Macaca Boy's platform: taxes, same-sex marriage, & a dislike of liberals

[Human Torch]

Allen, Webb in Slashing, Wide-Ranging Debate

By Michael D. Shear and Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 10, 2006; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100901332.html

RICHMOND, Oct. 9 -- Virginia Sen. George Allen and former Navy secretary James Webb clashed over issues and character in a fast-paced and contentious series of exchanges during the last of four scheduled debates Monday night. The 60-minute debate, held in Richmond and broadcast live on 19 public and commercial television stations statewide, gave Webb and Allen a chance to highlight the issues they hope will dominate the four weeks before the Nov. 7 election.

For Allen, the Republican, those issues are taxes, same-sex marriage and a dislike of liberals. Webb, running as a Democrat, stressed the Iraq war and economic fairness as he appealed for support from independents and Republicans.

In a campaign marked by personal attacks on character, real issues emerged Monday night. In rapid-fire succession, the candidates sparred over energy independence, immigration, the federal deficit, the Capitol Hill page scandal, the minimum wage and secret spying by the government.

"My opponent doesn't stand with John Warner and me in keeping taxes low," Allen said in his opening statement, referring to Virginia's senior senator, also a Republican. "He stands with Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and the big-government Democrats who want to raise taxes."

[TheFarseer]

1. I think Allen won that debate

Webb never had good answers to Allen's charges that he would raise taxes. You've just got to know that's coming and be ready for it. I think he just tried to say that he never said he would raise taxes. Weak, weak, weak, not going to win any votes that way.

[whirlygigspin]

2. good god Webb, wake up

Democrats should reply that they are for tax cuts for working people and then attack republicans for making their priority tax cuts for people who don't have to work.

turn it around on them, put them on the defensive.

[Virginia Dare]

3. Did you read the whole article?

This was Webb's response, and it was a pretty good one:

When it was his turn, Webb assailed the increase in corporate profits at the expense of wages. And Webb, a decorated veteran whose son is serving as a Marine in Iraq, lashed out, indirectly, at Allen's lack of foreign policy or wartime experience.

"Very few of these leaders are willing to invest their own loved ones in this effort," he said of the war in Iraq. "America needs leaders who understand these divisions and want to repair them, leaders whose experience in foreign policy is formed by experience, not by sound bites."