ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, OHIO - RACHEL DRATCH TO TAKE THE PART OF JEAN SCHMIDT IN THE DEBATE?

Anderson Township Republican Club Invites NBC’s Saturday Night Live star Rachel Dratch to take the part of Jean Schmidt in the Debate

For Immediate Release

Contact:    J. Duffy Beischel     513.474.0878

March 31, 2006—The Anderson Township Republican Club has scheduled a debate between Congresswoman Jean Schmidt and former Congressman Bob McEwen on April 19, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mercy Healthplex  at Five Mile and State Roads in Anderson Township.  However, on Friday March 24, Schmidt’s campaign manager, Allen Freeman, announced that Jean will no longer be attending.  Now the club is looking for an alternative.

“The Schmidt campaign said we were trying to set her up, that the venue was not neutral and the club was stacked with McEwen supporters,” said Duffy Beischel, who is coordinating arrangements for the debate.  “So we offered them half the seats for Schmidt supporters, agreed to let them choose the moderator, and to prescreen the questions along with the McEwen campaign to make sure the questions were fair and not intentionally embarrassing.  That offer is more than fair.”

In a March 23, 2006 letter to Bob McEwen, Jean Schmidt said, “I would not expect you to agree to debate me in front of my Republican Club and I won’t debate in front of yours.”

But apparently Bob McEwen has no problem debating Jean Schmidt in front of Schmidt’s own Republican club.  "Bob McEwen will debate Jean anywhere, anytime, even at Jean’s own Republican club in Miami Township in Clermont County.” said Michael Harlow, McEwen campaign spokesman.  "We believe the voters need to have the opportunity to question the candidates and we want to have seven debates-- one in each county of the Second Congressional District."

With the possibility of the Anderson debate becoming more of a McEwen monologue, the club started looking for other ways to conduct the debate.  “Some of our club members suggested to me that we invite Saturday Night Live’s Rachel Dratch to take Mrs. Schmidt’s part in the debate,” said Beischel. “I thought that was a great idea so invitations were sent to Rachel Dratch and Lorne Michaels, SNL’s Executive Producer.”  Copies of the invitations were also sent to Richard Dyer, General Manager of local NBC affiliate WLWT.

Actress Rachel Dratch did a characterization of Mrs. Schmidt on Saturday Night Live after Schmidt’s infamous “Cut and Run” speech on the floor of the House.  “If Ms. Dratch is able to accept our invitation, she would articulate the positions as submitted in the response Mrs. Schmidt gave on a questionnaire the club prepared for all candidates prior to the last primary debate,” said Russ Jackson, president of the Anderson Township Republican Club.  “I am sure she would also add a bit of comedy to the debate, making it not only informative, but entertaining.”

The club will also be posting Schmidt’s and McEwen’s completed questionnaires on the club’s website (www.andersonrepublican.org) within the next week.  To make it easier to compare the positions of both candidates, the club is also preparing a side-by-side comparison of the responses which will also be available for download in the next few weeks.

Anyone can submit a question for the debate. Questions can be emailed to: andersontownship@aim.com or faxed toll-free to 866-278-0157. 

There will also be a social hour before the debate starts at 6:00 p.m.  Mercy Healthplex is just across the street from the Anderson Mercy Hospital. 

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