Posted by admin on July 8th, 2010 in Uncategorized
The Philadelphia Inquirer covered the first Adler-Runyan debate and it looks like Runyan came off as being rather ignorant and disjointed.
“It’s convenient that the first vote came down three days after Republican Chris Christie took this district by 17 percent” in the governor’s race, Runyan said. He said Adler’s attempts “to try to run back to the middle” would fail because he has voted with the position of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) 90 percent of the time.
“I’ve got to jump in,” Adler said, “because it seems like Jon just got into his attack points his folks coached him to say.” Adler said he had reservations early on in the health-care debate, saying that the bill did not do enough to control costs. He said he expressed his concerns to Pelosi and President Obama.
While Adler has voted with the speaker most of the time, such totals are typically swollen by procedural votes in which both sides of the aisle stick with their leadership. Adler was named one of the most “independent” Democrats in a study by Congressional Quarterly last year.
Perhaps Runyan doesn’t understand that a very junior Congressman doesn’t get to schedule votes on legislation, especially when he didn’t have anything to do with putting it together. Or perhaps Runyan thinks the Democratic Congress is willing to change their schedule at the drop of a hat to avoid having Big Jon Runyan come calling. I can’t decide which is more ridiculous.
Adler issued a statement in June expressing his non-support for the healthcare bill. There’s no way that was coincidental to anything in the NJ gubernatorial.
And attacking the most independent Democrat as being a lapdog…epic swing and miss.
Adler voted for the $787 billion stimulus program in early 2009, which Runyan said “obviously” has not worked to restart the economy. Tax cuts are the answer, he added.
Adler voted against the bank and auto company bailouts. Runyan said he also would have opposed them, though he did express support last December in an Inquirer interview.Adler voted for the $787 billion stimulus program in early 2009, which Runyan said “obviously” has not worked to restart the economy. Tax cuts are the answer, he added.
Adler voted against the bank and auto company bailouts. Runyan said he also would have opposed them, though he did express support last December in an Inquirer interview.
I know everyone loves to hear about tax cuts – but this recession started on the Bush Administration’s watch, when they had already given tax cuts in every direction possible. Tax cuts do have a stimulating effect, but this recession was stronger than any set of tax cuts. And, with taxes at a forty-year low, it’s unlikely that further tax cuts will do much of anything.
And we already see the first Runyan flop. He was for the bailouts before he was against them.
On illegal immigration, both candidates agreed the federal government had not done enough to secure the nation’s borders. Adler said there needs to be a comprehensive plan that would increase security on the border with Mexico and punish employers who hire illegals.
The Justice Department lawsuit against Arizona for its tough new law against illegal immigration is “political posturing and finger-pointing,” Runyan said. “The federal government has not done its job, and Arizona is quite frankly frustrated and scared. . . . It’s a cry for help.”
He said he did not like the idea of comprehensive legislation on the issue. “Government does nothing big well,” Runyan said. An overhaul would create “confusion,” as with the health-care law.
Runyan’s position is clear – he’s both for and against doing anything about immigration. In case anyone at Runyan’s camp is reading this, I just want to let you know that Congress has not filed suit against Arizona – the executive branch has done that. Adler just isn’t involved in that.
The candidates disagreed on the recent action by Congress directing the Pentagon to end the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy prohibiting openly gay people serving in the military.
“That’s an easy call,” Adler said. “If they’re willing to serve . . . I don’t care if they’re gay or straight; they’re Americans, and God bless them for protecting our country.”
Runyan said that he did not have a problem with openly gay people serving in the military but said commanders in the field should make the decision, not Congress. He called the recent amendment ordering the Pentagon to end the policy “another example of politics where it doesn’t need to be.”
Runyan is just exposing his complete ignorance on this issue. Individual commanders do not set policy, they obey it. Further, DADT is a federal law passed by Congress, so it will take an Act of Congress to repeal it. So Runyan’s position is this: He isn’t against gays serving in the military, but he’d like for those who are opposed to be able to stop them. I know he never put on a uniform in the service of our country, but he might want to horse up a bit before he runs off at the mouth. Otherwise, he’s just confirming the dumb jock image that clings to him like crap to a cracker.
If he is elected, Runyan said, he would limit himself to four two-year terms in Congress. “I believe our forefathers did not intend for politics to be a career, much as John Adler has made it,” Runyan said. “When you’re there too long, you become detached from real people.”
Does Runyan even know who any of our founders were? Jefferson was Governor of Virginia, Envoy to France, Vice-President, and President. James Madison served in the Virginia House of Delegates and a delegate to the Continental Congress before serving as Secretary of State and President. James Monroe served in the Continental Congress, was elected to the United States Senate, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, and finally President. In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find a single person who either signed the Declaration of Independence or helped craft the Constitution who was not involved in politics for the majority of their lives (the singular exception being Benjamin Franklin).
Runyan doesn’t know his history any more than he knows his politics. No wonder he had to play dirty.
Share on Facebook
Sphere: Related Content
Lovable, huggable old Cookie Monster has it right – cookies are a sometimes food (check out his