Posted on 10/14/2022 5:55:33 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – If you didn’t know who Tudor Dixon was before Thursday night, you know her now.
The GOP gubernatorial candidate took the debate stage at WOOD-TV8 in Grand Rapids on Thursday night with impressive gusto. She appeared smart, calm, and well-versed in the issues in the first of two debates this election season.
Nothing seemed to rattle Dixon.
For Democratic incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, things appeared to reflect a different story.
The governor, who is used to controlling press conferences virtually and surrounding herself with people who prop up her own political beliefs, appeared flustered at times throughout the night. Gov. Whitmer’s voice appeared uncharacteristically shaky throughout the one hour debate, and it seemed early on that her handlers did not prepare her for the tough fight Dixon came prepared to win.
In their opening statements, both candidates called each other liars. “I will work with anyone serious about solving problems,” Whitmer said.
Dixon did not let that go. “Gov. Whitmer made promises four years ago. She will try to distract from her broken promises, but I will focus on our future,” Dixon said.
With questions from inside the studio and from Michigan residents, debate moderator Rick Albin started the night by asking about abortion. Gov. Whitmer has vowed repeatedly to “fight like hell” for the legal right to abortion up through all nine months of pregnancy, while Dixon is stanchly pro-life.
“To protect our [abortion] rights, we cannot trust Dixon,” Whitmer said, and accused Dixon of being radical on the issue.
“Dishonesty is the theme for the night [with Whitmer],” Dixon said. “I am pro-life with exceptions for the life of the mother.”
“[Whitmer’s] position is radical,” Dixon continued. “She wants abortion up through the moment of birth. The governor wants abortion to be the only option,” Dixon said.
While Whitmer touted her efforts to keep Michigan’s 1931 ban on abortion from taking effect, Dixon said it’s up to the people to decide when they vote on Proposal 3 next month.
Another hot-button issue included gun rights. Whitmer accused Dixon numerous times of being “divisive” and “long on rhetoric,” but used some of her own when talking about school safety.
“Dixon will put the 2nd Amendment before 2nd graders every time,” Whitmer said.
Dixon, who is for constitutional carry, said “The governor wants to take guns away from law-abiding citizens.”
Later, Dixon turned the tables by highlighting Whitmer’s June 2020 comments where she said she supports the “spirit of defund the police.”
“My opponent is long on rhetoric and short on facts,” Whitmer said.
Dixon hit back, “It must be so embarrassing for [Gov. Whitmer] that it says on tape she supports the spirit of defund the police. I’m not short on facts. Her record shows something different.”
In recent month, the Whitmer administration appears to have put the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it in the rear-view mirror.
“Lives were on the line,” Whitmer said Thursday night.
However, Dixon refused to let her forget that her policies shut down schools, locked out businesses, and killed nursing home residents.
“She cannot be honest because her COVID-19 response was disastrous, Dixon said. “She wants us to believe that she listened to the experts, but we have the letter that says she did not,” Dixon said, referring to the recommendation to not put COVID-19 infected patients back into nursing homes.
Both candidates traded barbs up until the very end.
“We cannot trust our future to dangerous people who peddle conspiracy theories,” Whitmer said in closing.
“Do not trust [Gov. Whitmer] with another four years to terrorize you,” Dixon said.
The next and final debate between Gov. Whitmer and Dixon is October 25. The election is November 8.
“debate moderator Rick Albin started the night by asking about abortion”
Pretty telling considering that’s the issue democrats are trying to convince us all is the most important one facing the country.......but actually doesn’t break the top 5 in most polling.
It looks like Whitmer was expecting softball questions like she gets at her press conferences of hand-picked propaganda repeaters.
I sent her money and will send more. She is starting to get ads out there as well.
I’m surprised that anyone else will be allowed on the ballot with Her Thighness.
Whitmer is a lying, murdering traitor. But those are resume enhancers to Michigan Demonicrats and others.
And add to that - Dixon is pretty hot!
In that case, I have apparently violated Da Rulz!
What did you expect, ALL these debates are moderated by Leftist activists.
very hott...shes got a Jennifer Love Hewitt vibe going on....
i gotta say...the moderator did a very good job...3 times he asked Whitmer if she had ANY abortion restrictions and that witch wouldn’t answer the question..but Dixon very smoothly made clear that Whitmer wants abortions up until birth...Dixon was excellent...especially about the abortion issue...i was very impressed.
Good to hear, I didn't watch. I have to say that the reporter who interviewed Fetterman was very professional, unlike Savannah Guthrie.
Unfortunately, Idiot Voters abide. Sheeple do what they are told, and sane voters are already attentive.
I am from MI and my 85 y/o father still lives there. He said the debate was blacked out in the Detroit area and was only available to stream! So frustrating! Where can I help him see the next one? (I live in Kali4nistan!)
From the Detroit News:
Whitmer and Dixon will meet for their second and final debate at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Oakland University. WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) will carry that one-hour debate live. The Fox affiliates in Grand Rapids (WXMI) and Lansing (WSYM) also will broadcast the next debate.
If he is in Detroit, then he can watch live on Channel 7.
Dixon really needs to expand on the abortion up to birth by explaining the procedure that it means baby’s spine is severed as it’s head comes out of the birth canal. She needs to make it brutal explanation.
Sad story today was a comment from a WJR-AM (Detroit region) guest who said “Unfortunately for Tudor Dixon this debate was so late in the campaign and there must be influential people saying if I had known she was so good I would have contributed money to her. At an earlier time it would have really mattered. Now it may be too late.”
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