Posted on 07/14/2006 7:54:07 AM PDT by SmithL
Larry, Curly and Moe, they ain't.
Ed, Bob and Van - Bryant, Corker and Hilleary, respectively - were deadly serious about staking out their differences during Thursday's televised debate at West High School.
The three Republicans running for the U.S. Senate metaphorically poked eyes, slapped faces and cracked skulls during the hourlong forum, but they took exception to the presumptive Democratic nominee's characterization of them as "The Three Stooges."
After listening to a recording of a radio broadcast during which U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. said, "The Stooges are funny, but you can't take them seriously," Hilleary responded with a little humor of his own.
"Last time I checked, they were very popular," he said. "It worked out all right for them."
Bryant said Ford, who faces token opposition in the Democratic primary, certainly didn't raise the level of discourse in the race to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
Corker added that the best way to silence Ford would be to win in November.
GOP voters have to select a nominee first, and each of the candidates spent much of the time highlighting issues that would set him apart from the others.
For Corker, that meant emphasizing his business background. Hilleary maintained that his service in the Gulf War gives him a unique perspective on the war in Iraq. Bryant noted that he has the endorsement of Tennessee Right to Life.
A panel of journalists - Tom Humphrey of the News Sentinel; Robin Wilhoit of WBIR, Channel 10; and Hallerin Hilton Hill of WNOX NewsTalk 100 - asked the trio questions.
Bryant and Hilleary are former congressmen; Corker is a former Chattanooga mayor and state finance commissioner. All three candidates characterize themselves as conservative, and there was no disputing their definition of the term: They say they support a strong national defense, smaller government, lower taxes and anti-abortion legislation.
But there are differences.
On the possibility of raising the minimum wage, for example, Hilleary was the only candidate who gave unqualified support for an increase. He said it was part of the country's long-established method of providing a social safety net.
"A minimum wage is a much more efficient way to do that than creating a new government program," Hilleary said.
Corker said setting wages was the responsibility of the private sector, while Bryant said he would not support a boost in the minimum wage unless there's a provision that blunts its effect on small businesses.
Bryant said he would work to speed up payments to people who are sick from working with nuclear materials in the federal government's Oak Ridge plants.
"I've heard their stories and they're absolutely right," Bryant said. "The money's out there and it won't cost the taxpayers a dime."
Hilleary and Corker were more circumspect, with Hilleary saying that he would work with the affected former employees on the issue and Corker noting complications arising from new government contractors assuming fiscal responsibilities for problems they didn't create.
Bryant said he would oppose an extension of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil-rights law up for renewal in 2007. Corker and Hilleary say they would extend the law but only for five years.
The notion of replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax - dubbed the "Fair Tax" proposal by conservatives - drew varying degrees of support. Bryant endorsed the proposal, while Hilleary said he would support it only if it is accompanied by a constitutional amendment banning an income tax.
"I'm very intrigued by the 'Fair Tax,' " Corker said, "but the devil's in the details."
Repeating a pattern that has marked the GOP primary, Hilleary and Bryant assailed Corker as not being a true conservative.
"The bottom line is, he raised taxes and he never cut taxes," Bryant said of Corker's tenure as mayor of Chattanooga.
Hilleary alleged Corker has raised money for Democratic candidates, a charge levied last week by state Rep. Chris Clem, R-Lookout Mountain, in an e-mail to fellow Republicans.
Corker denied the allegation.
"No one should ever question my Republican credentials," he said.
The News Sentinel; WBIR, Channel 10; WNOX NewsTalk 100; and the League of Women Voters sponsored the debate. Early voting begins today, with the primary election day falling on Aug. 3.
So Harold Ford calls them the "Three Stooges". Does this make Ford fair game to be called "Buckwheat" or "Erkel"? Or is that racist like his remarks were?
Buckwheat! I like it!
But I think Buckwheat was smarter than Ford.
Ford is pandering to his highly uneducated base. Soon, he will be rapping.
Somebody get Corker a stool or a couple phone books to stand on.
My dog is smarter than Ford, which ain't saying much.
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