Released November 2, 1998

Another "Big Chicken" in the Sixth District?

Hoteles de estadia nocturna BolognaNew Pelphrey Ad Asks Why Gingrich Wouldn’t Debate Issues BeforeVoters

cheap hotels in MikonosNewt Gingrich may consider himself a fixture of the landscape inGeorgia’s Sixth Congressional District – but his 4 months of evadingchallenger Gary "Bats" Pelphrey may put voters in mind of a real local landmark:Marietta’s eye-catching icon of a KFC franchise . . . the famous "BigChicken".

That’s the message of one of Pelphrey’s TV ads, now up andrunning on area broadcast and cable channels – and at pelphrey.org, Gary’s campaign Website.

Believing that the voters of the Sixth District deserved an honest,open debate of issues, Pelphrey sent return-receipt letters in mid-June (just beforeGingrich’s birthday) to the Gingrich offices in Marietta and Washington, D.C.Enclosed with each letter was one of Gary’s hand-painted watercolors . . . of the BigChicken.

The image may have proved prophetic. Gingrich never responded.

After waiting for three months, Pelphrey held a press conferenceSeptember 25 to renew the challenge. He even braved a Republican rally to catch Gingrichinterrupting his cross-country fundraising tour for a rare home-district visit last month.

hoteles en LausanneWhen handed a copy of the letter, Gingrich said something about seeingif he could fit a debate into his schedule. Gary contacted the League of Women Voters andlocal media for help arranging and promoting the event . . . but even the prospect of TVcoverage apparently couldn’t lure Gingrich onto the same stage with his challenger.

The question is this: why would career politician Gingrich hide from aman Gingrich’s own staff called a non-threat? Conventional wisdom says incumbentshave nothing to gain from debating, and nothing to lose if they don’t. But mayberefusing to debate means they’ve already lost something. It certainly means thepeople’s right to make an informed choice is lost.

hôtels BrugesOr, as Gary put it in the capping line of the ad: "What’s thematter, Mr. Gingrich? Do we have another Big Chicken in the Sixth District?"