Where Was Beth Macy?

Make no mistake about it: Beth Macy missed an opportunity on Sept. 3, and it was one she should have taken.

Earlier this year, Democratic congressional candidate Beth Macy challenged Congressman Ben Cline to debates in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District. Good. Candidates should debate, especially when one is asking voters to replace an incumbent. Cline agreed to appear at several candidate events around the district, including the Sept. 3 forum hosted by the Small Business Freedom Alliance in Winchester. Cline showed up. Macy did not.

Now, before anyone starts firing off angry emails, Macy’s campaign does have an explanation. Her campaign says the organization was notified in advance that she had a prior commitment that evening. Her campaign has also argued that there is a difference between a candidate forum and a true debate, saying Macy wants events with a moderator, rebuttal time, and a venue open to the public. Fair enough. But when you challenge an incumbent to debates, and then he is standing in front of voters while you are somewhere else, people are going to ask where you were.

Candidate forums matter because they force candidates to walk into rooms where not everyone agrees with them. In 2024, Democrat Ken Mitchell appeared before the Small Business Freedom Alliance when he was running against Cline, and I will give Mitchell credit: I thought he was impressive. No, I didn’t suddenly become a Democrat, and no, he didn’t convince me to vote for him. But he showed up, made his case, and spoke to people who did not necessarily share his politics. That is what candidates for Congress are supposed to do.

Ben Cline did that on Sept. 3. I support Ben Cline, and as chairman of Virginia’s 6th Congressional District Republican Committee, I doubt that revelation will knock anyone out of their chair. I believe he has represented the district well, and I am more than happy to defend his record. Beth Macy and the Democrats obviously disagree with me. Wonderful. Then come make the argument.

Politics should not be about walking into rooms filled only with people who already agree with you. If you want to represent Virginia’s 6th District, you are going to represent Republicans, Democrats, independents, and plenty of people who probably think everyone in Washington has lost their minds. An elected representative has to be willing to talk to all of them, not just the people likely to applaud when they walk through the door.

And that standard applies to Republicans, too. If Ben Cline skipped a forum because he did not like the audience, the format, or the questions he might receive, Democrats would have every right to ask where he was. That is part of running for office. You show up, take the questions and make your case.

Macy’s campaign says it wants formal debates. Cline has agreed to candidate events. At this point, apparently defining the word “debate” is becoming more complicated than actually having one.

So here is a suggestion that should not require a congressional committee to figure out: pick a date, find a public venue, choose a neutral moderator, give both candidates rebuttal time, and put two podiums on the stage. Then let Ben Cline and Beth Macy explain to the voters why either one deserves to represent Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.

Call it a debate. Call it a forum. Call it a discussion. Call it Tuesday night at the Rotary Club if that makes everyone happy. Just show up.

Until that happens, those of us who attended the Sept. 3 forum are still left with the same question:

Where was Beth Macy?

John Massoud
Chairman
Virginia’s 6th Congressional District Republican Committee

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