Rice Refuses to Debate
Mal Hyman, South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives
“Tom Rice is being negligent to the voters in the District by refusing to debate and allow the people to make an informed decision.”
Mr. Rice has just backed out of the one debate that he had agreed upon with 7th Congressional district challenger Mal Hyman. Mr. Hyman’s original idea was eight debates – one in each of the district’s eight counties. Realizing that eight debates was not realistic, on August 24th at the Venus Café, Mr. Hyman challenged Mr. Rice to three debates. Mr. Rice said he would do only one and Mr. Hyman asked that it be on a neutral site, not in Myrtle Beach.
“We set a date at his convenience. He engineered the conditions to play to his strengths and then he decided that the people did not need to hear from him so he again pulled out of a planned debate,” said Hyman. “This is pretty typical of those in Congress – their inaction over the past six years has made the reluctant to face voters,” observed Hyman. Mr. Rice could not take yes for an answer, and seems to being running from his record rather than running on it. This dishonors democracy.
Rice did not debate his opponent in his last election, either. He chooses again to shower the people of our district with ads rather than debate jobs, opportunity, and security.
The contrasts between the two candidates could not be clearer. Mr. Rice has raised almost $1
million for this election, 59% from PACs, while Mr. Hyman refuses to accept donations from
corporations, banks, or the Democratic National Committee. Hyman stated that, “This independence
allows me to be free to represent all of the people of the district — and that no public servant can serve two masters.” It is time for common sense for the common good, for a change.
A well-informed electorate is vital to democracy. Ducking even one debate disrespects and is a disservice to the District’s voters.
Mr. Hyman’s website (www.MalHyman.com) provides details on numerous issues ranging from the economy to the environment to Social Security.
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Mr. Hyman has been a teacher for 40 years—in the public schools, medium security men’s prison, at Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, and for the last 30 years at Coker College teaching sociology.