JD Hayworth trounces John McCain in first of two Senate primary debates

Intellectual Conservative ^ | July 17, 2010 | Rachel Alexander

[az4vlad]

It was apparent last night why McCain has only agreed to participate in two Senate debates with JD Hayworth, because of the awkwardness attempting to explain his flip-flopping back to the right now that it is an election year. Both debates between the two candidates are taking place well into the primary, after McCain has had months to spend $6 million in smear attack ads against JD. $5 million of that was leftover from prior campaigning, including $1.1 million from convicted Ponzi scheme criminal Scott Rothstein - the top contributor to two of his 2008 presidential campaign funds. Unlike other politicians who received money from Rothstein, McCain refuses to return the money to the victims, and is instead using it for more attack ads on JD.

The quote highlighted by major news media organizations as the top line of the debate went to JD Hayworth: 

"It's really sad to see John McCain, who should be revered as a statesman, basically reduced to a political shape-shifter," JD said, then turned to his opponent. "John, you've changed positions so much in this campaign maybe we'll have to set up an extra podium for you depending on which John McCain is going to answer which question." JD told McCain that he has perfected the "six-year switch" on everything from tax cuts to amnesty. McCain flip-flopped and declared, "I have never supported amnesty." JD pointed out that he co-sponsored an amnesty bill with Ted Kennedy. JD co-sponsored an Enforcement First bill.

JD began his opening statement contrasting himself as the "consistent conservative" against McCain as the "convenient conservative." For example, McCain co-sponsored a cap and trade bill with Joe Lieberman. JD said, "McCain's idea of bipartisanship is conservatives caving in to Democrats." 

McCain's primary attack on JD was that he appeared in an infomercial for free government grants. McCain failed to mention that not only was he instrumental in getting bills passed setting up those government grants, but he advertises for them on his own website. McCain has referred to JD as a "huckster" for appearing in those ads. JD retorted that McCain is a huckster for flip-flopping on amnesty.

McCain declared he would protect our military bases. Oh really? So he will continue earmarking defense jobs for Arizona? McCain has been running attack ads against JD nonstop accusing him of being a big earmarker, but has yet to name a single bill that JD attached earmarks to - only bills where other members of Congress had attached earmarks. JD pointed out that McCain voted for several of the billion dollar pork TARP bailouts, including the $700 billion bailout that included $150 billion in earmarks. McCain isn't telling you about those in his attack ads, but they're the reason why his rating from the American Conservative Union dropped to an all-time low of 63% in 2008 (JD's lifetime rating over 12 years in Congress is a 98%- the same as the most conservative Senator, Jim DeMint). McCain criticized the bailouts during the debate - but he voted for them! JD reminded him of that and saying he'd voted for them since he was "confused." JD questioned how a 26-year Washington insider can get confused? "McCain was for the bailouts before he was against them."

McCain touted a few of his endorsements in his opening statement and again in his closing statement. Both times he mentioned his endorsement from Arizona Right to Life PAC. This showed a little desperation, considering everyone knows that was a completely cooked endorsement. The vast majority of AZ Right to Life leadership opposed endorsing McCain, as well as prior PAC chairs and leadership. I resigned from the PAC over the strong-arming, which was done by three renegade members of the PAC who were in the tank for McCain. McCain has a lifetime rating of only 77% from Right to Life, whereas JD has a 100% lifetime rating. McCain supports taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research, which goes contrary to everything AZRTL stands for.

JD listed off some of his endorsements, which include Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the National Border Patrol Association, and Vietnam POW Larry Chesley. 

JD contrasted the difference between himself and McCain on healthcare: JD worked to implement market-based medicare reform; McCain's plan grants medicare to illegal immigrants with amnesty.  

Fox News played a clip of the debate today where JD pointed out that McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and then again in 2003 - the tax cuts that JD helped draft. McCain's flip-flop response? He said "this time around" we need the tax cuts. Little known third candidate Jim Deakin appeared out of his league with JD and McCain, with odd positions like declaring the U.S. should not be in Afghanistan and asserting that JD supports amnesty (I'm not joking). Although Deakin has tried to portray himself as the Tea Party candidate, the Tea Parties are overwhelmingly endorsing JD Hayworth. The Arizona Tea Party just ran a poll on the race, which only polled existing members of the site, to prevent repeat voting, and JD won handily, with 73% to Deakin's 18% and McCain's 7%. When McCain was asked about the Tea Parties (which he has strenuously avoided), he dodged the question, arrogantly bringing the topic back to himself, "I have led the fight...I have the proven history." 

For his closing statement, JD told Arizonans that he would be their first line of advocacy, not their "last line of defense" [as McCain says in his television ads]. 

It is reported that after the debate, McCain stormed out furious. A poll on Phoenix local channel 3 which carried the debate appeared immediately after the debate, and the station announced early this morning that JD scored 60%, McCain 6% and Deakin 20%.  

Cardboard statute greeting everyone coming to the JD Hayworth debate watching party at Alice Cooperstown in Phoenix.

The flip-flops we threw in the air everytime McCain flip-flopped during the debate.

Packed house at the debate watching party at Alice Cooperstown.

Watch the debate in four parts:

 http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-1-Border-Security-98648819.html  

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-2-Border-Security-98649884.html  

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-1-Border-Security-98648914.html  

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-4-Unresolved-Arizona-issues-98648999.html

Rachel Alexander is the Director of Social Media for the JD Hayworth 2010 campaign. Check out the Real John McCain website here.  

[leapfrog0202]

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[JSDude1]

You got it FlingWingFlyer; that’s the thing that pisses me OFF THE MOST about McCain (He’ll fight a real conservative like J.D. Hayworth for the Senate), but He only goes off half-cocked against a MARXIST for the Presidentcy!

[TexasFreeper2009]

I wouldn't elect McCain to be the local dogcatcher, I still don't know how that freaking RINO got the nomination.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Not surprised at all.

[stephenjohnbanker]

JohnD9207 (John McCain is a proud Ted Kennedy conservative!)

YOUR TAGLINE IS BRILLIANT

[dr_who]

I’m kind of suspicious of Hayworth. I doubt much criticism of him comes from the McCain camp. That has a lot to do with the fact that McCain’s strategy seems to be to agree to with the opposition about certain things. It makes him a very lame debater (as opposed to a master debater,yes). Maybe maybe maybe Hayworth will have a come-from-behind victory and proceed to be both a fairly reliable conservative vote and an embarassment in the senate. Or McCain will continue to run to the right for a little while between now and his retirement (whether he wins or not, there is blood in the water). Either way, we need some Goldwater-quality individuals waiting in wings to replace these clowns.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Is McCain really up 20% in the polls?

[Steelfish]

What’s the latest reliable post-debate poll?

[Luke21]

People’s Republic is used toilet paper. If those commies aren’t saying McCain won and are also hiding the story, you know J.D. stomped him.

[TheThinker]

JD seems to have a quick wit.

Perhaps he can gain the support of all those independent voters who have turned on Barack Obama. This would be important as Arizona has an open primary.

[ConservativeTerrapin]

Amen brother!!!

[Impy]

She didn’t have to back McCain, she chose to.

[wardaddy]

from your lips to her ears hoss..

please

[Dream Warrior]

McCain has had so many positions on the issues he can’t remember what he has said in the past and that is the reason he has had some lapses in his delivery.

Poor John, he can’t help it, he’s been in the senate too long.

[napscoordinator]

John McCain was believed on this site to have won all the debates with Obama in 2008 and the results of the election did not prove this. I remember the cheerleading on here about McCain doing spectacular during the debates. Obviously winning debates do not result in votes. I hope that JD gets some traction but if he does it is not because of the debate but because he is out going door to door selling his issues to voters.

[leapfrog0202]

McCain is really pissing me off with his attack and smear ads against Hayworth. He never attacked Barack the Kenyan this way.
_______________________________

Exactly!

[ASA Vet]

We knew Ronald Reagan John and your no Ronald Reagan!!!

Probably a more powerful message would be

We knew Ronald Reagan, John, and you're no Ronald Reagan!!!

[Right_in_Virginia]

McCain is really pissing me off with his attack and smear ads against Hayworth

I just heard one of McCain's quotes from last night's debate on Fox . . . quoting Bob Dole, McCain said: "Never get into a wrestling match with a pig . . . you'll only get dirty and the pig will like it".

McCain belongs in a padded cell ... and I pray the good citizens of Arizona finally send him there.

[Do Be]

I just heard one of McCain's quotes from last night's debate on Fox . . . quoting Bob Dole, McCain said: "Never get into a wrestling match with a pig . . . you'll only get dirty and the pig will like it".

McCain also tried channeling Ronald Reagan several times when he said, "There you go again." What makes people vote for clowns like McCain? Seriously, what can they see in him?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

McCain said: "Never get into a wrestling match with a pig . . . you'll only get dirty and the pig will like it".

McCain, I've got news for you:

You've been dirty for a long time and actually, you're the pig.