Congressman John Spratt (D-SC) would only agree to debate his Republican challenger if no video or audio recording of the event would take place. Apparently Spratt, one of Nancy Pelosi’s allies in South Carolina, doesn’t want his performance used against him in the fall campaign.

The even is already sold out, so only those who already have tickets will be able to watch the candidates lay out and debate their agendas. Non-attending voters will only be able to read about the event in the newspaper, as opposed to the American custom of open debates.

The Republican opponent, Mick Mulvaney, protested the decision but to no avail. Spratt, a fourteen-term Democrat who votes with his party more than 98% of the time, won’t budge on the recording ban.

Spratt has voted for government-run health care (ObamaCare), the failed $787 billion stimulus legislation, multiple bailout packages, and massive expansions of government regulation. No wonder he doesn’t want the debate broadcast.