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."
Probably some minor party candidate. I considered the Libertarian, but just look at his quotes in this story. And before anyone gets on to me, this is not the only reason I'm not voting for KBH. Earlier this year, she voted for the stem cell research bill the president vetoed.
Oh, sure. Does she think Afghanistan is the only battleground in fighting terrorism? Terrorists do not have a country/state, adhere to no rules of war much less the Geneva Convention, are establishing civilian armies (cells) in many countries, are financed by those who want to see the ruin of the west and have pledged to destroy our way of life and drive us back to the 14th century. What is HER answer to fighting terrorism? Her question should be, "since we did't find WMDs in Iraq, where can it be?" The Kurds know Saddam had WMDs even if she refuses to acknowledge it.
Wait A Minute! This is from the LIBERAL Austin Paper! Austin is the HOTBED OF lIBERALISM in Texas. Let's hear from Sen. Hutchison first hand before you throw her under the bus.
REPUBS DON'T EAT THEIR OWN!
I knew about that also...(stem cell vote)..
I am an avid Senate watcher...and I have to admit there have been many votes that I haven't liked..that she has made.
But, not enough to possibly give a DEM her seat!
Now you've gone and insulted the fine folks at Pravda.:)
The President would have gone about things a different way and that exact bill wouldn't have been presented; so Hutchinson makes sense that her voting behavior would have been different if all facts were known.
Kay Baily lost my vote when she failed to support the house managers on WJC's impeachment vote, and I let her know that.
I will vote Republican and use my right to unselect her name. I will not vote for her opponents either. That way it counts as one vote against her instead of two.
Like I said, if there any chance of Radnofsky winning, there is no way I'd let that happen. This seat is safe for Hutchison, so I feel fine casting a vote against her.
Kay Bailey has turned into John Kerry.
Send her into retirement, Texas.
We have found hundreds of WMD in Iraq, all in violation of the ceasefire agreements. Some are pre- GW1, some after. It's on the record.
For God's sake, go to this site's search function and look for Iraqi WMDs, and you will get back article after article about locating caches of shells. I think one of the largest such contained over 700 items.
No, it's hard to read when you are continually gazing up at your moistened finger trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing.
>>>>> She's lost my vote. <<<<<
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2006/senate/tx.html
The choice is still clear to me. I cannot vote for a rat.
What does this bimbo call 500 Nerve Gas shells then? Party Favors?
Those thousands of Kurds just fell over dead one day for no reason too. Of course Saddam had WMD's, and he was always angling for more.
I'm not voting for the Democrat, either. I'm either going to vote for a minor party ca`ndidate or skip over the Senate part of the ballot.
Right. And this kind of nation-building sh!t is reminiscent of the delusional utopianism of the Woodrow Wilson administration 90 years ago.
Me too.
Why are these frakkin' people so frakkin' stupid? Do they lack basic reading skills??!!!
Hillary Rodham Bailey Hutchison has lost my vote with this and her attempt at a bill for illegal alien amnesty.
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