Posted on 10/20/2006 2:18:37 PM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper
SAN ANTONIO — In a debate telecast statewide, Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison repeated her call Thursday for the United States to maintain its commitment to stabilizing Iraq rather than "cutting and running because times are rough."
Hutchison, a senator for more than 13 years, also said she would not have voted for the United States to invade the country in 2003 if she'd known there were no weapons of mass destruction there.
Barbara Ann Radnofsky Democratic challenger says Texas needs fresh leadership.
Scott Lanier Jameson Libertarian says labeling enemies incites challenge.
Responding to a reporter's question, Hutchison said: "If I had known then what I know now about the weapons of mass destruction, which was a key reason I voted to go in there, I would not vote to go into Iraq the way we did.
"And I have to say I don't think the president would have asked for that vote either," Hutchison said, saying President Bush was "trying to make sure that America was not hit with another 9/11, with a weapon of mass destruction."
Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky seized on Hutchison's reflection, suggesting that Hutchison was among senators who failed to read intelligence information that would have illuminated the likelihood that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction.
"What a telling, telling comment from my colleague," said Radnofsky, who favors setting a timetable for taking U.S. troops out of Iraq.
Hutchison said it would be irresponsible to withdraw because Iraq has become "a terrorist breeding ground." Referring to Radnofsky, she added: "This is a very big point of difference between us."
The hourlong debate was historic from its start because this year marks the first time two women represent the major parties in a Texas U.S. Senate race. The pair met for the first time Thursday in the lobby of KLRN-TV, where the debate co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Texas was taped shortly before being broadcast statewide on public TV stations and C-SPAN.
The two were joined by Scott Lanier Jameson, 40, the Libertarian nominee who closed with a plea to voters to consider all Libertarian candidates.
Jameson expressed discomfort with the U.S. government labeling other nations such as Iran as enemies.
"It makes us sound like we're developing a checklist of who we're going to take on next," he said. "It's almost as if we're challenging them."
Hutchison, who has been the front-runner, fell into no outright gaffes in the nine-question event, with the only surprise being her hindsight on Iraq.
She and Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer making her first bid for elective office, vigorously spelled out differences they have aired during the campaign.
Radnofsky criticized Hutchison for voting to build what she dubbed an impractical 700-mile fence along stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border. She said that, unlike Hutchison, she favors revising a law creating a prescription drug benefit for senior citizens so the government can negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers.
Hutchison defended an immigration proposal she has outlined with Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana, that envisions the government establishing a more secure border before launching a system requiring illegal immigrants to leave the United States and apply at out-of-country centers for permission to return to work here. She called it a "starting point" toward compromise in Congress.
Jameson said that if a wall is going to be built, it should be around flood-prone New Orleans.
Hutchison, 63, filled the Senate seat long held by Lloyd Bentsen in 1993. She won election to her first full term a year later.
The former state treasurer and Texas House member has frequently said her dream is to serve as Texas governor, although she has passed up chances to run, including last year when she yielded to Gov. Rick Perry, who is seeking re-election next month.
Hutchison said last month that she decided to seek one more term only because of her seniority on the Appropriations Committee and within the Republican Party ranks.
"I've been able to do many things for Texas that would be hard to accomplish as a junior member," Hutchison said. "But this is certainly going to be my last term."
Hutchison conceded that she has backed off on a pledge in the early 1990s to serve no more than two terms, but said she still supports amending the Constitution to hold all senators to limits.
"I want to do what I think is best for Texas," she said.
Radnofsky, 50, left her partner position at Vinson & Elkins to campaign. Eclipsed by Hutchison in fundraising, she's tried to make up for the gulf by enlisting volunteers, having a frequently updated Web site and stressing a 40-page comparison of her positions on issues to what she considers Hutchison's poor record.
Radnofsky, who wore a purple blouse, said: "What this country needs for Texas is leadership that's new and fresh, that stands about 5-foot-9 and looks good in purple."
He admitted to having them. He used them. This s$** makes me sick.
Pandering wimp (Her-not you)
Even without WMDs, the Iraq War is one of the most justified wars in the history of the country.
WHO are you going to vote for???
The other two are worse...and KBH did NOT say that she would pull the troops.
I AM SHOCKED and ANGRY that she said that...but, we will just have to do what others in the USA are having to do...hold our noses and vote for the Republican candidate.
She has already said this is her last term....
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
Sadly, this election reminds me of the old joke that ends with the punchline "coffee break's over-back on your heads!". We have to remember that being ankle-deep in $hit is not as bad as standing on our heads in it. Stinks either way, though.
Before the war, all the Democrats could say is that he kept changing the reasons for going to war (no he didn't- there were so many reasons for going to war that it was tough to fit them all in one speech). Now, WMDs were the only reason, there own rhetoric be damned.
Shhhh! We've got to give political cover to Pooty-Poot. ;)
It's a big IF. She should have refused to answer such a worthless question
But she has endeared herself to the Chris Mathews of the world and may even get an invite on that lefty program. So there is an upside for the good Senator!
No. If my vote meant the difference between Hutchison and Radnofsky, I'd bite the bullet and vote for Hutchison. But it doesn't. Hutchison will win this seat by a fairly wide margin, with or without my vote.
I heard something that I had forgotten, during a debate the other night.
Ned Lamont said that the vote to go to war in Iraq was done under DEMOCRAT majority...Daschle was the Majority Leader when the vote TO go to war passed.
I know that isn't pertinent to this article..but, I hadn't remembered that.
I do believe that KBH is on the Armed Services Committee...she knows better than to insinuate that the WMDS were the only reason we went.
Ya see! Ya see! This is the type of pandering that WE HATE!!! Grow a spine and stop pandering to the MSM! Gee, Kay let's see if you can ipen your yap again and try and LOSE the elections. What a PUTZ!
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