Dear editor,

I have read with interest Senator Hank Sanders’ recent open letters to the president, regarding the recent flap over Shirley Sherrod being discharged from her USDA position. Sen. Sanders characterized this event as a “watershed moment” for Obama and his administration.

I would guess that the Sherrod matter is not very high on Obama’s list of priorities, but perhaps Senator Sanders’ recommendation that she should be reinstated will prevail. Good luck!

On other matters, please consider the purpose of this letter as a calling out to Senator Sanders, i.e., to challenge him personally to a one-on-one, face-to-face debate with me in the near future. In other words, I am inviting Senator Sanders to meet with me to exchange questions and answers, covering many of the political, social and miscellaneous issues that currently confront all of us.

My proposal would be to include those issues that currently prevail at the local, state and national levels. My thoughts concerning the venue, format, time/date, etc., would be subject to mutual agreement, of course. An idea for consideration would be to hold our “debate” in a neutral location with the St. James Hotel as a possibility.

I would suggest that Sen. Sanders and I invite someone we both agree upon to be the moderator, but the questions and answers would come from the two of us only. Also, I think that it would be appropriate to invite one of Selma’s radio station representatives to tape our remarks. Randy Williams of WHBB might be a good choice.

I’m well aware of Sen. Sanders’ reputation as Alabama’s most powerful politician, and when we have our get-together, I know that he will represent his liberal points of view in superb fashion, and I accept the fact that I will be significantly overmatched.

As for me, I will be coming from the other side of the aisle with an opposite, conservative position on most of the issues, but hopefully, there will be some things upon which we can agree. I anxiously await Sen. Sanders’ acceptance of my proposal. I can be reached at 875-4653.

Byrd Looper

Selma