2nd Congressional District Debate: Nye v. Drake

I see what's happening in our local elections as demonstrative of what's happening in the national election and all over the country.  Virginia's 2nd Congressional District is the perfect example. So, I badgered the local Chamber of Commerce and Central Business District Association (the organizations hosting the event) to let me in for the first debate between Glenn Nye and Thelma Drake (R-Va).

First, I have to clarify what I mean by "badger."  The CBDA had only invited the local paper - the Virginian Pilot - and the three local networks.  Aside from wanting to go myself, that didn't sit well with me.  The networks simply can't run the entire debate.  Nor can the local paper print the entire transcript.

Frankly, making the people of the 2nd District who weren't fortunate enough to attend the debate watch network TV for debate sound bites, or peruse the paper to find the newspaper's analysis, is simply unacceptable.  Those hosting the debate owe it to the voters to make the debates as open to as many media voices as possible.  They didn't want me there initially.  Why?
Because I'm a Democratic blogger.  The spokesperson for the CBDA told me that she thought it was unfair to have a partisan blogger there unless Thelma Drake had one in her corner as well.  Of course, the fact that no Republican bloggers had thus far bothered to try to get in says something in and of itself.  Moreover, Thelma Drake loudly announced at the debate that The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, a co-host of the event, had endorsed her.

But the CBDA was concerned about a partisan blogger.

Right.

So, to get in, I provided the names and email addresses of a couple of reputable Republican bloggers that I read from Bearing Drift.  I like to know what I'm up against.

The debate itself held few surprises.  Thelma Drake answered almost verbatim from the GWB/McSame Republican Party playbook on Iraq, illegal immigrants and health care.  She declared the federal budget too large, a no brainer.  I guess that would be a variance from only GWB, but it's still straight from the McCain "Straight Talk" campaign talking points.  The Congresswoman was also careful to mention her personal conversations with John McCain as often as possible.  Of course.

Iraq:

Drake parroted the McCain notion that nothing less than victory in Iraq is acceptable and that we should stay there as long as it takes.  Nye believes that we need to push the Iraqis to begin governing and securing their own country faster by beginning to pull out in a responsible manner, listening to the commanders on the ground.  He also believes that we need to make them start paying for some of their reconstruction immediately.

Health Care:

Drake supports the McCain approach to health care.  She told the audience that it was unfair that employer provided health care benefits and those purchased privately are taxed differently.  What she didn't say, and I was dying for Nye to call her on, is that McCain's health care plan will increase taxes for those currently receiving employer provided health care plans paid with pre-tax dollars.

Nye stressed the need for preventative care and ensuring that all people are covered to eliminate the uninsured increasing the cost of health care by making expensive emergency room visits.  He also stated that it was "unamerican" to have children uninsured in the U.S.  I wanted to stand up and cheer!  Nye called Drake out on her vote against the recent SCHIP bill that would have expanded coverage.  

In response, Drake cited the same line GWB did - it would cover middle class children and move them from their current insurance to the SCHIP program.  Of course, Drake (and GWB) completely ignore the reality of what a $50,000 income means for a family of 4 in New York City or the Silicon Valley or even Washington, D.C.  Trust me, that income doesn't leave much for food and clothing, let along health insurance, in those areas of the country.

Immigration:

Drake's stance is once again straight from the Republican Party playbook.  The thing that surprised me is Nye's agreement on no amnesty for illegal immigrants.  Of course, Nye actually explained why he opposes it: it's unfair to those who have followed the law and entered the country legally, patiently waiting and filling out reams of paperwork.  He proposes, however, that we have a way for those currently here illegally to pay into the tax system with a penalty for being here illegally.

Taxes:

The tax discussion was where the debate got interesting.  (After we got past Drake's discussion of the Estate Tax, that is.  I stopped counting once she'd said "death tax" 15 times.)

You see, Thelma is a big proponent of the flat tax.  She cited Ireland's 15% flat tax as the ideal model of a "fair" tax system.  Although Congresswoman Drake was not clear on this point, I'm assuming that she meant there should be a flat tax system in place for corporations.  Individuals in Ireland are not taxed at a flat rate.  Rather, they have a progressive tax system in place based upon an individual's ability to pay.  Drake may have erroneously given the impression that she supports a flat tax for all payers, but that can't possibly be the case.  At least not if she's pointing to Ireland as her model.

Of course, I completely disagree that a flat tax is in any way fair for all tax payers.  Taxes would then take up a much larger proportion of low wage earners' incomes.  If Drake was referring to only corporations, she should have made that clear.  Moreover, despite the moderator's express statement to give details, Drake didn't explain how her tax proposal would effect the country's tax base or whether we'd end up with an increase or decrease of taxes collected.

Drake also pulled another McCain talking point straight out of the book when she claimed that Obama's tax plan would result in a tax rate of up to 40% for some. I'm sure she knows that's "malarkey" - to steal a common Biden word - but she said it anyway.

In response, Nye was much clearer.  He supports an immediate middle class and small business tax cut.  He would keep capital gains taxes where they are and adopt pro-growth tax policies.  Nye emphasized the need to adopt fiscal responsibility, something our current administration does not seem to understand; balance the budget; and cut earmarks and duplicative programs.

I later asked the Nye campaign for some clarification on Nye's remarks about taxes:

Glenn doesn't believe that its responsible to raise taxes in a recession, and is focused on giving a middle class tax cut first to spur economic growth.  He believes we will need to reassess both the estate tax and highest tax rates only after we work to make sure our middle-class families, the vast majority of the population, are given the break they need to spur the economy.

Rick Fromberg, Nye campaign

Who Won?

Both Nye and Drake are well spoken and able to think on their feet.  Drake, as predicted, pulled out her experience in Congress and in the Virginia legislature and name dropped whenever possible.  That may be the way to appeal to the demographic that was in the room during the debate.

However, Nye's approach, which related his policies to his personal life experience, was much more appealing to me.  As a Democrat, it's not surprising that his policies are more to my liking.  (Although, let's face it, Glenn.  You're actually a bit too conservative for me!) But as for appeal, Nye wins hands down.  I came away with the feeling that politics is a career for Drake but that helping people is a passion for Nye.

Final Score:

Drake 6, Nye 8.5

Cross posted at MOMocrats.

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