JD Hayworth trounces John McCain in first of two Senate primary debates

Intellectual Conservative ^ | July 17, 2010 | Rachel Alexander

[az4vlad]

It was apparent last night why McCain has only agreed to participate in two Senate debates with JD Hayworth, because of the awkwardness attempting to explain his flip-flopping back to the right now that it is an election year. Both debates between the two candidates are taking place well into the primary, after McCain has had months to spend $6 million in smear attack ads against JD. $5 million of that was leftover from prior campaigning, including $1.1 million from convicted Ponzi scheme criminal Scott Rothstein - the top contributor to two of his 2008 presidential campaign funds. Unlike other politicians who received money from Rothstein, McCain refuses to return the money to the victims, and is instead using it for more attack ads on JD.

The quote highlighted by major news media organizations as the top line of the debate went to JD Hayworth: 

"It's really sad to see John McCain, who should be revered as a statesman, basically reduced to a political shape-shifter," JD said, then turned to his opponent. "John, you've changed positions so much in this campaign maybe we'll have to set up an extra podium for you depending on which John McCain is going to answer which question." JD told McCain that he has perfected the "six-year switch" on everything from tax cuts to amnesty. McCain flip-flopped and declared, "I have never supported amnesty." JD pointed out that he co-sponsored an amnesty bill with Ted Kennedy. JD co-sponsored an Enforcement First bill.

JD began his opening statement contrasting himself as the "consistent conservative" against McCain as the "convenient conservative." For example, McCain co-sponsored a cap and trade bill with Joe Lieberman. JD said, "McCain's idea of bipartisanship is conservatives caving in to Democrats." 

McCain's primary attack on JD was that he appeared in an infomercial for free government grants. McCain failed to mention that not only was he instrumental in getting bills passed setting up those government grants, but he advertises for them on his own website. McCain has referred to JD as a "huckster" for appearing in those ads. JD retorted that McCain is a huckster for flip-flopping on amnesty.

McCain declared he would protect our military bases. Oh really? So he will continue earmarking defense jobs for Arizona? McCain has been running attack ads against JD nonstop accusing him of being a big earmarker, but has yet to name a single bill that JD attached earmarks to - only bills where other members of Congress had attached earmarks. JD pointed out that McCain voted for several of the billion dollar pork TARP bailouts, including the $700 billion bailout that included $150 billion in earmarks. McCain isn't telling you about those in his attack ads, but they're the reason why his rating from the American Conservative Union dropped to an all-time low of 63% in 2008 (JD's lifetime rating over 12 years in Congress is a 98%- the same as the most conservative Senator, Jim DeMint). McCain criticized the bailouts during the debate - but he voted for them! JD reminded him of that and saying he'd voted for them since he was "confused." JD questioned how a 26-year Washington insider can get confused? "McCain was for the bailouts before he was against them."

McCain touted a few of his endorsements in his opening statement and again in his closing statement. Both times he mentioned his endorsement from Arizona Right to Life PAC. This showed a little desperation, considering everyone knows that was a completely cooked endorsement. The vast majority of AZ Right to Life leadership opposed endorsing McCain, as well as prior PAC chairs and leadership. I resigned from the PAC over the strong-arming, which was done by three renegade members of the PAC who were in the tank for McCain. McCain has a lifetime rating of only 77% from Right to Life, whereas JD has a 100% lifetime rating. McCain supports taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research, which goes contrary to everything AZRTL stands for.

JD listed off some of his endorsements, which include Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the National Border Patrol Association, and Vietnam POW Larry Chesley. 

JD contrasted the difference between himself and McCain on healthcare: JD worked to implement market-based medicare reform; McCain's plan grants medicare to illegal immigrants with amnesty.  

Fox News played a clip of the debate today where JD pointed out that McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and then again in 2003 - the tax cuts that JD helped draft. McCain's flip-flop response? He said "this time around" we need the tax cuts. Little known third candidate Jim Deakin appeared out of his league with JD and McCain, with odd positions like declaring the U.S. should not be in Afghanistan and asserting that JD supports amnesty (I'm not joking). Although Deakin has tried to portray himself as the Tea Party candidate, the Tea Parties are overwhelmingly endorsing JD Hayworth. The Arizona Tea Party just ran a poll on the race, which only polled existing members of the site, to prevent repeat voting, and JD won handily, with 73% to Deakin's 18% and McCain's 7%. When McCain was asked about the Tea Parties (which he has strenuously avoided), he dodged the question, arrogantly bringing the topic back to himself, "I have led the fight...I have the proven history." 

For his closing statement, JD told Arizonans that he would be their first line of advocacy, not their "last line of defense" [as McCain says in his television ads]. 

It is reported that after the debate, McCain stormed out furious. A poll on Phoenix local channel 3 which carried the debate appeared immediately after the debate, and the station announced early this morning that JD scored 60%, McCain 6% and Deakin 20%.  

Cardboard statute greeting everyone coming to the JD Hayworth debate watching party at Alice Cooperstown in Phoenix.

The flip-flops we threw in the air everytime McCain flip-flopped during the debate.

Packed house at the debate watching party at Alice Cooperstown.

Watch the debate in four parts:

 http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-1-Border-Security-98648819.html  

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-2-Border-Security-98649884.html  

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-1-Border-Security-98648914.html  

http://www.azfamily.com/news/politics/Republican-debate-Pt-4-Unresolved-Arizona-issues-98648999.html

Rachel Alexander is the Director of Social Media for the JD Hayworth 2010 campaign. Check out the Real John McCain website here.  

[HerrBlucher]

How would she be a hypocrite supporting the Republican over the Democrat if JD beats Mac? You make no sense at all.

I wish Sarah had endorsed JD too, but lets not get irrational about this. She has a LOT of good points, and very few bad ones. We would be very lucky to have Sarah as prez.

[Evil Slayer]

Sarah Palin can’t endorse JD Hayworth? I guess she’s then forced somehow to endorse the Dem, because Evil Slayer says that’s what has to happen?

No, I did not say that. I said that after endorsing McLame, she should just back off and do what she can do best for the conservative cause. Don't make things worse by flip flopping. Keep hammering at the liberals and keep supporting and promoting the moral base that we desperately need to save this country.

Believe it or not, I love Sarah and support her conservative and religious positions and her way of life 100 percent. I voted for Sarah and not McLame in 08. I am sorry, but her support for McLame no matter what her reasons has sadden me. Everything Sarah stood for was compromised by her supporting him.

I will rethink my reasons for doubting her. Thanks for your inputs. I am sorry I offended anyone. I am praying for Sarah that she stays true to her beliefs and not let the dark side of politics sway her.

[chooseascreennamepat]

I believe at 7:00 your time. And I suspect channel 3 again. Go JD!

[JohnD9207]

More of the same...geez.

Well he you go again...IF the Rino McPain keeps this crap up, along with the little guy on the end...and his pat answers, my head is going to explode.

McBlame has the support of the rino voters who would believe anything.....SNOOZZZZZZZZZZZZ

My tag line is accurate!

[rintense]

As I said before... JD stated early on that he gets why Sarah Palin endorsed McCain, and that when he beats McCain, he’d love her support.

[JohnD9207]

Sorry

There you go again.....

JD needs to just kick him in the nuts!

[Frantzie]

McCain loves Obama.

[chooseascreennamepat]

“Very good news! Hope he trounces McLame in November!”

It will be a trifle late by then. The deciding election (the Primary) will be in, IIRC August. But, I knew what you meant and agree with the sentiments.

[cjmae]

AZ
Please let McCain go!
he’s had his chance and here we are
I beg you

[chooseascreennamepat]

“Very good news! Hope he trounces McLame in November!”

I suspect it was when wifey-poo got him a job selling Bud at the Phx Giants Baseball games.

Oh wait, that was Eddie Cohen!

[screaminsunshine]

If JD wins the primary McClame will pull a Charlie ‘skunk’ Crist.

[goat granny]

They also fired Ann Coulter

[machogirl]

that is funny!

[Outlaw Woman]

Hey FRiend...no offense here and I did not say anything about your comment btw. You have sound reason in your response though and I’m glad you pinged me. Frankly I was livid when she endorsed McCain, I felt it was unnecessary and that she was (and is) being a political tool however...my voice didn’t make a difference but I’m not going to throw her overboard because I clearly see her potential as President.

As someone else said, if JD wins the primary, I’m sure she will back him. She endorsed McCain prior to Hayworth throwing his hat in the ring anyway. I only wish she hadn’t been so aggressive in her endorsement.

I just pray that the debate(s) show McCain for what he really is: a pathetic POS and that in this case, Palin’s endorsement doesn’t mean squat.

[Jabba the Nutt]

I think a Palin weakness is that she keeps things personal. McCain's pick of her made her a national figure. She returned the favor by endorsing McCain. Fiorina worked with Palin during the campaign and then endorses her.

I hope this exhausts Palin's supply of personal/political debts to pay.

[Blood of Tyrants]

He didn’t attack Obastard because he is too much like him. McLame’s big campaign idea was to be just a little less liberal than Obastard.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Political payback is all it is. Sarah has to play the game their way until she gets to make the rules.

[Pravious]

“McCain is really pissing me off with his attack and smear ads against Hayworth. He never attacked Barack the Kenyan this way.”

Indeed. He was a great guy... you know, someone we shouldn’t be “afraid of.”

What a flaming idiot RINO McCain is. I more than half suspect he was a RAT plant all along, nominated by subterfuge and media misinformation just to insure that they got The One into office.

[Blood of Tyrants]

McCain had better not hold his breath waiting for her. Sarah's already repaid her debt to him. He's on his own now.

I think that getting Sarah to endorse him was as much as he will get from her. She may feel she has an obligation to him, but she is not going to hitch her wagon to him when neither she nor the country stands to gain anything by his re-election.

[Revel]

If anyone finds this debate on Youtube then please let me know. I cannot watch it at the site linked above.

Thank You