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Johanns, Kleeb agree to first debate

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By NELSON LAMPE / The Associated Press

Monday, May 19, 2008 - 02:12:37 pm CDT

OMAHA — The boys of Boys State will provide the questions for the first scheduled debate between U.S. Senate candidates Mike Johanns and Scott Kleeb.

The June 5 debate in Lincoln is being organized by the American Legion Cornhusker Boys State.

Boys State is a weeklong government leadership program for about 400 high school boys. A similar program is held for girls, but they will not be involved with the debate.

Story Photo
Scott Kleeb (left) and Mike Johanns

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Boys State organizer Aaron Zabawa said Monday that the boys will spend part of their week formulating questions.

Johanns and Kleeb will open with a few prepared remarks, Zabawa said.

Then a moderator will read the boys’ questions. Each candidate will answer and have an opportunity to criticize the other’s answers.

Assuming there is time toward the end of the scheduled 90 minutes, some boys in the audience will get to ask unscripted questions.

Under the format chosen by the American Legion, Zabawa said, Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg will not be invited to participate.

The debate will be held the afternoon of June 5 at Kimball Hall on the city campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It will closed to the public, but press coverage will be allowed.

Kleeb and Johanns campaign representatives said Monday that the campaigns have been in contact with several organizations around the state about setting more debates. But the timing and specifics of those have not been completed.

There had been no direct debate negotiations yet between Kleeb and Johanns representatives, both sides said.

Kleeb is a 32-year-old, Yale-educated ranch hand who teaches history at Hastings College. Last Tuesday he won 69 percent of the vote in beating Columbus business executive Tony Raimondo and two others in the Democratic primary.

Johanns, 57, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. agriculture secretary, overwhelmed political newcomer Pat Flynn in the Republican primary.

Kleeb and Johanns want to replace Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who decided not to seek a third term.


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Jeff wrote on May 19, 2008 2:18 pm:
" This is going to be GREAT!. I can't wait to hear the details about how Johanns is going to CHANGE WASHINGTON!. And you though he was part of the worst administration in modern times, but no - he says he's going to change things. Maybe he plans on strengthening the filibuster laws so that the Republicans can block President Obama from changing anything. "

 E Jr wrote on May 19, 2008 2:36 pm:
" I am a Democrat but I don't understand why other the other two party's candidates wouldn't be invited. It doesn't make sense to only include half of the candidates. "

 AG wrote on May 19, 2008 3:11 pm:
" Wow! A debate where two of the candidates are not invited, and women are not allowed to have a voice. I absolutely cannot find words...I'm literally sitting at my desk with my mouth hanging open. What century is Nebraska in again? This is absolutely reprehensible. I have never heard of anything so undemocratic in a general election debate. I certainly hope that there will be debates in the future where not only are all candidates invited, but women are allowed to have a voice as well. "

 airedale wrote on May 19, 2008 3:21 pm:
" Interesting that the Green and Nebraska party candidates are not invited to the debate.

Not surprising but still interesting.

FWIW their exclusion makes me want to look to Green or Nebraska candidates as strong possible alternatives to either Kleeb or Johanns. Hopefully the Journal Star and other newspapers will give the excluded candidates a fair and indepth series of interviews so voters like myself can be fully informed about their views. "

 Darren wrote on May 19, 2008 3:38 pm:
" My son is going to boys state. I'll have him ask mayor mike where he learned to be a quitter. "

 Hank wrote on May 19, 2008 5:39 pm:
" What kind of formula excludes Larrick and Rosberg this early in the campaign? This clearly shows the American Legion's bias toward the established parties. And then they pretend to be informing young people about leadership and citizenship! What a pathetic decision by the Legion. Are they afraid of new ideas? "

 JT wrote on May 19, 2008 5:49 pm:
" The Rasmussen poll released on 5/15 has it going 55-40 Johanns. Considering he was up 59-28 over Kleeb in November the Democrats have to feel very optimistic. Obama is only going to help. "

 I am impressed wrote on May 19, 2008 8:28 pm:
" A 32 year old self-proclaimed cowboy with a Eastern liberal degree from
Yale...plus a bad complection and has lived in Nebraska for only about
3 1/2 years!! WOW....I am impressed!! Kleeb's background is totally
laughable compared to the solid experience of Mike Johanns...who truly
understands and loves Nebraska, and the Nebraska way of life.
"

 to Darren wrote on May 19, 2008 9:07 pm:
" I'm guessing your son is smarter than you if he is going to Boys State. Most boys who attend Boys State know you proposed question is below the standarts of those attending Boys State. I'm sure your son wants to show his "smarts" and ask a question of importance rather than political rhetoric. "

 Mat R wrote on May 19, 2008 10:24 pm:
" It's time for everyone to stop claiming that Kleeb isn't a Nebraskan. He grew up here more than Johanns ever did.

Johanns grew up in northern Iowa and went to college in Minnesota. Then carpetbagged it to Nebraska to become a politician.

I'll take a Yale-educated Nebraskan who grew up on US military bases before an Iowa farm boy as my Senator any day. "

 To Impressed wrote on May 20, 2008 3:42 am:
" What does his complexion have to do with how well Kleeb can represent us? As for being from Nebraska, Kleeb was born in Nebraska, but his family raised him on different military bases all over the world...so you can't really chastize him for his parents fulfilling their nation's duty, when especially he came back and visited grandparents and other relatives for whole summers working on the family ranch. What's wrong with being educated at Yale? The current President, whom you probably voted for twice, attended school at Yale. Higher education is a plus, and he'll make much smarter decisions then Bush who only got in because of family legacy, while Scott Kleeb earned his way in. As for Liberal, no, Scott's positions are quite moderate, he is against gay marriage, pro-life, and believes in the 2nd amendment. As for living here for only a short 3 and a 1/2 years, well I think that says a lot for such a well-educated man wanting to come back home and raising his family and working to represent us. As for Johanns, he's originally from Iowa, and you know what we say about those Iowans out wandering around. If Johanns loved Nebraska so much why did he quit on us when the Farm Bill was just in development? When he could have had so much influence on it in Nebraska's favor, he jumped ship for his own interests because he figured some fools would see his name with the *R by it and vote him into a cushy job until he decided to quit. If you want that same old career politician, well then vote for him by all means, however, I think you're going to be surprised at the outcome. Hopefully the majority of Nebraskans will favor Scott Kleeb this election. "

 program wrote on May 20, 2008 9:39 am:
" Boys and Girls State are separate, distinct programs with their own programs for the week. There is a single, evening joint session. "

 Darren wrote on May 20, 2008 9:47 am:
" My son is a bright boy and smart enough to know a quitter when he see's one and a political robot when he reads one. After being raised to see a job through to completion he's curious why he should be asked to vote for a guy that's never done that. "

 Working wrote on May 20, 2008 9:59 am:
" Hope Johanns looses "

 rac wrote on May 20, 2008 12:03 pm:
" Wow, will Kleeb actually have to form a specific opinion on something? "

 Matt wrote on May 20, 2008 12:42 pm:
" Seriously why are 2 candidates not invited to this debate? When will the debate on why we deserve better than both the Dems and Reps in this country begin? This is a clear example of why no one will ever vote for a third party, because the third party will never get respect from the establishment.

Speaking of respect, why are so many people so quick to trash Kleeb just because he was educated in a so-called liberal East Coast school. The same "liberal" school that both Bush Sr. and Jr. went to. I gather the person who made that comment will never be persuaded to listen to another point of view. It's a no wonder s/he blindly supports the Republican.

Lastly, has anybody read Johanns' website? My favorite part is about:

"Judges must fairly interpret the law, not use a liberal bias to make a political statement, or pursue an activist agenda. I will support conservative judges who interpret our laws based on the constitution."

-In other words, he will support conservative judges who rule with a conservative bias. How ridiculous is this clown? "

 Isotope wrote on May 20, 2008 2:23 pm:
" I'm very disappointed that the debate wasn't made a joint event for both Boys and Girls State. If time can be found in the boys' schedule, it could be found for the girls, and I'm sure they'd like to be included. My daughter, who is attending Girls State, is not happy that they're being excluded from the debate event. Yes, they're separate programs, but for an event like this they could surely come together! Somehow I have a hard time imagining the reverse happening -- only the girls having this debate and all the men having to sit it out. "

 Nick wrote on May 20, 2008 3:48 pm:
" This is a stupid idea to only include two candidates.
This is a stupid idea to only include Boys State questions.
It's too bad Nebraska politics is so exclusive that ideas like these are acceptable and standard practice.
"

 Corporate puppet wrote on May 20, 2008 5:26 pm:
" As Mayor, and Governor, Mike danced when the Telephone company sang, any tune. If elected, how many big corporate "tunes" will he dance to? "

 attended boys state wrote on May 20, 2008 6:05 pm:
" People don't seem to understand the structure and organization of these programs. They are not combined. Boys State had a candidate debate when I went. It is up to the persons organizing the programs to extend invitations and arrange appointments. If you are upset about your child's program, you should contact your child's organization, in this case, girls state, not attack the other one. "

 Cowboy over stuffed shirt wrote on May 20, 2008 6:17 pm:
" I will take Scott's rugged rancher look over a pastey faced pale politician anyday! "

 Tacres wrote on May 20, 2008 10:51 pm:
" If Kleeb wins then we'll probably be better represented, and if Johanns wins he'll probably quit early, so it's like we win either way! "

 JB wrote on May 21, 2008 10:40 am:
" Why invite the Green and Nebraska parties. The both represent less the one percent of the population is why. "

 Grow Up wrote on May 31, 2008 11:17 pm:
" Oh come on people...grow up! This debate was scheduled by and for the Boys State program. If you want the girls or the other candidates to participate, go to the time, trouble and expense to host a debate yourself! Do us all a favor and find something else to whine about! "

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