Senator Kay Hagan outperformed her repugican
opponent Thom Tillis and libertarian candidate Sean Haugh during North
Carolina’s third and final debate for the Senate race, on Thursday
night. Hosted by WECT and sponsored by the League of Women Voters, this
debate was the candidates final chance to reach a large block of
voters.
The addition of Haugh added a new dynamic, but the focus was on Hagen and Tillis.
From the beginning of the hour-long debate, Hagan
used the opening statement to clearly state her views on the issues and
defend her record. Conversely, Tillis followed the repugican cabal’s generic
approach to this election campaign. He attacked Hagen and the President
but avoided, at all costs, stating his policy alternatives.
The question and answer section began with a
discussion on ethics. Earlier in the week, ethics complaints were filed
against both candidates, alleging that both of them benefited
financially from the votes they cast in the Senate and the House. In
Hagan’s case, the complaint alleged that her husband’s business
benefited from the stimulus package. Hagan said categorically “I’ve had
no role in my husband’s business.” Before pointing out that Tillis
voted to benefit from his investment in a bank.
In a moment of irony, Tillis accused Hagan of
reciting talking points, while using repugican attack dog shrieking
points. Once again, Tillis dodged when asked to identify the policy
areas where he departs company with the repugican cabal’s leadership.
That infers that he wouldn’t part company with the leadership on
anything. The inference is strengthened by the fact that Tillis relied
on the repugican cabal’s formula for candidates’ debates of running on a
platform of attacking the President and the candidate while dodging
questions and avoiding disclosure of policy alternatives at all costs.
A striking example is seen in the discussion on
ISIS. Hagan restated her view that U.S. needs to use airstrikes and keep
American ground troops out of the fight. Conversely, Tillis used the
occasion to attack Hagan’s attendance record at Armed Service Committee
records, without offering a policy alternative.
During the discussion on Ebola, Hagan outlined a
comprehensive approach in which a travel ban would be part of the
strategy of boots on the ground for logistics and building better
healthcare facilities in affected countries as well as training and
developing treatments for the disease. Hagan also noted, if needed,
North Carolina is “well prepared” to deal with a potential Ebola
outbreak.
After saying Hagan’s plan wasn’t a plan, Tillis
depended on the standard repugican formula of fear mongering and
calling for a travel ban.
“We’re not safe and secure. We’ve got to get this situation under control, we’re not ready.”
When the discussion turned to same sex marriage,
Tillis relied on populist rhetoric to justify his opposition to marriage
equality. It was clear that Tillis really didn’t want talk about this
issue when he could use the opportunity to recite a litany of repugican cabal shrieking points including the debunked claim that Obamcare will cost
jobs. It really got interesting when he went on yet another tangent to
claim the state’s cuts in education weren’t really cuts. Then Tillis
launched into a screed in defense of his vote suppression law.
Senator Hagan’s approach to the question showed she
had a far better grasp of the issue and that she wasn’t ashamed of her
opinion on the subject of marriage equality. First, she said very
directly that she opposes the state’s ban on same sex marriage. Hagan
used the opportunity to remind voters that Tillis is going to waste tax
dollars defending the ban despite developments at the Supreme Court.
Earlier this week, the Court refused to hear cases brought by several
states seeking a reversal of lower court rulings that marriage bans are
unconstitutional. She went on to discuss the economic costs that go with
a ban on same sex marriages.
Haugh said he also opposes the marriage ban before
launching into a discussion of the lawmaker’s role in upholding the
constitution rights of everyone.
During a discussion on income inequality, Hagan hit
Tillis hard for his opposition to the minimum wage and his opposition to
pay equity. Hagan’s decision to remind voters of Tillis’ opposition to
pay equity had to hurt because Hagan has a solid lead over Tillis among
women.
Tillis stuck to the standard repugican cabal shrieking points of
deregulation and blaming Democrats for unemployment. He avoided
answering the question of what the candidates thought is a fair wage and
if the minimum wage should be raised. Once again he resorted to repugican mythology and fear mongering with the claim that a minimum
wage increase would cost jobs and hurt the economy. By this point in the
debate, Tillis’ use of the repugican cabal debate formula was getting old fast.
The debate included a discussion on energy and dredging. Hagan used the opportunity to attack Tillis’ record on
fracking.
“Tillis has made it a
crime to disclose the fluids used in fracking,” Hagan said, referring to
the passage of a law that opens the door to hydraulic fracturing in the
state.
“I think we’ve got to be sure that we protect our water and we protect our coastal economies,”
In a nod to corporate interests including the Koch
brothers, Tillis ranted about the EPA being “out of control” but then he
said the Federal government falls short on dredging.
The last phase of the debate was closing
statements. Tillis’ final appeal to the voters of North Carolina
conformed to the formula of pretending that the American dream is
attainable with hard work, attacking Obama, calling Hagan a part of the
establishment.
Hagan began her closing remarks with important
information about the election. She reminded voters that Friday is the
deadline to register and that early voting ends on October 23. She
reminded voters that Tillis still can’t (or won’t) name a single issue
where he parts company with the repugican leadership. Hagan used the
opportunity to say that governing involves reaching across the aisle to
get things done. She closed with a sentence that summarizes the
difference between her and Tillis: it is not how you grow up, but how
you treat people.
There weren’t any knockdown punches, nor were there
any surprises. Hagan continued to show voters that she cares about the
issues that matter to North Carolina by answering the questions directly
while Tillis dodged. Hagan showed a comprehensive understanding of
complex issues, while Tillis stuck to repugican cabal shrieking points filled with
jingoistic phrases. On the rare occasion that he ventured into policy,
Tillis parroted the same simplistic ideas offered by repugicans across
the country.
Most importantly, Hagan showed leadership ability.
During the discussion on marriage equality, Hagan defended the
constitution and the constitutional process, while Tillis emulated other repugicans by placing ideology above everything – including the U.S.
Constitution.
