Posted on 10/30/2002 4:45:15 AM PST by Slam
CRANSTON -- Despite endorsement by the Right to Life Committee, Republican congressional candidate David W. Rogers said he would not vote to repeal Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court foundation for abortion rights.
During a televised debate last night, incumbent Democrat Patrick J. Kennedy shot back, accusing Rogers of masquerading as a moderate "as the general election approaches."
"I've heard it all now," said the 1st District congressman. "You say you're pro-life and now you say you're not even going to repeal Roe v Wade?"
The debate sponsored by Channel 10 and The Providence Journal got feisty, at times turning to squabble and slugfest.
Televised from the Channel 10 studios, the debate featured Journal reporters Scott MacKay and Edward Fitzpatrick, and Channel 10 reporters Bill Rappleye and Jim Taricani, posing the questions.
Rogers continued his attacks on Kennedy's character that he launched Friday in a new TV ad.
That 30-second spot seizes on two highly publicized incidents. It shows footage of Kennedy pushing a female security guard out of the way at the Los Angeles Airport in March 2000 as he runs to catch a plane.
It also harks to Kennedy's controversial cruise on a rented sailboat in July 2000, in which the boat's owner accused Kennedy of trashing the vessel, and a woman aboard the boat telling the Coast Guard she was concerned about her safety after arguing with Kennedy.
Rogers attacked the incumbent's behavior as "scandalous and embarrassing" to Rhode Islanders, and called Kennedy "unstable." He also told Kennedy that his logic for raising the minimum wage "is consistent, but your conclusions are assinine."
"Our reputation as a state has suffered and is suffering, and it is my duty," said Rogers, "to rescue this image from the disrepute from which it has been driven by the scandalous activities of my opponent."
Kennedy stood on his record of voting "with the people."
His attainment of a position on the House Appropriations Committee, "the most powerful committee in the House of Representatives," enables him "to bring back hundreds of millions of dollars for our defense industry on Aquidneck Island, for our health-care industry, for our education system and for small businesses," Kennedy said.
Rogers pledged to "return the need of small businesses and economic well-being of our state to the priority it deserves."
He also said he will use his experience as a Navy SEAL and in combat "to make informed choices relative to strength of our nation, the health of our defense economy here in Rhode Island, and the safety of our families."
Rogers and Kennedy spent five minutes of airtime arguing over Kennedy's earlier allegation that Rogers claimed someone loosened lug nuts on his car as a "political ploy."
Rogers: "You claimed this was a fabrication. You have failed to supply police reports. Would you now like to retract that and apologize?"
Kennedy: "I'd rather move on to real issues like health care and prescription drugs . . . instead of whether anyone loosened your lug nuts. The police reports are there."
Then it was Kennedy's turn. "Are you concerned about being a little too conservative for this district?"
Said Rogers, "I'm actually far more moderate than you paint me to be."
Channel 10's Taricani asked Rogers what proof he had that Kennedy "is unstable," and asked Kennedy for his proof that Rogers "stands with the NRA."
Rogers called Kennedy's firing of his chief of staff and one other staff member examples of how "his office is unstable."
Kennedy quoted a Providence Journal article in which Rogers said, "I have never seen any gun-control legislation that ever made sense except as a political football."
Said Rogers, "I have never been a member of the NRA. You're not running against the NRA. You're running against me."
Kennedy said he was "very concerned about privatization" of Social Security. Rogers called privatization "rhetoric meant to scare seniors."
Kennedy, who hopes to pass a prescription drug benefit, called Rogers's support for Republican-sponsored legislation on prescription drugs "nothing more than a give-back" to pharmaceutical companies.
Rogers said the House Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 "is the only piece of viable legislation this year that could have led to a reduction in the cost of prescription drugs," and provides "a guaranteed drug benefit to seniors."
Amazing that people are so easily mislead.
This is just amazing. You could tell me Martians have attacked Providence and I would more inclined to believe that than I do that Patrick Kennedy could be elected to office.
But you can't teach common sense can you?
Amazing, just amazing?
The best thing to ever happen to the Kennedy boy-child would be to receive a well administered thrashing.
I do not dislike Patrick Kennedy, I just feel sorry for him and very strongly that making laws that govern a country should be the work of selfless, dutiful, mature adults..
...that sounded idealistic and stupidly naive didn't it...?
You have to get to know him better. If you do, you WILL dislike him.
You have to get to know him better. If you do, you WILL dislike him.
PBS had a film crew following Patches around when he first ran for this seat,and the explanation is in the film. All the old ladies who were asked why they supported him gave answers like "I always vote for the Kennedy's. They are all so handsome and charming." Some didn't even know which Kennedy he was or any of his positions,but this didn't seem to matter. It became a real circus late in the campaign when Teddy,Mrs.Schwartzenegger,John-John,and Caroline came to visit for the cameras.
The young lady was certainly correct to be concerned about her safety, given the Kennedy record with women, but at least when Patches is involved, she would have no worries for her chastity.
BTW. Dave is running a TV spot which shows Patches pushing down the AA female airport security guard at LAX...he was violating airport security before (9/11) made that , uh very unfashionable to do...and he walked? He walked!
I wish the people in RI would stop this madness. I wish there was a way to get thru to them that they are not electing "royalty" or competence but rather psuedo-elite, souless, scum.
What is Patches like un-medicated? What is he really like? Or does that not matter anymore? Does it not matter that a person in an altered state is making laws that govern an entire people?
Amazing, just amazingly sad.
Heartily agreed.
Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown
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