The Hard Question - Why Does John Perticone Not Want to Debate Costanza or Evans?
- Admin
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
On May 15, 2025, John Perticone refused Anthony Costanza's invitation for a live public debate.
On September 25, John Perticone again refused Anthony Costanza's invitation for a live public debate on what amounts to unfounded reasoning.
This month, John Perticone has refused Peter Vazquez's invitation to be on his nextstepsshow.com.
This week, John Perticone has refused WXXI reporter Elissa Orlando's invitation to be simultaneously interviewed with Anthony Costanza on her show for what amounts to childish reasons.
This week, John Perticone has yet to respond to Peter Vazquez's invitation for an on-air debate with Andrae Evans and Anthony Costanza who both have already agreed to the show on October 24rd from 12:00 - 1:00 PM. nextstepsshow.com.
A politician running for office who dodges debates isn't just playing hard to get—they're actively sabotaging the very process they claim to champion. In a democracy, debates aren't optional photo ops; they're the raw arena where ideas clash, records get grilled, and voters get a front-row seat to unscripted authenticity. By refusing, this candidate signals a profound disdain for accountability, treating the electorate like passive consumers rather than discerning participants.
Consider the rot this breeds: It reeks of entitlement, as if the candidate's polished ads and stump speeches are sufficient gospel, no Q&A required. Worse, it often masks frailty—perhaps a shaky grasp on policy details, a history of flip-flops they'd rather bury, or simply a fear of looking human (gasp, even fallible). We've seen this tactic before: it thrives in echo chambers, where unchallenged narratives balloon into self-fulfilling prophecies. But voters aren't fools; they smell the evasion, and it erodes trust faster than a viral gaffe ever could.
Ultimately, such stonewalling doesn't elevate the refuser—it diminishes the race, leaving us with a hollow contest where charisma trumps competence. If leading means serving the public, step into the ring or step aside. Anything less is just blowing hot air in the shadows Mr. Perticone.