Posted on 09/21/2012 7:29:19 PM PDT by Evil Slayer
Besides attacking each other over Medicare, school lunches and the Iraq war, Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and GOP challenger Rep. Todd Akin spent their first debate Friday blaming each other for the gridlock in Congress that has stalled crucial pieces of legislation over the last two years.
And after initially mentioning the damaging comments on rape and pregnancy that have dogged her Republican opponent over the last month, Mrs. McCaskill didn’t bring them up again.
Instead, both candidates talked mainly about their sharp policy differences, with Mr. Akin trying to paint Mrs. McCaskill as an Obama liberal while she insisted he is a right-wing extremist on nearly every major issue.
“If you vote 98 percent of the time with Obama and tell us at the same time you’re a moderate voter, that takes a lot of guts,” Mr. Akin said to Missouri newspaper editors gathered in Columbia.
“It’s not what he says that’s the problem, it’s what he believes that is the problem,” Mrs. McCaskill shot back.
Already viewed as one of the country’s most important Senate contests, the Missouri race became the center of attention last month when Mr. Akin made a major fumble, telling a local television station that victims of “legitimate rape” are unlikely to become pregnant — a comment that led GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and much of the party establishment to call for his withdrawal from the race.
Besides the rape comments, which have threatened to push Mr. Akin out of the race entirely, Mrs. McCaskill also stayed away from so-called “women’s issues” such as mandatory contraception coverage and equal pay, which have become major Democratic attacking points.
Instead, she highlighted two bills that have been passed by the Democratic-led Senate but are idling in the House as Republican leaders refuse to act
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Uh, not so fast. Let's wait and see what the polls say after this weekend.
Sounds like it was a good debate.
Akin should just tell her “Yes, I said something really stupid - but you vote for stupid things. Which is worse? Being a bad public speaker, or someone who enacts bad legislation?” Not sure that would work...but it would be worth a shot, I guess...
God’s speed mr akin (akin.org). the elites and so called conservative media who want to “murder” you are beginning to smell the crow. let’s make them eat it in november (akin.org).
I'll take what he says and what he believes over what you do and what you vote for any day, Clairebelle.
“It’s not what he says that’s the problem, it’s what he believes that is the problem,” Mrs. McCaskill shot back.
Sounds like the GOPe and the PhonyCons agree w McCaskill....
Sounds like Akin done fine in the debate
Akin can win every debate and still lose. The people of MO won’t see such debates and might not understand them either. If the media continues to declare the Democrat the winner, well, the populace does as instructed. But maybe MO people will surprise us.
Todd Akin stood his ground and did not cower.
He’s not perfect- none of us are. We are all failed humans redeemed by God, should we choose to apprehend and receive that message.
The clucking hens were quick to condemn him. God often chooses the unlikely and unpopular to present His Truth.
Claire McCaskill is running against God.
I sent a contribution to Akin about ten days ago. I will be sending more. This guy is, perhaps, the most pro-life candidate running for Senate in the entire United States. He has my support, and all the more so as the RNC withholds theirs.
The Obama Care Bill she voted for was the size of a Phone Book that no one read. They should have put it in a Coloring Book so they would have at least looked at it.
Go Todd, GO!!! Stick it to Claire.
For politician, the standard should be whether he's good for the cause or hurt the cause. He has hurt the cause by saying stupid thing. If he lose and the Senate keeps the status quo under Reid because of that, then he severely hurt the cause. If, however, he somehow win the race, then probably we can consider him good for the cause.
So, for me, the jury on Akin is still out there.
One of the PACs should air an ad that shows video of McCaskill at an Obamacare town hall in 2009 shouting out, “Don`t you trust me?!”... followed by a laugh track.
“I sent a contribution to Akin about ten days ago. I will be sending more. This guy is, perhaps, the most pro-life candidate running for Senate in the entire United States. He has my support, and all the more so as the RNC withholds theirs.”
*********************************************************************
I’ve sent a recent contribution also and I urge other FReepers do the same if they can. Akin can be one of this year’s crop of CONSERVATIVE Senators to be elected to the Senate. We are on the cusp of not only have a Republican led Senate, but also a conservative dominated (or at least VERY heavily influenced) Republican caucus in the Senate.
So let’s all support Akin and ignore those who are secretly pining for a McCaskill reelection.
If you hold a debate and nobody watches then does it make a difference? The debate was yesterday during the day. It wasn’t televised live, certainly not in the KC area, and I can’t find it in the cable guide so it doesn’t look like it’s being repeated any time in the next week. Akin could have mopped the floor with McCaskill and who would know? All people have are the media reports, and I imagine those will be slanted towards McCaskill.
I sent him a contribution right after the first major deadline passed and he was still in. I think there was some second deadline that I was waiting for him to survive before contributing again.
Do you know anything about a second deadline?
I seem to recall some folks mentioning a September 25th “drop-dead” date, but I’m not certain of that.
She’s running from God on her pro-abortion views also
Todd Akin has a 100% pro life rating; A from the National Rifle Association; 100% from the American Conservative Union. Akin voted 30 times to repeal Obamacare, against the Wall Street Bailout, against cash for clunkers and voted for a balanced budget ammendment to the constitution. He also opposes the death tax and fights for limited govt.
Three of Akin’s sons are marines and two are still active. Perry is a marine combat engineer..he looks for bombs. Akin was a combat engineer and Lt in the US Army. The gop should be ashamed for shunning this great conservative man and yes..they are abetting Claire McCaskill
Akin is in to win. Newt is coming to MO to help with fundraising. DeMint may toss in money from his huge war chest. IF Akin dropped out (which he won’t) Guess what? he would have to pay out of his own pocket for all the MO ballots to be re-done and it could end up disenfranchising some of the military votes. He is IN!
There is going to be another debate for sure..in Branson. Too damn bad the gop establishment and faux news didn’t air segments on their show but guess it would offend Karl Rove
The drop out deadline will have passed and I hope the next debate gets better coverage. Time for the National Republican Senatorial Committee to back Akin. The choice is Claire McCackles or Todd Akin..differences are stark.
Unfortunately having so publicly and forcibly thrown Akin under the bus, if the RSC drags him out again then it'll mean all the other GOP senatorial candidates will have to either support or condemn what Akin said. Three guesses on which one it'll be.
Not to mention Priebus and Romney and Palin and the other party figures who took immediate, hostile positions against Akin following the remarks. They've painted themselves into a corner.
If a candidate does not drop out of the race by 5 pm on the 6th Tuesday before the election then his name remains on the ballot regardless. That is the September 25th deadline you referred to. If he were to drop out after that and if enough people voted for him to win the election then the seat would be declared vacant. The only exception would be if a candidate died before the third Tuesday before the election. Then his/her name could be replaced.
LOOK at this!!!!!!!!! out of state fundraiser for Scare McCackles in Manhattan...note her photo op with Chuckie Schumer.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/09/6537356/new-york-fund-raiser-claire-mccaskill-and-against-todd-akins-anti-s
Also, IF Newt and Santorum can rally around Romney after the barbs exchanged during the debates..the gop E can rally around Akin. They can just state that despite his comment he has a good conservative voting record and this election is way to important and move on...if we can suck it up and vote for Romney who supports homosexuals serving OPENLY in the military and gay’s adopting children, etc...THEY can suck it up in a tactful way and get behind Akin. It appears they are supporting Scare and they know the consequences.
“The people of MO won’t see such debates and might not understand them either. If the media continues to declare the Democrat the winner, well, the populace does as instructed.”
I live in Missouri. The “rural” vote will NOT go for McRascal. The only strongholds for McRascal are the ghettos of St. Louis and Kansas City....and of course the liberal elites of those areas. Unfortunately, those ghettos are large.
Yea, if you just had to overcome intracity St. Louis, he might make it; but the K.C. machine as well is insurmountable without a united GOP. Most people won’t see the debate, and apparently little is being said about it now in the media because Akin did well. Obama/Biden have already been declared the winner of their debates before such appearances have been held.
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