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.  

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Palinbot? Give me a break.

This person is trying to actually say that if McCain loses, Sarah Palin can’t endorse JD Hayworth? I guess she’s then forced somehow to endorse the Dem, because Evil Slayer says that’s what has to happen? This is kind of lazy, slipshod, wrongheaded analysis is what you’re defending? Good luck with that.

I’m not exactly jumping with joy at some of her endorsements either, but you know what? That’s the way things go sometimes. Grow up, put your big girl panties on, and deal with it. Maybe someday your perfect candidate who never ever does anything you disagree with will come along. I’d suggest not holding your breath while you wait for that to happen.

[Jabba the Nutt]

"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."

A better answer for JD: "Huckster, Senator McCain, I call it making a living in the private sector. When's the last time you worked in the private sector Senator? And John, you passed the bills I was infornming people about on how they can benefit. Is that the best you can do to attack me, Senator?"

[gibsosa]

bump

[ROCKLOBSTER]

He never attacked Barack the Kenyan this way.

That's what JD said...sort of.

Something like: "If you'd gone after Barak Obama the way you've been attacking me, you'd probably be President right now."

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I don’t think she could politically do that without some revelation about McCain being brought out. I wish she could have just at least stayed neutral, but that would have been a tacit endorsement of Hayworth if she had done that. I’m 100% positive that she’ll endorse Hayworth if he wins, as she should.

[LonghornFreeper]

I’m not exactly jumping with joy at some of her endorsements either, but you know what? That’s the way things go sometimes. Grow up, put your big girl panties on, and deal with it.

When she chose to endorse McCain, who through his assaults from within has literally done more damage to conservatism than any three Democrats combined, Sarah made a clear, unambiguous choice. She chose personal loyalty (loyalty that the McCain campaign never showed to her, in fact) over loyalty to her country and to what is right. It was the type of thing that other supposed messiah would do, and everyone here would accurately call it "Chicago-style politics at its worst".

Am I saying I wouldn't vote for her if she was the Republican nominee? No.

Am I saying that I don't think she is better than 95% of Republicans? No.

Am I saying she needs to figure our where her loyalties lie, and fast, if she wants to earn the Republican nomination in 2012? Yes.

She needs to decide if she stands for what is right, or what is safe and easy. Because after 2008, a whole lot of people who used to just vote Republican no matter what have decided that, in the long run, the price of voting for what is safe and easy as opposed to what is right is incredibly high. McCain ran a safe, easy campaign against Obama. We know where that led.

[onyx]

FAR FROM OVER!

I have the new thread ready to post - it’s a little early, but I can only find the PBS station carrying it on LIVE stream. It looks good though. Like a GOOD link.

Is the same Phoenix station carrying it live again? I can add their link.

[rintense]

It was quite embarrassing for McCain. Good.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I believe so.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

When do I reach your time frame and not be a newbie anymore?

8 more years.

[rintense]

JD said he will welcome her support when he wins. So there.

[rintense]

Awesome news. The debate was really quite pathetic for McCain. He should have stormed out pissed. He sucked.

[onyx]

Ok, well, I can’t tell by their page, so when you know, you can add the info to the thread. I am posting the link provided by JD’s page - good enough, IMO. He provided radio and the TV station with worldwide LIVE stream. I went through last night’s thread, and I am pinging everyone, except the two or three for Mc.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

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

-

Worth repeating.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” He should have stormed out pissed. “

He DID!

[stephenjohnbanker]

” I am pinging everyone, except the two or three for Mc. “

;-)

[LiveFree99]

I was a National Review subscriber in the 80’s as a college student. I gave up on it years ago after the girly boys took it over.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I agree that McCain has been hugely damaging to the conservative cause. However, I see her decision to endorse McCain as more of a political decision with regard to building a network for 2012 rather than something to do with personal loyalty. If she had turned on McCain, she would have made an enemy out of a possible ally. It isn’t worth it to do that unless you are fairly certain to come out ahead. Likely, she took a look at McCain’s war chest and some of Hayworth’s flaws and decided it wasn’t worth taking the chance. Sarah has enough trouble with the loud RINO contingent that just love to tear her down and McCain is an extremely vindictive guy. I bet he still stabs her in the back somehow if he gets the chance. Hopefully he won’t.

I don’t think she’ll be too terribly upset if Hayworth wins.

[newfreep]

Replay: http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/07/16/HP/R/35650/Arizona+senate+GOP+candidates+square+off+in+debate.aspx

[rintense]

That’s what I meant! He was completely gone. Remember my prediction????