Written by Ilona van der Linden
Republican congressional candidate Brian Maryott extended an offer for debate to Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA), his opponent for congress. He explained candidates must “…take seriously [their] commitments to engaging in regular conversations with constituents” and that “the best solutions brought forth by government have started in public halls of discussion where competing parties engage in vigorous – but respectful – debate.” Levin’s representative stated that the congressman will be avoiding public debates until the results of the primary election.
Despite avoiding this debate, Rep. Levin is by no means avoiding the public eye. A scroll through his Twitter feed reveals that the representative has been busy recently in the public sphere. On August 24, he commented on how engaging the questions he received from his supporters were at his House Party.
Thanks to everyone for coming to our 202nd House Party for the campaign in Leucadia this evening! I’m grateful for all of the excellent questions and comments! #CA49 pic.twitter.com/5lZMypE0u9
— Mike Levin (@MikeLevin) August 25, 2019
On August 21, he spoke at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission public meeting regarding ongoing issues in San Onofre and visited Veterans Village to help the House Veterans Affairs Committee. On August 20, he met with several southern California mayors. If Levin is willing to speak with the public over issues of policy, why is he neglecting to engage in respectful debate with his opponents over the same issues?
Rep. Levin appears willing to engage with the public and community leaders, which is a good sign for a newly-elected member of Congress. However, this energy is absent when it comes to discussing the issues with his opponent.
Stripping his supporters of the ability to learn about his policy in a bipartisan arena is a disappointment—to his opponents and allies alike. Debates have become more than just a public forum. They’ve become a glimpse into the minds of candidates, a way for them to seem like less of a talking head and more like a real person.
Levin is not only losing out on the opportunity to become more transparent with his constituents, but also the opportunity to show a rare glimpse of openness to working with members of the Republican Party. His actions are merely another disappointment for those still hoping for bipartisan compromise in this era of extreme political polarization.
Photo by David Beale
