Updated: Chris Fields Says Rep. Keith Ellison Ducked Tuesday’s Debate
In a press conference Tuesday, the 5th District GOP challenger said Ellison called off a debate due to 'scheduling conflicts.'
Despite last week’s fiery debate, U.S. House 5th District challenger Chris Fields said he wants to verbally spar with Rep. Keith Ellison one more time. Yet he believes Ellison isn’t willing to debate him again, after the Minneapolis Urban League canceled a debate scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23.
Fields held a press conference Tuesday at the State Capitol to ask Ellison to reschedule the debate.
Earlier this week, the Chris Fields for Congress campaign office received an email from Minneapolis Urban League Board Chairman Al McFarlane saying that the debate was canceled due to a scheduling conflict.
Fields' campaign office responded to the email, and offered to find and pay for another venue, but nothing has been scheduled.
Though the email did not come directly from Keith Ellison, Fields said that he assumes Ellison canceled the debate because Al McFarlane is a long-time supporter of Ellision.
"The time to act is now," Fields said. "Instead of giving the citizens of the Northside and the 5th Congressional District a chance to participate in a substantive debate with a credible opponent, [Ellison] is ducking the debate."
The scheduled debate would have been the fourth debate between the two 5th District candidates. Last week, in a heated KFAI debate, Ellison called fields a "lowlife scumbag" and a "gutter dweller."
"Not having this debate at an appropriate and convenient time sends a chilling signal that some people don't count and they don't matter," Fields said. "Congressman Ellison's professional conduct has gotten more extreme and erratic with every election. He continually embarrasses himself, and the 5th Congressional District."
In a reactionary statement emailed to Patch, Ellison said:
"While my campaign has been talking to voters about their issues and their future, Mr. Fields has pursued repeated personal attacks culminating in an insult to my family. I reacted badly and issued an immediate apology. He is clearly milking this for his own political gain--not for the people of the 5th District. After several debates, an additional debate wouldn't promote an effective discussion about the issues facing our district. I will continue fighting everyday for the issues that matter to the people of the 5th District."
Ezra Pound
12:59 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Mr Fields: You project your behavior on Mr Ellison. Extreme, erratic and embarrassing fit you remarkably well and we, the voters of the 5th district, have only been able to "know" you for a very short time.
Are you sure your press conference (nice that the year was wrong on the announcement) at the State Capitol is to leave your scent around the state capitol and see if you can get elected somewhere???
Greg Staffa
3:21 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
I hope this isn't the real Keith Ellison were seeing. I was a Union member which is one of Keith Ellison biggest Union donors. During the Delta Merger I lost my job due to discrimination. I took it to court and won but before things were righted I slipped through the cracks. Quickly the union was voted out and I was left alone. I had lost my job and by 2009 I lost my home. December 2009 I became homeless. My story was on the front page of the Star Tribune. Keith Ellison claims to fight against discrimination. He claims to fight for workers. And one day Keith Ellison reached out to me. For the first time while homeless I found hope. Hope because Ellison had connections to the people at Delta. He told them during the merger he was going to hold them accountable. It gave me hope because according to my union contract My work injury that left me disabled should never have cost me my job and home. So Ellison reaches out to me via twitter and says "Contact at my office" I am quickly told that Ellison is too busy to meet with me. It confused me because it was Ellison who reached out to me. So I reply to Ellison via twitter what I was told and he replies that what I was told wasnt true and he needed to find time. At some point Ellison blocked me on twitter. That was 338 days ago. Still no meeting. If Keith Ellison can't keep his word to a homeless man then who? Keith you can reach me at Greg.staffa@hotmail.com But maybe Ellison thinks the Homeless are scumbags
Worried Voter
3:17 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sounds like someone (Fields) decided to count his chickens before they were hatched. This type of information should NOT have been released to the public before confirmation of venue was obtained! And then to acuse the Congressman of anything...WOW. I don't blame Ellison for not scheduling another meeting.
guy davidson
12:11 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wow - Ellison actually had time to take care of " cancelling" something here in his local district... see he does care about us.
John Bradley Seals
10:01 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I've been an Ellison supporter but his behavior in this debate is cause for concern.
Kathy Rendall
11:07 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I simply can't vote for Ellison this go round. I was totally taken a back by his comments. I listened to the KFAI debate and Ellison simply didn't care. For instance, Ellison said during the debate that his daughter was in the next room, but yet, calls his opponents some very demeaning names. Ellison certainly is not a good role model for children. I certainly wouldn't want my teenage sons around him. By his own ommission, his daughter was sitting there watching, you would think Ellison would have remained more calm. It's clear Ellison has duped us all. Well, I will dupe him at the polls.
mike savick
8:57 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
The man apoligized. After constant attacks on his religion and his patriotism by Republican /Teaparty candidate including Michele Bachmann for 6 years anyone would suffer a lapse of niceness.
Dan Riser
3:45 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
A man of honor is Chris Fields, the other guy not so much. For those of you complaining about Chris Fields, ask yourself the question, what would you do if someone was dragging your name through the mud. Mr Fields had the right to call his opponent on what he did. If you believe that ellison had nothing to do with it, you are severely misguided.
Ezra Pound
6:25 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Mr Fields has been throwing stones at Mr Ellison from nearly the start of Republican campaign and definitely after he got the nod as the Republican candidate. More name calling, mud slinging, half truth telling have been done by Mr Fields throughout the entire debate.
Mr Fields is the candidate who brought up his own past domestic issues on the debate. Mr Ellison did not bring it up. Mr. Fields does not have his ex-wife respond directly; he responds for her. Mr Fields is also the one who brought up Mr Ellison's divorce during the last debate.
Sorry, Mr Riser - honor does not behave that way. Mr Fields behavior is sophomoric and that is what is consistent throughout his campaign. From the Mr Fields mouth about Mr Ellison - daddy issues, reverse racism, fire people, not doing enough for black folks, etc...the rhetoric of shallowness.
Mr. Fields has been through the mud he created. He gets to live with himself the rest of his life and deal with his issues - namely a lack of character and integrity.