Posted on 10/17/2004 6:59:58 AM PDT by Theodore R.
On NBC's "Meet the Press," Republican Rep. Jim DeMint and Democrat School Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum argued over a national sales tax, educational funding, homosexual rights, and abortion. Moderator Tim Russert seemed clearly in the Tenenbaum camp, asking repeated questions designed to put DeMint on the defensive. DeMint did not take the offense: he even kept using the word "apologize" for his past campaign stances. For Republicans, DeMint's performance was nothing short of demoralizing.
DeMint spent most of his air time "apologizing" for past remarks questioning the desirability of homosexuals to teach in public schools or to adopt children. He said that he was "apologizing" for injecting an issue in the campaign that belongs at the local level. He said that he had been in business and had never discriminated against anyone on the basis of sexual preference.
Tenenbaum questioned DeMint's proposed 23 percent national sales tax to replace most other federal taxes, arguing that such a tax would even increase the costs of theater tickets. DeMint did not clearly refute her claim that the tax would hit the middle and lower classes at an alarming rate.
Polls have shown that DeMint is leading in the race. If most SC voters saw this broadcast, I predict there would be a fast turnaround in the candidates' standings.
that was hard to watch.
melman handing shrum his 5th loser card was fun to witness.
Did others who saw this exchange come away as frightened as I did about the diminishing possibility of the GOP picking up the second SC Senate seat? Honestly, all DeMint can hope for is that few saw this broadcast. It was a disaster for Republicans.
Posted with no comment ... from DU? Of course DeMint 'struck out'. The umpire is a leftist, so is the pitcher and the audience is too stupid to properly judge the 'strike zone'.
The leftist candidate's ads adds the sales tax on top of the existing tax structure. How do you imagine that plays to the dumbmasses? Democracy is the rule of fools by fools.
This is an odd race. DeMint started out with a huge lead, but it seems to have dwindled lately, according to the stories I found when Googling. What's DeMint doing wrong, and is this race truly as close as it seems?
Actually, there has already been quite a bit of movement towards Tenenbaum. The latest SurveyUSA poll from last week had her within just 3 points of DeMint.
The problem is that DeMint kept apologizing. How many apologetic people win U.S. Senate races?
A conservative "apologizing" to a liberal for his positions?? Ewwwwwwwwwww... I don't want someone like DeMint representing me in the U.S Senate! He sounds like a Republican Kerry, a man with no core convictions who is weak on the things that matter.
To me or to Theodore R? I note that he has not defended any position but merely trolled for comment. As I said, 'from DU'?
Only if you're an apologist for America's enemies!
John Kerry comes to mind.
All DeMint had to do was present a principled conservative postion on all of these issues. He could hardly have fared any worse. He was pathetic, and anyone who disagrees, please change my mind!
Yep. I'd hate to say it but we may lose this seat that was lock simply because we have a guy who can't stand up for Republican values. I'd rather have a liberal who believes in something than a conservative who believes in nothing in the U.S Senate. Disaster?? If President Bush "apologized" the way the media wanted him to, he'd now be toast. There's something Ann Coulter wrote in her new book about NEVER making a concession to a liberal or treating them with kindness. People once gave Tennebaum no chance but when you see a GOP candidate apologize for the views South Carolinians believe in, you gotta wonder if he's made of the the "right stuff."
Is this a case of two bad candidates?
I take anything he says with a big grain of salt.
I don't believe that we can blame the audience or even the liberal Russert for DeMint's poor performance. DeMint fared poorly because he did not stand for anything. I can't see how he takes this seat on Nov. 2.
I am a northerner from Wisconsin....DeMint's performance was awful. He could not even stand up for what he believed in and Russert exposed him. Blame Tim if you all want, but that was pathetic.
I wouldn't even call him a RINO.
Look and Tenenbaum's public record. She's for big bureaucracy. Talking nicely on debate alone is not enough to convince me or any South Carolinians, unless you are her supporter from the beginning who pretend to be an independent (as libs always do).
No, I wrote the "vanity" posting; therefore, I did not make comments in the comment block at the end.
To say that DeMint strengthened himself with this appearance is ridiculous. I suspect that even DeMint's manager is livid with his candidate this morning.
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