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.  

[rcrngroup]

Just a quick off post remark.....

I read your profile page.... as a born again, pre-trib rapture Christian, I was very impressed & appreciated the Biblical information & scripture. I printed it off as fyi to keep in my Bible.

[chilltherats]

McShamnesty NEVER attacks rats with the zeal he uses against conservatives and pubs. He sucks rat asses dry and then spits it out on conservatives.

He’s a disgusting man.

[chilltherats]

Palin’s support for McShamnesty has so disgusted me that if she runs for prez, I will really be holding my nose if I can muster the steel needed to vote for her.

[chilltherats]

That’s why I quit watching Beck. What an effing hypocrit. He talks all the time about the rats’ big commie scams and also how the pubs contribute to those scams. McShamnesty is certainly one of those people, yet Beck toes the pub party line when it comes to this race, even though he’s a big supporter and touter of the Tea Party.

[Evil Slayer]

Thanks for the compliment, my friend. I am also a "born again, pre-trib rapture Christian." I enjoy spreading His word to as many as I can. Although my screen name "Evil Slayer" has been interpreted in several ways, my intent was to capture enough curiosity that His Word will be spread to unbelievers as well as believers.

May peace and tranquility from our Lord's blessings go with you, my friend.

ES

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“Considering what little we can get around here, that’s actually kind of depressing.”

This is just the Tea Party’s first year, FRiend. I have a feeling that the Tea Party is not going to end any time soon. They lack experience, but they are quick studies.

[ScottinVA]

McCain had better not hold his breath waiting for her. Sarah's already repaid her debt to him. He's on his own now.

That's what I've been thinking, too. She hasn't been down there recently, has she?

[Jake from AZ]

I hope you don’t think that the Democrats WON’T come down on the Tea Party like a ton of bricks if we can’t retake Congress this year. And if we DO retake Congress, I hate to think what kind of poisonous sh__ Barack will get up to when he realizes he’s a lame duck.

And I’ll be honest with you about one more thing: the Left have their supporters wound up so close to the breaking point that, if the GOP gets either house of Congress back in November, I predict liberals frothing at the mouth and committing violence in the streets by May.

[dvan]

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

McCain wasn't in danger of losing his Senate seat then, he still had it. He should have given it up when he ran for President. His $ss is on the line now.

[Windflier]

She hasn't been down there recently, has she?

No, she hasn't. From what I've observed, she's been pretty busy endorsing other candidates, and supporting Gov. Jan Brewer in Arizona.

If she were enthusiastically supportive of McCain's re-election bid, she would have made more time to stump for him.

My heart goes out to her for the ugly spot McCain has put her in with her supporters. It must cut her to the bone to have to say anything nice about him, or lend her name to his campaign. I guarantee that she's done a lot of praying, and has lost a lot of sleep over this.

McCain used her. He knew that he could use her sense of loyalty and honor to pressure her into supporting him, and he was right. She could not, in good conscience, desert him, if he appealed to her for help.

He's a scoundrel and a villain.

[Impy]

In no way does some mis-conceived sense of “obligation” override doing what is right.

McCain is using her and I bet laughing about it. If she were running in a contested primary in Alaska I bet he’d stay neutral which is what she should have done if she wasn’t conformable coming out against him.

McCain is an enemy of the conservative movement Palin is a part of. His opponent Hayworth is superior to him on the issues. Every conservative should be in his corner.

McCain appears to be winning, she’s helping him do it. Huge mistake on her part and thoroughly not cool. I understand her reasons but don’t condone her choice.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

If we don’t drive the left to the breaking point, we aren’t doing enough.