[CA] District 10 candidates talk health care, peripheral canal in cordial debate

Contra Costa Times ^ | Updated: 10/27/2009 06:47:21 AM PDT | Matthias Gafni

[cc2k]

MORAGA -- The five candidates for the 10th Congressional District seat entered the final week of campaigning Monday night participating in a cordial debate with few surprises.

The candidates -- vying Nov. 3 for the seat left open when Rep. Ellen Tauscher resigned in June to take a U.S. State Department post as undersecretary for arms control and international security -- spoke before almost 300 people in a Saint Mary's College auditorium.

Although the seat has been in Democratic hands since 1996, Republican candidate David Harmer brought the largest and most vocal supporters Monday night.

<snip>

With a house bill now including a public option to health care, the candidates shared their thoughts on the hot-button topic.

<snip>

His Republican opponent called it "one mammoth monopoly government policy."

Harmer, a 47-year-old lawyer from San Ramon, offered four alternatives: allow customers to shop for insurance across state lines, remove tax penalties for people buying health care on their own, tort reform and association health plans.

When asked what advice they would give President Barack Obama on Afghanistan, Harmer echoed former Vice President Dick Cheney's words.

Harmer said Obama needs to stop "equivocating" and define the mission, provide resources to further that mission and stick with it.

<snip>

Garamendi said military operations need to wind down and social and economic development plans need to ramp up. "We will not win this war militarily," he said. Once the education system is improved, the country will change itself, he said.

Harmer said if troops were withdrawn now it would create a "humanitarian catastrophe."

"I'm astonished that self-proclaimed liberals don't see the vacuum that would ensue," he said.

[cc2k]

I am contacting the NRCC to ask why they are supporting Scozzafava in the race in upstate New York, and why they are ignoring David Harmer in this California’s 10th district. Here are the numbers if anyone else wants to call:

from the NRCC "contact us" web page:

Contact the NRCC

Address:

320 First Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003

Departments:

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)'s departments can be reached below:

General Email
website@nrcc.org

Executive
Phone: 202-479-7000

Administration
Phone: 202-479-7000

Political
Phone: 202-479-7000

Finance
Phone: 202-479-7000

Communications
Phone: 202-479-7070

eCampaign
Phone: 202-479-7000

Also, perhaps those of us who donated to the RNC or RCCC should ask for our money back so we can support the conservative candidates of our choice.

Other threads related to this California 10th District race:
• David Harmer Might Be Running the Right Race at the Right Time
• Voters swing against Democrats as Obama charm fades
• Forum with David Harmer and John Garamendi
• Calif. race in New York's shadow
• An Upset in California?
• Numerous seats at stake [a special election the GOP has ignored]
• Harmer no stranger to policy and politics
• 10th District Congress Seat Special Election Nears

More threads ...

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From the desk of cc2k:

Candidates I support: Doug Hoffman for Congress, NY 23rd (PayPal), David Harmer for Congress, CA 10th (website for info). Please, spread the word about these important special elections on November 3, 209: New York’s 23rd congressional district and California’s 10th congressional district.

[usflagwaver]

I was at the forum with David Harmer vs Garamendi last night. Harmer was awesome. It is true that Harmer had WAY more supporters there than anybody else. Seeing David Harmer up against the other 4 candidates was like seeing night and day. Harmer did a great job and he is by far the best candidate in this race. I am unsure if the NRCC will help any more than they have, but you can all help by going to his website to donate: http://www.harmerforcongress.com
or if you live within driving distance, come to the office any day to help volunteer.
Remember, even if you can't vote for him because you don't live in his district, if he gets elected, he will be voting for you in Congress.

[JSDude1]

I am about to post an article about this race as well (I would have done it sooner, but my computer was acting up- you ever get the feeling that satan is trying to stop you from doing something?)?

[Right Cal Gal]

Someone should ask Garamendi what he’ll be doing on election day, since he won’t be voting.

[JoeA]

I would liked to have been there, but did not get an email about the event until Monday. A little late for planning, and I hope it’s not indicative of the way the campaign is run.