Bwak! Bwak! Rounds a no-show for debate with Brian Bengs

There was no empty chair visible, but South Dakota Public Broadcasting made it clear that Sen. Mike Rounds had been given the opportunity to be present, and that he had also failed to offer even one alternative date for the event.

I’m fairly certain that a determination was made by at least a few in the Rounds’ office that SDPB would simply fold its tent and forget about it. Instead, the network followed through, so independent Brian Bengs had the entire hour to share who he was, what he stands for, and why he’s in the race.

Getting big money out of our political system is #1 on Bengs’ list, and it’s increasingly becoming #1 on the list of most voters. His other main three priorities are a total hiatus on Data Centers, establish term limits on lawmakers, and somehow getting out of the ‘forever’ war we’ve begun with Iran.

Moderator Jackie Hendry did a creditable job in covering the essential questions.

And Bengs did a creditable job explaining his decades in our military as a lawyer who actually specialized in the issue of war.

He did an especially good job of telling why he ran as a Democrat against John Thune in 2022. He first registered as an independent as a teenager and, except for the 13 months running against Thune, he’s been a lifelong independent. But no one else stepped forward then, so he ran. He noted that South Dakotans in general simply refuse to vote for a Democrat, yet with the same arguments as then, he’s finding SD voters much more amenable to an independent.

You may have seen the PAC ads blasting Bengs for having run as a Democrat, as if he’s trying to fool us now with his independent status. I’m still waiting for just one Rounds ad that talks about anything that he’s accomplished. Anything. Just one.

Bengs was especially titillating when he talked about three other independent Senate candidates, all of whom are doing well and running strong campaigns.

When Hendry asked him who he’d caucus with in D. C., Bengs suggested that if all of them win, they would be their own caucus and actually control many of the upcoming votes. And he’s discussed this with those other independents.

There’s a new idea!

God knows we need new and fresh ideas.

After watching the entire hour with Brian Bengs, my wife and I agreed that we would donate to his campaign. He definitely has our vote.

We’re still waiting for that positive Rounds ad.

Van Carter of Sioux Falls is a retired broadcast journalist and environmentalist who published a green website for 15 years. 

Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons

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