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.  

[hampdenkid]

Don’t you dare stay off of FR — and you keep posting your opinions any time you please. I’m not saying I agree with your opinions about Sarah, but you certainly have a right to express them. And those who launch personal attacks like that launched on you add nothing whatsoever to the debate; they only lower the level of discourse.

And I say all of that as someone who has been a proud Freeper for more than a decade (though in the name of full disclosure, I must admit that I did get banned once (in an earlier incarnation several years back) — for making a personal attack.)

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Girly boys” an apt description.

[CommieCutter]

“Agreed! If Sarah Palin shows up AGAIN in AZ shilling for McNesty I am going to puke”

---

That may be the end of my support for her.

I understood it the first time, it was payback.

She needs to see the big picture and keep her nose out of it.

[Evil Slayer]

Thanks for your kind words. See my post 102. I hope and pray that Sarah does not fall for the "dark side" of politics as McCain did and think that she should be obligated to owe any one as a payback. That seems to be the downfall of a lot of good people who paint themselves into a corner once they do a payback to the devil without realizing it. I am afraid of the MSM using her support of McCain in their ads even if she starts supporting JD (should he win). Satan has ways of twisting the minds of people with good intentions. I believe Sarah's strong faith in God and her moral strength will help her distance herself from supporting McCain who is TOTALLY opposite of her political and moral beliefs. That said, I am retracting my initial suggestion of her fading away into the background and not entering into any future political office. I am not one to admit a mistake. Satan will not control me to the point that I will stand by a statement just to keep my pride.

I too, was a used to be FReeper with a different screen name back in 2003. It was my choice, though, to change in 2008 because I was posting some personal information that could be used by non-FR people who simply typed my screen name into google and was able to gain info on where I lived and other things that could even put my family in danger. It is scary what you can do with search engines now days. Jim erased my inputs and I was allowed to start fresh with a new screen name minus the personal information.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

Regards, ES

[BradyLS]

“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.”

You said it! To paraphrase an old saying, “If you run a weak liberal against a real liberal in a race, the liberal wins every time.”

[houeto]

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 wasn't saddened. I was furious. I ripped her calendar off my wall.

[Blood of Tyrants]

No, she didn’t have to, but she is a woman with character and paid back her obligations.

[hampdenkid]

My pleasure. And thank you for your strong conservative stand. As to Sarah, I understood her making a campaign appearance for McCain (even though I detest him as one of the sleaziest career politicians in Washington). But, I have serious problems with her cutting ads and raising money for that nefarious RINO. As John Kennedy said, “Sometimes party loyalty demands too much.”

[Joe Boucher]

lot of stupids in Arizona

[stephenjohnbanker]

McCain is up about 8 points, with a very weak group of people. His base is luke warm. Many may not bother to vote at all. That is our only chance.

[riri]

There is an old boy’s club in Arizona. A bunch of conviction lacking, country club RINOs. They all support McCain. They also sympathize with the “old school” Mexican Americans, a group of hard working people who have contributed to the unique and wonderful culture that is the Arizona lifestyle. These old farts don’t understand the new breed of Mexican who comes to live in the US or, worse, their children who WE HAVE LET our educational system brainwash into believing in Atzlan and that they are a different race than the rest of us who are not hispanic.

[SunkenCiv]

I’m sure McCain’s lead will slip to 63 percent in the primary, and his reelection will only follow if his opponent dies, or doesn’t. Thanks justiceseeker93.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Brand Palin with a scarlet RINO, eh?

I remember people ranting about how evil FoxNews and Hannity are regarding McStain. I guess we should boycott them out of business? One problem with that — FoxNews helps break a lot of things that expose the left. As for Hannity, he was the only radio voice I know of that kept reminding people about the N. Black Panther nightstick scandal before it broke wide open. If not for him, the whistle blower may never have stepped forward.

Then there was this little debate. Hannity was the catalyst. He invited Hayworth on the radio, offered to moderate a debate, and for the thousanth time, he criticed amnesty aka guest worker. That’s what got the ball rolling.

Of course, Scott Brown should never have one in Mass. He’s just a moderate RINO. No, we would have been better off with a Kennedy-endorsed rat.

Oh and my own governor in Va, McDonnell. I sent him an angry email about his endorsement of McCain. He’s rock-ribbed, but he’s toast now, right?

Look - we take what we can get. I really hope and pray that Hayworth is AZ’s next senator. I support him wholeheartedly and predicted that he would do well in this debate despite last week’s depressing poll. But God bless Sarah Palin too. Perfect? No. God isn’t running.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Lots of ‘em everywhere. But is it really that bad? Or was that a horribly skewed poll?

[Joe Boucher]

I’ve seen several polls and they all show Juan leading.
Ugh.

[hattend]

He never attacked Barack the Kenyan this way.

Barry wasn't about to take McLame's job away from him.

[yorkie]

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I’m sorry I was so harsh to you. :)

Sometimes it just seems like there are a lot of folks here who will use anything they can to tear down conservative candidates, Sarah Palin especially. It really galls me when they’re doing it to push some liberal candidate like Romney.

Her support for McCain definitely isn’t something I agree with either, but I at least understand her reasoning behind doing so, which makes it a bit easier for me to swallow.

I think people make a mistake when they jump on the bandwagon for any candidate very early. I say let the candidates sell themselves to us. I’m for sitting back and watching what they do and making a decision when the primaries come around. At the moment, I’d say that Sarah is by far the best among the candidates who are looking at running (Romney, Pawlenty, Gingrich, Huckabee). Romney is completely unacceptable, but I guess I could hold my nose and vote for Newt. I’d never advocate for him in the primary though. Someone else may enter the picture. I can’t imagine who, but stranger things have happened.

If Hayworth wins (and judging by his performance in these debates, I think he can), her endorsement of McCain will be a long forgotten memory by the time we get into the 2012 primary season and I’m sure she’ll wholeheartedly endorse Hayworth once he’s won the primary.

[cubreporter]

Are you making fun of my Your no mistake? Was typing too fast because I was passionate about what I was saying. Sometimes the messgage is the most important...especially when it was well intentioned and not the spelling or grammar.

[cubreporter]

I wouldn’t put ANYTHING past McCain. I think he has an angry side.