KDKA Debate Liveblog
[Ed Note: You can watch the whole thing here]
One of Casey’s “positive” ads runs right before the debate starts. Oh wait, no, it was another negative ad, complete with the “98%” attack. I have yet to see a single positive Casey ad on TV.
First question, for Santorum: Asks Santorum about living in Virginia (because that’s such an important issue).
Santorum says he pays $100,000 in taxes in Penn Hills, PA. The issue isn’t where he rests his head, but that he delivers for the state and that he visits every county in PA every year. Most of his time is in Washington because that’s what we elected him for. “I’m the senator from Pennsylvania!”
Casey says that Santorum is mudding the waters on this issue, quotes the leftist Post-Gazette attacking Santorum (what a shocker). Says that senators should work more.
Santorum replies that he shows up for work, unlike Casey. This is getting heated. “Look in the camera, Mr. Casey, tell the people how much time you’re doing your job.”
Casey in turn replies that Santorum ripped off the taxpayers with the cyberschool issue, should pay back the money. Santorum tells us how much money he’s paid in taxes to the state of PA. Quite a bit of crosstalk and bickering going on here.
Second question, for Casey: What should we do if North Korea is giving WMDs to terrorist supporting nations?
Casey says that Bush hasn’t stopped Iran from getting WMDs, gets in the “98%” talking point, and says that Bush and Santorum have ignored Iran and North Korea, going after Iraq instead. Casey says that Santorum is allowing Halliburton (oh no, not Halliburton!) to do business in Iran with a loophole in economic sanctions.
Santorum tells us about his advocacy for freedom in Iran, and how he broke with Bush on this issue. Casey keeps interrupts about the loophole in the sanctions. Santorum says that he’s provided solutions.
Casey says that Santorum isn’t given us any answers (?!). Casey says we need to close the loophole and stop Halliburton. *Sigh* Yeah, let’s attack Halliburton, that’ll defeat Ahmadinejad! Good grief.
Third question, for Santorum: What do you say to analysts who say that the Iraq War has strengthened Iran?
Santorum says, Iran is stronger compared to what? What would have happened had we not gone into Iraq? Santorum points out that Saddam Hussein was a sponsor of terrorism, and we couldn’t allow such regimes to give WMDs to those terrorists. Santorum points out that we haven’t been attacked in five years, which he says is not an accident.
Casey lies that the NIE says that the Iraq War has made terrorism worse. The NIE didn’t say that; that’s the liberal spin on the NIE report.
Santorum replies that Casey offers nothing. Casey’s proposal for Iraq is to double special forces. Casey says that we need to double special forces for the war on terror in general, not the Iraq War. More crosstalk and bickering, Casey keeps calling for special forces to be doubled. Santorum attempts to educate him on how long it takes to train 50,000 special forces.
Fourth question, for Casey: You’ve been accused of being lazy, relying on your father’s name and support from national Democrats.
Casey says that he works hard and gets results. He’s done the job well and gets results, and he’s done the job well. Could this guy be any more dull? Casey again complains about too many recesses in the senate.
Santorum says that Casey doesn’t show up for work, says that most people go to work, but Casey won’t tell you that he doesn’t go to work. Casey will coast into this job based on his last name; Santorum didn’t get his job based on his last name. Santorum - “I don’t think you’ve done a particularly good job as state treasurer.” Casey was shaken up, haha!
Casey says Santorum is desperate, doesn’t have any new ideas. Casey says he has plans, and all Santorum wants to do is privatize Social Security.
Santorum lists some of his accomplishments on healthcare. Demands that Casey tell the people of PA that he doesn’t show up for work.
Fifth question - The Santorum ad which shows Casey’s shady contributors, asks Casey to comment on it.
Casey says the ad is “unfair and full of non-truths” … according to the Post-Gazette. Santorum sought the support of at least two of the people in that ad. Accuses Santorum of desperation again, demands that ads be factual and related to the issues. Ha! Brings up K Street, corruption, influence peddling… incoherently. Says he wants to talk issues.
Santorum says that Casey didn’t rebut the ad. The men in the ad gave Casey money when he ran for governor.
Sixth question - Casey ad which attacks Santorum’s ads, cyberschool issue, calls Santorum’s record a disgrace, quotes Post-Gazette.
Santorum points out that the Post-Gazette editorial page has never said anything nice about him since they’re very liberal… and says that everyone in Western PA knows that. Naturally I love that answer. Santorum says that he’s on the side of small business, voted only for a 6% increase in pay over 16 years. “That’s not a pay raise, Mr. Casey” Going after Casey on the PA payjacking.
Casey says that Santorum is “hyperventilating” on Santorum’s three pay raises, says that Santorum denied a pay raise to hard working Pennsylvanians in voting against the minimum wage. Santorum broke his promise not to raise his pay.
Santorum tries to reply, is stopped by the moderator.
Seventh question, for Santorum - What would you do to save Social Security?
Santorum says that he asked all sides to come together to come to a compromise on Social Security. Seniors should not be affected by a change in Social Security, but younger workers need to be able to invest a small amount of their money. Keep Social Security for seniors, and save it for the future by allowing for private accounts. Says Casey wants to increase taxes.
Casey says that we need a strong economy, says that a record surplus was turned into a record deficit. Casey claims that Santorum’s plan would take away Social Security benefits from older Americans.
Santorum says that Casey will not answer questions, he has put a plan in place, Casey has not put a plan in place. Lower income workers should be allowed to invest their own money. Asks Casey how much he’s going to raise taxes to save Social Security.
Casey repeats that Santorum wants to privatize Social Security. Yeah, Bobby, we know you oppose economic freedom.
Eighth question, for Casey - You say you’re against amnesty, but you support legislation which leads to amnesty.
Casey says that the legislation he supports isn’t amnesty. Says that Santorum voted against border security, voted against holding employers accountable. Santorum has done nothing for 16 years on the immigration issue, illegal immigration has increased, fines against employers are down.
Santorum says that his opponent is for amnesty, since he says that 13 million illegal immigrants in the country can stay. Santorum says that he opposes amnesty, and Casey wants to give Social Security to illegal immigrants.
Ninth question, for Santorum - How do you avoid a permanent underground economy of illegals?
Santorum says we need employer verification, but illegals should not get benefits for education, Social Security.
Casey says that he doesn’t want illegal immigrants to have Social Security benefits. Says that bill he supports isn’t “amnesty”.
Santorum says that border guards are up by 40%, he voted for all increases, he voted for a fence.
Tenth question, for Santorum - Uniters and dividers: People either love or hate you, senator! PA likes moderates, are you out of step?
Santorum tells of his bipartisan efforts, working with Democrats on many issues. Autism, ethical treatment of animals, farmland protection, Iran Freedom and Support Act, Welfare Reform. Casey would have voted against Welfare Reform, doesn’t want people to have to work.
Casey says that Santorum is a very effective Republican in the Senate! But… says that Santorum is putting the interests of Washington ahead of Pennsylvania. Santorum gave money to big oil, votes (altogether now) “98%” with Bush. Says that he opposed Welfare Reform due to a lack of child care.
Santorum says that he led the fight for child care against other Republicans.
Casey tells us that Rick Santorum is number two in big oil money, should vote for the best interest of the people of PA.
Eleventh question, for Casey - Do you want to be Senator more than you wanted to be Governor? Or Treasurer? Or what?
Casey says, “It’s a humbling experience to lose.” Say that others came to him and asked him to consider running for Senate (yeah, people like Chuck Schumer). Says that we can’t stay on the road of deficit, debt and corruption. Says Santorum shows no independence, Casey wants to put us in a new direction. (I wonder if he decided which direction yet)
Santorum says that Casey’s talking points about new directions are void of substance. Casey has run for four different statewide offices in six years. Santorum says he’s only run for one office, since he wants to work for the people of Pennsylvania.
Casey says that he will not run for other offices if he is elected to the Senate. Says he’ll fight “privatization scheme” on Social Security.
Santorum says that Casey keeps running for various offices, Casey denies it. “Quit lying to the people, Bob!”
Question twelve, Casey asks Santorum - You say Rumsfeld is doing a fine job, why?
Santorum says he sued Rumsfeld along with Governor Rendell, he’s fought Rumsfeld when he thought he did a bad job, but Rumsfeld has done a lot of good. Rumsfeld has made mistakes, as have we all as we try to adapt to this enemy.
Casey says that Santorum didn’t address Rumsfeld’s failed leadership on Iraq, he’s rubberstamping Rumsfeld in Iraq.
Question thirteen, Santorum asks Casey - You accuse me of outsourcing. How much money do you, as treasurer, invest in companies which outsource our jobs overseas?
Casey doesn’t know how much.
Santorum says that Casey is accusing him of outsourcing, yet Casey doesn’t know how much money he’s giving to outsourcing companies. Casey is giving 25% of the funds to outsourcers.
Closing statement from Santorum - We’ve worked hard for PA - VA hospitals, keeping the Penguins and Pirates here, keeping 28,000 Sony jobs. Says he’s a tough, passionate fighter. He didn’t have a name to run on (like Casey). He wants to do more to help PA, and that’s why he ran for this job.
Closing statement from Casey - The choice is clear - we can stay on the same road, with Santorum staying the course, he thinks we need more high health costs, jobs overseas, lost health insurance, rubberstamping Bush “98%” of the time. Casey wants change. We need a new direction. Blah, blah, blah. We need to make sure children have insurance, we fight terrorism, it’s a clear choice.
After the debate, Casey’s anti-Santorum ad runs yet again. I still haven’t seen any positive Casey ads on TV.
Update: Opinion Roundups
Media
Blogs
“Don’t Be A Desparate Campaigner”
Political
Great job!
Comment by Chris Lilik — October 12, 2006 @ 8:44 pm