Six candidates in the race for the Louisiana Senate seat appeared on stage last night at a raucous televised debate from Dillard University. The four Republicans all support Donald Trump; the Democrats -- Hillary Clinton. Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Democrats want to revise it. It was the final forum ahead of the Nov. 8election for two Democrats and four Republicans to define their political positions.
It was a one-hour forum moderated by W-V-U-E anchor John Snell, who said the focus should be on the issues, not one candidate. That candidate was undoubtedly former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
About a third the way through, Duke objected to his time limit for answering critics.
“You’re not one of the debaters here. I’m sorry Mr. Snell. You’re the moderator . Gave me a chance to rebut and you’re interrupting me. Let me rebut. Let me rebut. No, see, you’re not a moderator. You’re a typical media hack.”
That continued for about two more minutes. The two Democrats on stage fought over which one was most opposed to Duke. New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard defended her TV ad designed to link Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell with Duke.
“There’s no context in which it’s acceptable to have a conversation, whether public or private, with someone like David Duke," she said.
Campbell blasted the ad that Governor John Bel Edwards called “wrong and irresponsible.”
“That’s not just a lie, that’s a damn lie. I have nothing in common with David Duke other than we’re probably breathing," he said.
There was no audience at the auditorium. But demonstrators outside could be heard clashing with police in protest of Duke’s inclusion in the debate at the historically black college.
