Koster drops out of Webster U forum
State Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, withdrew this morning as a participant in this evening’s scheduled forum at Webster University with his Democratic rivals for attorney general.
Spokesman Danny Kanner took the blame, saying he had told organizers that Koster would participate before learning of “something else on the schedule that couldn’t be changed.”
Kanner declined to say what the conflict was.
Koster’s absence likely means that there will be no events on this side of the state featuring all three major Democratic candidates for attorney general, Kanner confirmed.
In fact, Kanner indicated that it’s unclear if there will be any more joint appearances between Koster and his two chief rivals — state Reps. Jeff Harris and Margaret Donnelly — before the Aug. 5 primary.
Earlier today, the three did participate in a joint appearance before the editorial page of the Kansas City Star.
And according to the paper’s online Prime Buzz, the fireworks flew.
Balk. Balk. Balk.
Let’s see now…how many debates has Koster skipped out on? two? what about Koster skipping events at college? The Young Dems convention at Webster, this debate at Webster, and the College Dems sponsored debate at Truman. pattern?
Looks like he only wants to debate on his home turf in KC.
Koster was never scheduled to be at this event.
The calendar has not changed. It never listed Koster as an attendee for tonight’s event.
http://www.webster.edu/calendar/
I’m not a Koster supporter. In fact, I’m leaning towards Harris. However, fair is fair, and the truth is the truth.
When the STLTODAY’s Political Fix listed Koster as an attendee, I thought it was a mistake, or that Koster had been invited at the last minute.
observer,
you are wrong
http://www.webster.edu/holdenppf/
JT…
Obviously, the calendars are different. I have not seen the Holden calendar before you provided the link.
Strange -two calendars for the same location, and one predicted the future.
Let’s just enjoy the Twilight Zone moment. DO DO DO DO :>)
There are two possible things to take from this.
First, if I was Koster, I wouldn’t want to be in the same room as Harris and Donnelly. His best hope of winning the nomination is to use all of his funneled money on misleading commercials to distort his past and record. If he is actually side by side with Donnelly and Harris, he has no chance. They are both well ahead of him in every respect. The “conflict” is also a little suspect with all of the current funneling news.
Second, how many scheduling conflicts is this. If he can’t manage his campaign well enough to avoid this manyscheduling conflicts, can we expect him to run the AG’s office any better? Every time there has been a problem, one of his staffers has taken the fall, but eventually you have to start to wonder if the problem isn’t higher up the chain of command.
Koster didn’t want to participate because this debate was for Democrats.
Lewis,
I think you also have to start to wonder how many times his staff will take being thrown under the bus before quiting. Is this an example of why he has such trouble keeping staff.
Long story short, he has been having a bad week and couldn’t stand another public forum of people questioning his record.
Increadible to say, but I think Nick’s post is 100% accurate.
He skipped out because he was in an interrogation room at the KC Star editorial Board. Kanner knows exactly why he missed the event.
Koster can’t blame this one on the editorial board meeting with the KC Star. Margaret Donnelly and Jeff Harris all managed to make it to the forum, and they were at the same meeting.
Looks like someone filed an ethics complaint against Koster after all: http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/12953
The whole “ethics scandal” that someone has manufactured tells me one simple fact:
The other two candidates in the race see this one getting away from them, and they have nothing left to do but pull out the dirty tricks and start shooting at the guy in the front of the pack.
As much as I don’t like the untruths being perpetuated about Koster’s fundraising (as though he did something all the other statewide candidates haven’t or something that is illegal), it gives me great optimism that he’s going to win the primary.
Keep shooting… he’s still moving up in spite of all the Harris and Donnelly negativity that’s been thrown at him from Day 1!
Justin - the ethics scandal here is very real and not manufactured by anyone other than Koster himself. Have you taken a look at Koster’s campaign finance reports. His use of political committees to reallocate the refunds from Jim Stowers and other major contributors last year is unparalleled by other candidates.
Do you understand that? No one else has even come close to abusing the system as much as Koster. Lets put this in perspective, if other candidates are breaking the law, they’re speeding at 75 mph in the 70 mph zone. Koster - he’s going about 150 mph in the 70 mph zone. Last time I checked, you don’t usually get tickets for the 5 mph over speeding, but when you travel 80 mph over you’re going to jail.
The whole issue is of magnitude. I’ve been told the Jay Nixon team almost threw Koster under a bus last week when his defense was “everyone else is doing it to”. Not true. Everyone else is still traveling 70 to 75 mph.
Actually, Curt, no one is breaking the law but Koster. He’s the one who created a political committee to receive over the limit contributions, funneling the money back to him through pre-screened legislative committees. None of his opponents have done that. Neither has Nixon, who Koster claims is doing the exact same thing!
Pretty crazy for Koster to defend himself by accusing the man he’s trying to succeed of being just as sleazy as Koster.
I also love how Koster supporters claim that when Donnelly and Harris dare to point out Koster’s record and shady ethics, it’s good news for Koster.
Koster could beat Harris in a debate with a gag in his mouth.
Harris has 0, zero, nilch, nada leadership skills. He is in love with himself…..
Taylor