Bill Long Takes Newspaper HIt in Precursor Article to March 20th 7th District Debate - Chad Livengood Reports

Republicans in the 7th District who have been champing at the bit to see their party's candidates for Congress debate the issues will get their first chance next month. The seven declared GOP hopefuls have all agreed to participate in a candidates forum at 10:30 a.m. March 20 at Greene County Lincoln Day at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, said event organizer Leigh Anne Garren. GOP congressional candidates Jack Goodman, Billy Long, Mike Moon, Darrell Moore, Gary Nodler, Michael Wardell and Jeff Wisdom will participate in the 90-minute question-and-answer session, Garren said. Reporters will ask the candidates questions. Related Chad Livengood's Missouri Politics Blog U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, who is running for the Senate this year, and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman will speak at the luncheon. Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent will be the keynote speaker, Garren said. GOP state and local leaders will host an hour-long discussion at 9 a.m. on the future of the party. The day's events are free and open to the public and the lunch is $10, Garren said. To register or get more information, call the Greene County Republican Party headquarters at 823-9130. Blogger takes on Billy Long With a substantial cash lead over his opponents, Springfield auctioneer Billy Long is starting to learn what it's like to be the front-runner -- a status he shuns. Conservative blogger Clay Bowler of Ozark has launched the first anti-Billy Long Web site, www.LongIsWrong.com. Bowler, 38, also is raising money to oppose Long's bid to become southwest Missouri's next representative in the U.S. House through a new political action committee called "Long Is Wrong." Bowler said he's sending the Federal Election Commission the paperwork to form a federal PAC, although that process can take months. Long's campaign theme is that he's "not a career politician" -- a jab at three of his top opponents, Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore and state Sens. Gary Nodler and Jack Goodman. Bowler thinks Long lacks substance. "I personally don't think he's got what it takes to stand up to what's going on in Washington right now," Bowler said in an interview. Bowler points to Long's vow to not seek earmarks in Washington to fund pet projects back in the district. Bowler, who describes himself as a "libertarian Republican," says some earmarks for national defense projects and the long-term care of veterans are a good thing. "When he says no earmarks, he's not considering the people who serve this country and benefit from those earmarks," said Bowler, who runs the blog Bungalow Bill's Conservative Wisdom at bungalowbillscw.blogspot.com. On LongIsWrong.com, Bowler writes: "When it comes to cutting earmarks for veterans, Billy Long has too much John McCain on the brain. There are good earmarks, Long is missing that reality." Long has said he opposes the current process of slipping pet projects into large spending bills without being made subject to the scrutiny of the appropriations process. Related Chad Livengood's Missouri Politics Blog He would, however, favor a merit-based system for getting federal funding for special district-level projects, instead of the current system, which is based on political clout. "I think you just fund the projects based on their merits instead of your seniority," Long said Friday in an interview. Long isn't the only candidate for Congress getting targeted on the Web. There's also an anonymous attack Web site dedicated to derailing Gary Nodler's third bid for the 7th District seat at defeatnodler.com. But unlike Bowler's anti-Billy Long Web site, defeatnodler.com is being done anonymously.