Frederick County Conservative Club to Charge for "Debate"

Pro-Cox group attempting to cash in on what amounts to a desperate attempt at a political ambush

The Frederick County Conservative Club has decided that they want to cash in on what they are describing as “What Could Be The Only Gubernatorial Debate of The 2022 Primaries.”

As always, the Conservative Club can’t even advertise their event without screwing up. My friend Andrew Langer and WBAL parted ways months ago.

I’ve seen groups advertise a fee to attend a meet and greet. I have seen groups advertise a fee to attend a candidate forum. But I have never in my life seen a group try to cash in on what they are calling a “debate.” How do they expect undecided Republican voters to attend and make an informed decision about the candidates by charging them money to hear from them?

Even Donald Trump, who tries to make a buck off of everybody, hasn’t tried this one yet.

Sources have told me that the Frederick County Conservative Club is overdrawn on their accounts and out of money, likely leading to this crass attempt at a money grab. However, I have not been able to independently confirm that.

Of course, this will likely hardly end up being a debate at all.

The Club is, of course, advertising this event (being held on Easter Monday, no less) without confirming any of the individual speakers. You know that Dan Cox will be there; given the Conservative Club’s obsequiousness to Cox you would probably assume Cox is on the planning committee and is writing the questions. But to my knowledge, no other candidates have confirmed their attendance.

Nor should they go.

Look, this so-called “debate” is not being organized by a disinterested or neutral party. This debate is being organized by one of the leading groups cheerleading the Cox campaign. Might I remind you that the Frederick County Conservative Club filled multiple busses to take members to the Cox kickoff event last summer?

Realistically, the Frederick County Conservative Club is using this entire thing as an elaborate setup to get to Kelly Schulz. Either Schulz shows up and it’s an ambush in front of a hostile crowd. Or, thanks to them advertising that she has been “invited” to this “debate”, they will attack her for “dodging” a ‘debate” in front of a “conservative” crowd. Robin Ficker and Joe Werner were invited merely as afterthoughts.

The entire concept is as preposterous as me inviting the candidates to a debate sponsored by The Duckpin after we already publicly endorsed Schulz. It’s absurd

The whole thing is rotten to the core. No group or organization should be charging average citizens to attend a debate among gubernatorial candidates. It reaks of desperation on behalf of the Frederick County Conservative Club and, by extension, the Cox campaign.

All the other campaigns, those of Kelly Schulz, Robin Ficker, and Joe Wener, would be advised to steer clear of this “debate”. Let the Dan Cox Admiration Society pay for the privilege of having their beloved all to themselves.