MCCARTHY, BECKER NO-SHOWS AT FIRST LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DEBATE AS SCATURRO IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO APPEAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Akeem Mellis
Phone: (516) 881-7377
Date: October 10, 2012
Email: akeem@frankscaturro.com
 

MCCARTHY, BECKER NO-SHOWS AT FIRST LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DEBATE AS SCATURRO IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO APPEAR

 
New Hyde Park, NY – In a surprise to many in attendance, neither incumbent Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy nor Republican nominee Fran Becker showed up to the first debate for the 4th Congressional District last night. Frank Scaturro, Conservative Party nominee for Congress in New York’s 4th Congressional District, was the only candidate to attend the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of East Nassau and Central Nassau and the Cultural Program of Nassau Community College, which took place at the College Center Building at Nassau Community College.
 
Professor Phyllis Kurland, coordinator of Nassau Community College’s Cultural Arts Program and debate moderator, apologized to the audience for the no-shows. According to Prof. Kurland, Rep. McCarthy's office, following an initial confirmation of her attendance, indicated that she would not attend. Once Becker heard the news, apparently minutes before the debate was scheduled to begin, he changed his mind and decided not to go either.
 
Instead of a debate, the event became a forum in which Conservative nominee Scaturro made remarks and proceeded to answer questions from the audience, most of whom had decided to stay, including Nassau Community College students.

It would later be confirmed that Becker attended a fundraiser that evening at the Carltun on the Park.
 
At the start of the would-be debate, a table next to the dais had three chairs and microphones with place cards containing Becker’s and Scaturro’s names.  Shortly before the announcement of Becker’s absence, a number of Becker supporters who had gathered left the room.  A staff member of Becker’s campaign was heard saying he was quitting the campaign, stating that it was "embarrassing" that Becker did not show up, following a heated exchange with an official from the League of Women Voters.
 
The scene was reminiscent of Carolyn McCarthy’s first campaign for Congress in 1996, in which her opponent did not show up to debate and voters reacted negatively.  It was, some noted, also reminiscent of Clint Eastwood’s address to the empty chair at the Republican National Convention, except Scaturro literally had two empty chairs next to him that were supposed to be filled by his opponents.
 
Scaturro remarked, “I appreciate the League of Women Voters and Nassau Community College hosting this event and so many residents of our district taking the time to come out to listen to the candidates running to represent them in Congress.  That Congresswoman McCarthy and Mr. Becker did not bother to appear shows disrespect for their hosts and the voters they expect to vote for them—including, in Mr. Becker’s case, many of his own supporters who made it out, only to leave when their candidate decided not to come at the last minute.  This is pure arrogance, and the voters should not condone it.”

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