Article: Cunningham Cancels Appearance

Here's the latest episode in the smash-hit Southern California soap opera, "As The Duke-Stir Floats."

Like I said Saturday morning in my latest Wake Up San Diego! commentary, Randy "Duke" Cunningham has a lot to worry about in the days ahead. As expected, he cancelled his scheduled appearance at the Annual Fourth of July Community Pancake Breakfast in Encinitas so the event wouldn't turn into a media circus.

Like that's not going to happen in the next couple of weeks...

Cunningham cancels appearance
By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer

ENCINITAS ---- Hundreds of Fourth of July celebrants were there. Television crews and reporters were too. But like a belle who decides to stay home from the ball, Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham was a no-show at the Annual Fourth of July Community Pancake Breakfast in Encinitas on Monday, an event at which organizers said he was to be the keynote speaker.

After three weeks of little more than silence and prepared statements issued by Cunningham, expectations were high that at last he would speak to his constituents and reporters about his ties to a Washington defense contractor ---- ties that are the focus of a federal investigation.

On Friday, his office sent out a news release, saying that he would be attending the celebration at Cottonwood Creek Park.

Apparently the Congressman had a change of heart, because on Sunday night Cunningham officials sent out a second press release saying the former Top Gun pilot would not be coming.

"Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham is not interested in becoming a distraction from family and community events celebrating the Fourth of July," the statement read. "It is clear from all the advanced publicity that any Fourth of July celebration he is scheduled to attend will become a media frenzy."