Barletta, Kanjorski spar in debate (Kanjorski shows up this time)

Times Leader (Wilkes Barre, PA) ^ | 10/30/08 | Bill O'Boyle

[Born Conservative]

PITTSTON TWP. -- Paul Kanjorski and Lou Barletta met for their only debate Wednesday night in a race where millions of dollars have been spent and exchanges have been heated.

Kanjorski, the 12-term Democratic incumbent, and Barletta, the Republican mayor of Hazleton, are running for the seat in the 11th Congressional District.

The debate was held in at WVIA-TV in its new high definition studios.

Barletta repeatedly attacked Kanjorski on his 24 years in Congress, saying the Nanticoke congressman has not done enough for his district and has become part of the problem in Washington where elected officials have earned an all-time low approval rating of 9 percent.

Barletta opened the debate by stating he will bring change to Washington and he will stand up for what is right and he has already demonstrated his ability to stand up to his president and his party.

Kanjorski said he has the expertise and experience to help lead the country out of the current economic crisis, having taken a leadership role in crafting the $700 billion bailout. He said he will be a part of the Democratic majority in Congress and he has developed a friendship with Sen. Barack Obama, whom he believes will be elected president Tuesday.

Barletta attacked Kanjorski for his role in Cornerstone Technologies, the now-bankrupt water jet research and development company that received $10 million in federal funding and employed Kanjorski’s daughter and four of his nephews.

On Cornerstone, Kanjorski insisted that no wrongdoing was ever found in connection with the company, but Barletta said the case has not been closed.

Barletta rose to national prominence when he cracked down on illegal immigrants in his city. He criticized Kanjorski for accepting nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions from mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and other financial firms he helped to regulate as the chairman of a House subcommittee.

“You continue to take money from those industries. The real losers here are the people who lost their homes,” Barletta said.

Kanjorski repeatedly linked Barletta to President Bush, whom he blamed for the financial meltdown and said had replaced Herbert Hoover as the “most hated president” in the nation’s history.

“I’m debating with the George W. Bush regional chairman for Northeastern Pennsylvania in the election of 2004,” Kanjorski reminded voters.

Barletta, 52, said he is not a one-issue candidate, but he said the issue does affect all other issues. He said he has coped with increased demands on services in Hazleton as the population has increased by 50 percent in recent years while the per capita tax has not increased a dime.

Barletta said he would have voted against the bailout package that Kanjorski helped put together.

Kanjorski, 71, said “the reality is we had to act very precipitously and very quickly” to avoid economic collapse.

Barletta said he does not support the privatization of Social Security and he chastised Kanjorski for making those claims throughout the campaign. Kanjorski said Social Security will be secure and the fund will be replenished.

Barletta said Kanjorski has voted 14 times to raid the fund and has not explained how it will be replenished.

Kanjorski said he would support a systematic removal of troops from Iraq and he will support Obama’s plan.

Barletta said he would leave the timeline for withdrawal to the generals on the ground, prompting Kanjorski to say, “The President and Congress decide when we go to war and when we get out.”

Kanjorski supports government-sponsored universal health care and expressed concern for the more than 47 million uninsured Americans. Barletta advocates allowing people to shop for health care across state lines, saying that competition would lower costs.

The two candidates talked about the millions of dollars being spent on the campaign – Kanjorski admitted to $1.5 million and Barletta $1 million. Barletta said Kanjorski has spent closer to $3 million, but the congressman said he leaves that to his campaign staff.

“I want to return because I want to be part of a special team, and that team in the 11th Congressional District will be known as Obama-Kanjorski,” Kanjorski said. “I have created a friendship with Mr. Obama and with the other leaders of the Congress, so I think I can best contribute to the benefit and success of the 11th Congressional District.”

Barletta said Americans don’t want to be changed; he said they want to change Washington.

“You get change by not sending the same people back to Congress,” Barletta said.

Barletta ran against Kanjorski in 2002 and lost by 22,000 votes. In the April primaries, Kanjorski received 90,800 votes on the Democratic side and Barletta tallied more than 27,000 on the Republican side. Both were unopposed.

In closing, Barletta asked people to vote for him, saying he would stand up for what is right and for what is best for the people.

Kanjorski said he will be a member of the majority in Congress and if Obama is elected, he will have a friend in the White House.

[Born Conservative]

I watched all but the last 10 minutes, and Lou did a great job. Kanjorski spoke with confidence (and arrogance), and seemed to have the upper hand with several of his rebuttals, but Lou would come right back and offer facts that shot Kanjorski down.

Kanjorski made some blatant references to Obama, probably in hopes of getting votes that way. It was 2 weeks ago when Kanjo cancelled a forum 10 minutes before it began to attend an Obama event:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2107309/posts

[Dr. Ursus]

I saw on Espn that Lou played baseball in high school with
Ray’s manager Joe Maddon-GO PHILLIES!!!

[Born Conservative]

It was 2 weeks ago when Kanjo cancelled a forum 10 minutes before it began to attend an Obama event

I meant to say backed out of a forum....

[bcsco]

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[mewzilla]

Barletta said he would have voted against the bailout package that Kanjorski helped put together.

Oh, jeez, even more to love! Can we clone him? :)

Oh, well. Note to the PA district: This one's a keeper. Don't blow it.

[SECURE AMERICA]

This is why POLLS mean absolutely NOHING....
The polls shows Congress approval rating at its lowest in decades. In the 20 percentile I believe.
So how is a 24 year incumbent of that approval rating in a close race with anyone?
He should be getting his butt handed to him easily.

[kabar]

So how is a 24 year incumbent of that approval rating in a close race with anyone?

The answer is as old as politics. If Kanjorski's constituents believe that he is bringing home the bacon and taking care of their interests, they will continue to reelect him. Adam Clayton Powell, William Jefferson, Charllie Rangel, and a host of other felons convicted or otherwise will continue to get reelected no matter what they do. Incumbents build a power base, which is very difficult to overcome. 31 members of Congress this year are running unopposed--25 Dems and 6 Reps.

[kabar]

So how is a 24 year incumbent of that approval rating in a close race with anyone?

The answer is as old as politics. If Kanjorski's constituents believe that he is bringing home the bacon and taking care of their interests, they will continue to reelect him. Adam Clayton Powell, William Jefferson, Charllie Rangel, and a host of other felons convicted or otherwise will continue to get reelected no matter what they do. Incumbents build a power base, which is very difficult to overcome. 31 members of Congress this year are running unopposed--25 Dems and 6 Reps.

[jmaroneps37]

I don’t know much about this particular race, but if a 22 year Democrat incumbent is willing to debate a Republican challenger this close to election day in this BIG Democrat year, he is not comfortable with his position. If HE is not comfortable he thinks he is in trouble. If he thinks he is in trouble I might agree.

[Born Conservative]

The polls shows Congress approval rating at its lowest in decades. In the 20 percentile I believe.

Lou actually pointed out in the debate the 9% approval rating of Congress.

[Born Conservative]

This region has the highest unemployment rate in the whole state, so pork my be the only hope Kanjorski has. In fact, he stressed the fact that in an Obama administration, he would have an “in”, whereas Barletta won’t. However, Kanjorski has a lot of negatives, which will hopefully overcome this.

[kabar]

I strongly support Lou. I have contributed to his campaign and had an opportunity to meet him in DC during a fund raiser and had a 15 minute chat with him. I am a member of a grassroots group on immigration. A number of our group have departed to PA to assist Lou during the last days of the campaign. I want him to win in the worst way.

[Born Conservative]

Not comfortable is an understatement. Kanjorski RARELY has had to even hand out yard signs, yet they’re all over this time, and he is even advertizing on TV and radio. Do a keyword search on “Kanjorski” to see the previous threads documenting the polls, his saying that pork is “free money”, a business run by his family receiving $9-10 million from the Navy for research, yet the company going bankrupt and nobody knows where the equipment went.

[Born Conservative]

Great. I think he has an excellent chance of winning.

[Frantzie]

I am in S FL and have donated to Lou. Lou is a great guy and I am hoping he beats slimy Paul Kaj. Kaj is a big Fannie & Freddie thug.