Dianne Feinstein in 2012 CA Senate debate

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Feinstein refusing to debate is a democracy dodge

Elizabeth Emken is the Danville Republican who has taken on a task that few--no, make that, NO--big name Republicans had the guts to do: Challenge Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Feinstein has refused to debate her. No, not even at 3 a.m. on a Saturday on a cable access station in Turlock. As Feinstein's campaign manager told us a while back after Emken challenged DiFi to a series of debates : "This is the sort of typical cliche move from someone is 19 points down and has $25,000 in the bank and 35 percent name recognition," he said.

Editorial boards all up and down California--including our very own Ivory Tower-dwellers--have called out Feinstein for the democracy dodge.

Emken ramped it up when the San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com's Shaky Hand Productions video crew caught up with her. She called DiFi "arrogant" and "dismissive" for not agreeing to debate:

Source: San Francisco Chronicle on 2012 CA Senate debate Oct 10, 2012

On Budget & Economy: I'm a prudent voice for deficit reduction

Q: What problem will you tackle first if elected?

Dianne Feinstein: I will continue to be a prudent voice for deficit reduction. I will continue my work to develop a national nuclear waste strategy, and my efforts to improve California's water infrastructure to provide stable water supplies in wet years and dry.

Source: Sacramento Bee Voter Guide: 2012 CA Senate debate May 31, 2012

On Gun Control: Gun lobby has too much power in Washington

Q: Which special interests in Washington have too much power?

Dianne Feinstein: Guns. I wrote the assault weapons ban that was the law of the land for a decade. Now the National Rifle Association essentially has a stranglehold on Congress. I also believe the big oil companies enjoy outsize influence and protection in Washington.

Source: Sacramento Bee Voter Guide: 2012 CA Senate debate May 31, 2012

On Principles & Values: Offers three televised Senate debates, but no Fox News

Dear Dr. Taitz, If you do become the Republican candidate, I would like to set up three debates to be televised by three major television stations. However, our campaign has five ground rules which we would like agreement upon before proceeding further:

No questions shall be asked and no answers shall be given concerning the eligibility of President Obama or any related matters. The debate should focus on economic, social, and foreign policy issues.
The format of the debates shall provide for a two minute response, followed by a one minute rebuttal, followed by a 30 second response.
No notes, documents, or teleprompters shall be allowed.
No debates shall be televised by Fox News or any affiliates thereof.
None of your supporters shall be allowed to attend. Guests shall be limited to 100 voters chosen at random.

Please let me know if these ground rules would be satisfactory. Source: Email from Feinstein to Taitz on 2012 CA Senate debate May 14, 2012

The above quotations are from 2012 CA Senate debate. Click here for other excerpts from 2012 CA Senate debate. Click here for other excerpts by Dianne Feinstein. Click here for a profile of Dianne Feinstein.
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018