Abu-Ghazalah uses empty chair to protest Rouzer's forum absence

Palestinian-American Libertarian congressional candidate Maad Abu-Ghazalah used an empty chair reserved for Republican Rep. David Rouzer to criticize the incumbent's absence from a candidates' forum, WHQR news director Benjamin Schachtman wrote in an October 18 commentary.

Abu-Ghazalah moved into Rouzer's seat during his opening statement and impersonated the congressman. He and Democratic candidate Dr. Kimberly Hardy, both running in North Carolina's 7th Congressional District, later criticized Rouzer's absence while answering questions at the forum.

Schachtman wrote that Rouzer's office initially said it was working on his attendance, then said he was unavailable. The office did not answer a follow-up question asking why, and Rouzer did not respond to the organizers' candidate questionnaire, according to the commentary.

In his closing remarks, Abu-Ghazalah challenged Rouzer to attend public debates. Schachtman contrasted the incumbent's absence with a March 2017 town hall where Rouzer stayed to face difficult questions, while noting that most other local candidates continued to take part in public forums.