010, Rob Christensen reports. But when the Democrats expressed no interest, the doctors decided to go back to their original format of just having Burr discussing the issue with a group of physicians.
In declining to participate, one of the Democrats, former state Sen. Cal Cunningham of Lexington, also got in a gig at Burr.
Cunningham wrote to Burr: "PS. You really should give up dipping snuff. I've found there is no future in it."
Update: A spokesman for the Medical Society said the organization decided to limit the event to Burr since it were unable to get a slate of Democratic candidates to attend. Kenneth Lewis, who previously said he wanted to debate Burr, says he intends to show up Friday ready to debate.
It was Burr who invited the Democratic candidates. Lewis accepted that invitation.
"In your letter of August 18th, you expressed your 'intent to offer a forum for a substantive debate with the hopes of better educating the public on the issue before the Congress," Lewis said in a statement. "Senator Burr, the North Carolina Medical Society has offered such a forum. Now all you need to do is show up and debate."
Comments
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 25, 2009 - 6:57am — BitterEXdemocratleave it to a democrackkk to criticize one individual's OWN personal pleasure behavior like a little dip of snuff...WHY do democrackkks ALWAYS SEEK to CONTROL our lives?
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 4:59pm — GiggleBoxQuit helping Dome Staff, you got my response about the same time as I hit this one. Make you or I look stupid did you?
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 4:54pm — GiggleBoxI'll slander anyone that deserves it.
Oh, then it's not slander is it?
I said Richard Burr did what?
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 4:44pm — bniolet (author)Gigglebox and I have had a conversation over e-mail today. It is my hope that the level of comments improve. BN
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 4:08pm — ruralncBN, is it time to ban gigglebox? His comments are bordering on slanderous.
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 3:32pm — bniolet (author)I'm sorry if I'm slow to delete you inappropriate posts, Gigglebox. I was busy trying to produce some journalism. BN
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 3:03pm — GiggleBoxGood luck BN, and No...
I just have the one I sent to you. No response. Did your major not teach you how communication went? Not only is it not plural but...
As Rob Base would say ...
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 2:49pm — bniolet (author)Very clever, Gigglebox. I stand by my continued quest to elevate the discourse on this site. Yours in communication, BN.
Re: Apparently Tomarken
August 24, 2009 - 2:47pm — TomarkenI received about a half dozen forwarded emails after this debate was called. I am interested in Ken Lewis and wanted to know more. All 6 or so of those emails were the exact same - each person that forwarded me the customized email designed as a fundraiser on behalf of Kenneth Lewis calling for this debate. I was not on his email list at the time, so folks who knew I would be interested passed along his message.
So, according to this article, it appears as if Lewis (along with all the other Dems - for whatever reason) is not in this debate. That means Burr gets a free, state-wide televised platform to talk about healthcare. According to that email, this was to be a debate, at least between Lewis and Burr.
Is Dome saying Lewis too, will not partake in this debate? If so, I'd like to know why?
If he is still in, I would think a correction would need to be made to appease not only little ole me, but all those other folks who personally received the email I was forwarded asking for $ on the back of this debate.
I hope that details what I was saying earlier. Make sense?
Apparently Tomarken
August 24, 2009 - 2:33pm — GiggleBoxPlease explain.
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 2:30pm — GiggleBoxBurr snuff dippy. He no like challenger. One challenged. One said he dippy snuff. Burr freak. Said he wussy, not dippy snuff.
I so sorry I use-a the English. Is monkey talk more better N&O.
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 2:21pm — TomarkenAm I the only person who got a fundraising email from Kenneth Lewis talking about his "challenge" to Burr for this healthcare debate.
Is he just a trojan horse? He seems to be promoting this event, but then backing out - after asking for our $. Is he just trying to give Burr a completely free platform to speak ad nasuem about health care?
The Cunningham response must have said more than just about dip? What's in the letter? I mean, at least he's not a candidate (yet), but he took the time to respond to Burr.
Where's the rest of the candidates?
Re: Burr, alone, will talk health care
August 24, 2009 - 2:01pm — bniolet (author)Comment deleted. Try again Gigglebox with cleaner language. BN