The debate between Rep. Joe Walsh and Tammy Duckworth yesterday on CLTV.com and WGNtv.com was generally respectful. We had a crowd of over 50 people watching the broadcast together in Schaumburg.
Here are links to the videos from CLTV.com so you can watch it and judge for yourself.
Part 1 - http://www.cltv.com/videogallery/69902459/News/Walsh-Duckworth-deba...
Part 2 - http://www.cltv.com/videogallery/69903190/News/Walsh-Duckworth-deba...
Part 3 - http://www.cltv.com/videogallery/69903602/News/Walsh-Duckworth-Part...
Part 4 - http://www.cltv.com/videogallery/69904197/News/Walsh-Duckworth-deba...
If you don't have time to watch all four segments, start with Part 4.
Joe defended his record very firmly and politely in response to many good questions by the moderators, who seemed to be fair and interested in discussing serious issues thoughtfully rather than just creating "gotcha" clips for the news.
Tammy Duckworth was basically reciting her Obama talking points. Frankly, it reminded me of one of those old toys with a string which you pull to get it to recite a short phrase. She kept talking about taxing all the "millionaires and billionaires" (even saying trillionaires at one point!) in the name of fairness and to "help the most vulnerable among us", as though we were all helpless victims oppressed by greedy rich people and evil big corporations not paying enough taxes.
The funniest moment of the debate came when she accused Joe Walsh of being an extremist by saying there hadn't been any "crackpot Tea Party idea he hasn't endorsed". (Part 4 - 08:30) Joe asked her whether that meant she was accusing her constituents of being crackpots. Apparently she regards individual liberty and limitations on the role of government as "crackpot" ideas.
Another humorous moment was when Joe mentioned that he chooses to sleep in his office in Washington rather than live there, and come back to the district every week to meet with constituents. She said that she regarded that as "taxpayer subsidized housing", which drew laughs from the crowd.
On a more serious note, she also dodged the question about supporting big bank bailouts, and talked about how she would "make the banks" do such things as change mortgages to bail out homeowners. She also insisted that the "Bush tax cuts" should be allowed to expire at the end of this year, which is going to cost all taxpayers a lot of money.
She touted her tole at the VA at helping to create a $600 tax credit for hiring veterans, and her work with homeless veterans. Joe pointed out that politicians keep proposing new programs at election time to appeal to specific voter groups instead of engaging in more fundamental tax reforms to improve the general economy and create more jobs.
She repeatedly attacked the Ryan budget plan with the vague accusation that it would "end Medicare as we know it", repeating the usual Democratic scare tactics to mislead senior citizens and others about this proposal. Joe pointed out that it is really Obama's policies which are threatening to bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid within a few years.
Following the debate, the Walsh campaign distributed the email below to supporters, including a fundraising appeal.
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You are not a"crackpot" for believing in fiscal responsibility
Tonight's debate between Congressman Joe Walsh and Tammy Duckworth featured a clear-cut difference between the two candidates. Joe continued to stand for lowering taxes, term limits, balancing our budget, and saving our safety nets. His opponent suggested those notions and the many people like you who believe in them are a "crackpot".
As expected, Tammy never left her insider-Democrat talking points, but she resorted to the low personal attack of calling believers, like you, in fiscal responsibility "crackpots".
The Congressman immediately challenged her claim that you are a "crackpot" for believing in those principles. Walsh also continued to stand for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and economic growth throughout the entire debate.
It is critical that we senda message to Tammy Duckworth that "regular people" in the 8th District are not "crackpots" for wanting to renew our country's greatness and its promise.
Click here to tell Tammy that millions of Americans are not crazy for believing in common sense ideas by making a donation to the campaign.
Thank you,
-Walsh for Congress Team
Comment
Comment by Ruth Sluder on May 13, 2012 at 4:26pm I hope Il. tea partiers work really hard to get his message out and to reinterate hers! The tax breaks that she wants to have expire at the end of this year will hurt middle America the most!
Comment by Bruce Donnelly on May 13, 2012 at 12:41am For those who don't know him yet, Rep Joe Walsh (IL 8th) is the real deal - a solid, Tea Party conservative who has actually done what we elected him in 2010 to do in Washington. Look up his voting record through Heritage or other sources - last time I checked, he had one of the most conservative records in Congress. His district was gerrymandered to try to get rid of him in 2012 after he defeated a 3 term incumbent friend of Obama in 2010 who had plenty of money and media endorsements. He faces a tough race this year because the district was basically rigged to favor Duckworth. As you can see, she's a loyal Obama drone, reciting the same DNC talking points as Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (who was the housemate of her predecessor, who Joe beat). Please help spread the word to support Joe. He does town halls with constituents virtually every week, and we need more representatives like him in Congress.
Comment by Monica Babcock on May 12, 2012 at 10:15pm Joe Walsh has the right answer.
Comment by Art Ellingsen on May 12, 2012 at 7:41pm I was at that Debate Watching Event in Schaumburg. I was sitting at the table next to the table where Bruce was sitting and he is exactly correct.
To me the high point of the debate was when Tammy continued to offer government hand outs to solve every problem which was mentioned.
Then when the subject of the Housing Crisis came up this is what Joe Walsh said, "Generally, the best solution to a housing crisis is a job!"
Tammy says the solution is government hand outs.
Joe Walsh says the solution is jobs!
Comment by Jo Gonzalez on May 12, 2012 at 1:40pm When they fear us so much.........how cool.. "Crackpots?? Well, these "Crackpots" have risen from the soil and spirit of the American People, and by threatening, our very existance as a Free People, they are feeling our wrath. The only way they know to fight us, is with name calling, slander, and all those nasty little tricks used by their ilk. We, in turn, have grabbed our flags, gotten off our rears, and gone to work, and we have shown them the Real People in American, outraged, will meet them at the Ballot box. We don't talk about change, we make things happen. We don't whine, we vote.
Comment by Jack Kemp on May 12, 2012 at 1:16pm A Congressman's office is "government housing?" Tammy's the crackpot. I've been to a Congressman's office. It is roughly 2.5 small rooms with desks and computer equipment and book shelves. There isn't much to it, like an old railroad flat that new immigrants to NY or Philadelphia used to (or currently?) live in. And she calls this "government subsidized housing? I once slept in Yosemite Park - on a big rock by a stream. I guess Tammy would call it "government housing with a fancy stone floor and running water."
Comment by Monica Babcock on May 12, 2012 at 12:09pm That's a good one Jack.
Comment by Jack Bacsenko on May 12, 2012 at 12:03pm What's a DUCKWORTH?............perhaps $2.00 ---$3.00 ??? Not Very Much in any Case!!
Comment by John S Bacsenko IV on May 12, 2012 at 11:15am Crackpot, huh? Another example of a liberal talking point tactic. liberal state their point, and opposing views are to be shouted down and ridiculed. Amazingly predictable.
Comment by Bruce Donnelly on May 12, 2012 at 11:06am To see some real crackpots, enjoy the Unofficial Chicago NATO Summit Theme Song tribute to OWS http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lvsRaRk2VgI
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