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Linda McMahon, Richard Blumenthal Clash Over Vietnam, Minimum Wage, Campaign Spending At First Debate

October 05, 2010 7:22 AM

ABC News’ Michael Falcone reports:

Just hours after Connecticut Senate candidate Linda McMahon deployed a hard-hitting television ad attacking her opponent, Richard Blumenthal, for misstatements he made about his service during the Vietnam War era, the two candidates sparred in person over the accusations at their first official debate of the general election.

“There is nothing new in this ad, and there is nothing new about the McMahon attack on me," Blumenthal, the state’s Democratic attorney general said, adding that he was “sorry” that on a handful of occasions he exaggerated his military service. "I regret it. I take full responsibility for it.”

Blumenthal’s defense has become a familiar refrain of the campaign ever since the allegations about past comments about his record during the Vietnam War surfaced in press reports this spring. McMahon, the Republican former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, released a 30-second ad in advance of Monday night’s debate in Hartford that pointedly asks: “If he lied about Vietnam, what else is he lying about?”

But Blumenthal brought his own ammunition to the forum, raising questions -- as he has with his own television ad -- about his whether his GOP opponent supports cutting the minimum wage.

“That's a lie. You know that's a lie,” McMahon said. “I never said it.” She called on Blumenthal to pull the ad asserting that she is “talking about lowering the minimum wage” and noting that she fired “10 percent of her workers” as a business executive.

McMahon also responded to the second charge, saying: “Layoffs are hard, they are really tough to do, but sometimes you have to make those tough decisions to move your company forward.”

From the beginning of the face-to-face meeting between the two candidates, who are vying to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd, McMahon characterized Blumenthal as a creature of politics lacking real-world experience and casting herself as an entrepreneur who would bring change to Washington.

McMahon has spent tens of millions of her own fortune on the race -- a point that Blumenthal underscored when he accused his opponent of trying to buy the Senate seat like an “auction.” 

"My campaign might be outspent, but it won't be outworked,” he said, “and the people of Connecticut want an election, not an auction."

While recent polls indicate a tight race, Blumenthal appears to have an edge as the clock ticks down to Election Day.

The debate did have its moments of humor, including a “lightening round” during which both candidates professed their love for the New York Yankees and thin-crust pizza. “Thin and crispy every time,” Blumenthal said.

The debate was co-sponsored by the Hartford Courant and Fox Connecticut and broadcast live on television and the Internet.

October 5, 2010 in 2010 , Connecticut, Michael Falcone | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1)

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Anger at These :
 
Gambling on Iraq Oil Again : A Drop in the Bucket Vs. Growing Population & Demand World-wide. The Age of Cheap Oil = A Thing of the Past.
 
1. At this time, it looks like the oil-friendly country is gambling on Iraq oil again, citing a big government & deficit, and therefore the world-wide stimulus package worth trillions and health care reform in America are now at stake.
 
2. Of the money by the money for the money is getting a society nowhere near prosperity.
Gambling on party of "no idea" is sure to be much like Throwing an Egg of Economy Against a Rock.
 
The outcome of government take-over :
 
1. In banking industry, the result of government take-over is big bonus parties backed by the tax-payer's invaluable cash.
 
2. In healcare reform, the outcome of government take-over is to dump ill children when needed most.
 
3. In oil spill, the administration should be held responsible for its deregulation, urging a big government
 
Chanting deficit :
 
1. Amid chanting deficit, the same old failed policy.
 
2. Amid chanting deficit, hands-off approach over huge trade deficit from oil money spill & trade imbalance with China from remorseless health care premium.
 
3. Unfortunately, as a direct consequence of remorseless health care premium, numerous folks have no choice but to hang onto affordable offerings, since one in two households is said to face a hard decision between necessity & drug.
 
4. Inaction cost in relation to health care reform totals $9trillion over the next decade.
 
5. Over the next 10 years, total Bush tax cut costs will equal $3.9 trillion, .... the tax cuts would increase deficits by nearly $4 trillion between 2005 and 2014.
 
The most critical debt : Personal Bankruptcy
 
1. The current recession came from Personal Bankruptcy largely as a consequence of the relentless health care costs, pain at the pump, and the subsequent subprime mortgage crisis.
 
Facig huge trade deficit from oil money spill & trade imbalance with China, the primary economic policy of previous administration was " spending baby "to the great delight of republicans' sponsors.
 
2. By comparison, the recovered stock market value alone, around $1.5 trillion, is nearly twice as much as the stimulus package, set aside all the other benefits.
 
As always, the republicans and unqualified media let folks locked in a box. ruling out the positive effects.
 
 
The most promising deficit-cut of government : Slashing the destructive war & military waste
 
1. Slashing the destructive war & military waste alone supposedly could be enough to balance the budget.
 
 
Energy Independence : An Only Way to Desperately-Needed Job Growth
 
My response to the question : where are jobs ?
In the trade deficit, exactly in the severe and persistent oil money spill, taboo of " do not add to the deficit" party.
 
Under the existing Bush tax cut for bonus parties, a sole job plan for the republicans, the country already saw millions of job cuts.

Posted by: hsr0601 | Oct 5, 2010 8:50:16 AM

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