Lamont-Lieberman-Schlesinger Debate Liveblogging
by Matt Stoller, Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 09:10:13 AM EDT
The debate is streamed here.
The question is on North Korea. Lieberman says that both parties are at fault, and that we need better alliances. The fault of this is on Kim Jung Il, not Bush. (Fact check)
Lamont: Says that Bush focused on Iraq instead of North Korea, the country that didn't have WMDs. The country has become a much more dangerous place since Bush took office. We need China on board, and the threat of military force doesn't make sense unless we have China and South Korea on board. "We never negotiate out of fear, but we never fear to negotiate", he's quoting Kennedy. We need to improve Homeland Security.
Lieberman: The ports in Connecticut are going to be more secure because of a bill he just passed with Olympia Snowe.
Lamont: Connecticut Homeland Security funding has been seriously cut, and Lieberman didn't even show up for the vote.
Question on civil rights, why didn't you speak out against Parker's comments saying that Lieberman never marched in the Civil Rights movement?
Lieberman:Lamont is saying he didn't agree with the comments, and that he apologized for them.
Schlesinger is saying that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are divisive, and that both candidates have pandered to those two. "There's no room in my campaign for a Jesse Jackson, there's no room for Al Sharpton. He's saying we all believe in civil rights, let's focus on national security.
Lieberman: You should apologize for the other misstatements, like his record on Social Security. He's going strong on Social Security. "I thought about privatization in the 1990s, and I thought it was a terrible idea." Ever since the Bush administration came into office I've been against it. [Fact check]
Schlesinger: I can't really write this, it's hilarious.
Lieberman:: Let me assure any seniors that there is enough money in the SS trust fund for at least 35 years to pay all your benefits. The answer is to get the budget back in balance, and enact PAYGO.
Lamont: We need to start living within our means again as a country. We have thousands of earmarks, the bridge to nowhere, the Medicare Part D drug benefit. We need to change the situation in Washington, DC.
Schlesinger: In 35 years, the phantom money is going to run out. More charm
IMMIGRATION
Schlesinger: I want to build the walls.... We need to use drones, whether it's immigration, whether it's flag burning, etc. Don't listen to Joe's rhetoric, watch his voting record.
Lieberman: We appropriated $1.2 billion for fencing, and money for electronic equipment.
Lamont: We're never going to fix the health care system until we deal with the 47 million uninsured. Having them flood the emergency rooms is the most expensive form of health care.
Question, CEOs are greedy. Aren't you? Haven't you laid off 68% of our workers, according to the Lieberman ad?
Lamont: That ad is untrue. We had some bumpy times after 9/11, and we had to sell off some of our systems.
Schlesinger: I built a business and served in the public sector on a state level, in the trenches. I understand the average middle income person.
Lieberman:: I run on 18 years of delivering for the state of Connecticut. This is a very serious office, I have a record. You can criticize it. Ned doesn't have such a record, and he brings it into play.
Argh, I can't keep up with this.
Question for Alan: Are you a real candidate?
Alan: This is a very unusual election. We know that Joe Lieberman has had a relationship with the President on Iraq. All I'm going to say is that most of the Repubicans in Connecticut who know me are all supporting. Even Jodi Rell said when you want policy when you want solutions, you want Alan Schlesinger... The state chairman of the party wrote a letter saying that it's time to get behind Alan Schlesinger.
Lamont: People do want a change. People said it couldn't be done when I started running.
My connection keeps cutting out.
Tags: Connecticut, CT-Sen, Joe Lieberman, Ned Lamont (all tags)









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