Here's my liveblogging of the Debate That Wasn't

LINK to original post at Scrutiny Hooligans

Matt Mittan of local station 570AM thanks other stations who are carrying the debate. Mittan explains that Shuler had an hour on the show on Wednesday and that Taylor appeared on Thursday. Heath Shuler is in the studio while Taylor, at 12:30, is in the studio at WHKP in Hendersonville. Mittan explains why he is out of compliance with the debate agreement.

Taylor: The debate's too late. More than 60,000 people have already voted. Important to keep the economy going. 3.2% unemployment in WNC. We've had a number of companies come in because we have broadband. "As well meaning as our opponent is" [stumble, stutter, silence], something about engineering, something about tracks, if we can't get the money then people of WNC won't have opportunities. Without my pork, then projects won't happen.

Shuler: This is the eighth debate I've been to. Taylor has criticized my decision to worship and be with my family. We're at a crossroads in our country. If you look at jobs in our district. Taylor didn't vote 'no' on CAFTA. Anvil company in Swannanoa good example of jobs leaving district. But it's about the families, getting them the jobs they deserve, giving them health care. 46 million Americans without health insurance. Work for the people, not for the special interests, rubber stamping the administration. We need less partisanship. We must protect our environment. We must provide good high-paying jobs. Mr. Taylor has not abided by the rules. We've seen it with the Abramoff scandal, We've had enough of this experience. That's why it's time for a change. It's unfortunate that Mr. Taylor can't play by the rules. Bring back integrity and honesty.

Taylor complains in the background, "Is this the Heath Shuler Hour?"

Taylor: I said I couldn't come at 5 o'clock

Mittan: Actually that's not what the arrangement was. This is not what the arrangement was.

Taylor: It was the only thing that our office conveyed to you.

Mittan: Congressman Taylor, I don't want this to be about what was said. I have emails documenting promise to be here.

Shuler's leaving the studio right now in protest of Taylor's unwillingness to comply with the arrangement.

UPDATE
Mittan is disappointed.

Mittan iterates that Taylor broke the agreement and that Shuler was well within his rights to terminate the debate. Mittan says that he's disappointed that Taylor tried to cloud the facts by saying the agreement was something different than what it was.

Caller taunts Mittan for not getting a real debate to happen.

Caller anxious to hear debate. Sorry that Taylor couldn't come to WNC and say something. Jobs have left and left, and Taylor can't even be bothered to show up. Our Congressman...this shows how much he thinks of WNC.

Caller Taylor's crooked and lying. Shuler is moving forward.

Caller "Live and Learn". I didn't believe this was ever going to come off.

Mittan: Deborah Potter told other media outlets something different than what they'd told Mittan.

Caller thinks this is characteristic of Taylor. Misrepresenting the terms. I don't understand why Heath Shuler left.

Caller doesn't understand why the debate could not have gone on.

Mittan: It could have, but Shuler has the right to decide. Shuler made the decision.

Caller thanking Charles Taylor for giving a vote to Heath Shuler. I'm going to vote for Shuler instead now. Taylor did not follow through on the agreement. Heath Shuler is a gentleman.

Mittan: Shuler was here. Taylor called in. This was not the arrangement we made. I'm very disappointed we couldn't get more debate.