Democrats for Congress debate economy, Iraq

PINELLAS PARK -- The three Democrats competing to challenge Rep. C.W. Bill Young for his congressional District 10 seat had their second debate tonight.

The candidates are Samm Simpson, of Dunedin, who earned 34 percent of the vote against Young in 2006; Max Linn, of Treasure Island, who ran for governor with the Reform Party in 2006; Bob Hackworth, who is the mayor of Dunedin.

Here are some highlights:

On immigration:

Simpson: The North American Free Trade Agreement sent subsidized corn into Mexico and starved families. “If we’re going to change immigration we have to realize that we’re part of the problem.” She said immigration is an issue of economics and labor. If we have more jobs and food, people will get along better.

Linn: Immigration is part of America, but immigrants are taking American jobs and stressing social services. The impact on social services is the biggest problem. “What we need to do is set the standard if you’re going to come over here and work it has to be legally and you have to contribute to the system,” Linn said.

Hackworth: Agreed that immigration is part of American social fabric and said he supports Barack Obama’s plan for comprehensive immigration reform. “We also have to recognize those who are here, even those who are here illegally, must have path to citizenship.”

 

On Iraq and talking to hostile countries

Hackworth: Said he supports Obama’s positions both on careful withdrawal from Iraq and talking to foreign leaders.

Simpson: Said she has felt the same way about the Iraq War all along, “I just grieve a little bit more today. We absolutely have to be out of Iraq.” She also supports talking to foreign leaders.

Linn: Said he’s seen the atrocities of the war at Walter Reed and through the Military Families Foundation. “We need to get out of there no matter what the military leaders say,” Linn said, adding he will hold Obama to his promise to withdrawal because he met with Obama for about 15 minutes in 2006 to talk about Linn’s unpublished book on the candidate.

 Why they’re the best candidate to face Bill Young

 Linn: argued he’s the only one who has changed policy statewide through his fight for term limits. “I think I’m the only candidate who realistically can beat Bill Young. If I’m lucky enough to get your vote on August 26 I will squash Bill Young like a tomato come November.”

 Hackworth: Beating Young won’t be easy, and he’s the only one who can talk about what he has done, rather than will do, as an elected official. “That’s going to be an incredibly important distinction in the general election.” He said whoever wins the district, which is mostly Republican, will have to win independents and Republicans. “That’s the math,” he said.

 Simpson: Said she showed leadership and vision by challenging Bill Young in 2006, when she won 34 percent of the vote. “I’m the only person up here who’s been a Democrat longer than six months. I think that qualifies me to be a Democratic congressperson.”

On healthcare

Linn: Supports a single-payer universal healthcare system. “I think in Obama’s heart that’s where he wants to go, but I think he’s playing the political dance.” He added,“Healthcare is a right not a privilege.”

Hackworth: Said he supports the idea that Americans are entitled to affordable, universal healthcare. But he said he’s willing to work with Republicans to compromise and offer something better. “I think part of the problem is the insistence on a single idea.”

Simpson: Said she supports single-payer healthcare, or H.R. 676, as a candidate who’s been endorsed by the National Progressive Democrats of America. She agreed to be open to other ideas, but added that America should foster the health of its people in addition to addressing the issue of healthcare.

On the economy

Hackworth: Would invest money into rebuilding infrastructure and improving mass transit. “It will work because it’s worked in the past,” he said.

Simpson: Supports fundamental monetary reform and questions why credit cards can charge huge interest when a user misses a payment but banks can borrow cheaply. She suggested Congress should control the printing of money instead of the Federal Reserve. Also wants to make sure “that these lenders and these congressmen that created these kinds of loans need to go to jail.”

Linn: Said the economy is his No.1 issue as a former financial planner. He wants to put up tariffs to keep jobs from flowing overseas. He said the middle class is growing in China and India and diminishing in the U.S. “Unless the people stand up and say we need fair trade, not free trade, we’re going to continue in a deep, deep recession.”

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[drman321]

Hackworth wins immigration. It no longer makes sense to keep beating our heads against the same immigration wall over and over again. The sooner we allow these people to become citizens and join us in pursuing the American dream, the sooner these people can become a legitimate part of society and help contribute to it through tax dollars.

Hackworth again on Iraq and Foreign policy. The other two had basically the same message but with a little added pandering. Hackworth just said it straight here, I have to give him credit for that.

Tie between Hackworth and Linn for best candidate to face Bill Young. Neither one said anything spectacular but, Simpson is the clear loser here, her only credentials for why she is the best candidate is that she lost two years ago by a 2 to 1 land slide, she also seems to think that being a Democrat for longer than six months entitles her to a spot in Congress.

Again Hackworth wins the healthcare round. His message is similar to the others with one crucial difference, he is willing to compromise and work with everyone to make a universal health care system a reality with a cash strapped budget. The other two seem to have a "come hell or high water" attitude with HR 676

And finally it is a three way tie on economy, they all lose. Hackworth thinks the way to a better economy is to build more roads. Last time I checked that wouldn't do a whole lot to strengthen the dollar or reduce energy costs. Simpson thinks we should wrest control of our monetary system from a group of incompetent jackasses who have made finance and banking the main study of their life, and give it to a group of incompetent jackasses that can't figure out how to balance a budget. Linn loses because he thinks we should finish detroying the middle class with tariffs, thereby making the goods the middle class can still afford completely unaffordable. For someone who starts his economic talk by saying he used to be a financial planner, Linn shows an almost criminal misunderstanding of macro-economics.

In the end I suppose Hackworth comes out on top although I doubt it matters, in District 10 it seems that as long as Bill Young wants to run, Bill Young will be our representative. It's comforting to see though that the Democratic is still trying to put up a fight.

[Reality Check]

Samm Simpson and Max Linn were the clear winners in this debate.

Simpson's passionate and powerful presentation of the issues dominated the night. And her line that "I'm the only person up here who's been a Democrat longer than six months" absolutely electrified the room, and floored her two opponents.

Max Linn was at his best with commanding responses to the final two questions -- on Helath Care and the Economy. They played to his strength and he exuded unmatched confidence and expertise in speaking to those two issues. Perhaps if those questions had been asked earlier in the debate, he would have dominated the proceedings.

Hackworth was an enormous disappointment as a candidate. He appeared unsure, unready, uncertain of his responses (except to say "I agree with Obama" whenever possible. He seemed to be just a small-town Mayor, a "not-quite-ready-for-prime-time-player", moving up in the class and being overmatched as a result.

Which of these candidates gives Democrats the best chance to beat Bill Young? That's the question District 10 Democrats will be pondering between now and August 26.

[drman321]

I was speaking merely on the issues and what each candidate had to say. I, along with the majority of the voters was not at the debate so I did not see how each of them delivered their message. As far as the content of the candidates positions though, Hackworth seems to show a lot more substance and common sense.

[Reality Check]

If you were there, drman321, you would have seen that Hackworth was out of his league and over his head.

Don't forget, brochures, position papers, and softball appearances before receptive audiences can all be effectively orchestrated by the very competent professional staff that Hackworth is paying.

It's too bad Hackworth doesn't measure up to the quality of excellence the people behind his candidacy are able to project.

[Kevin]

The real question is; whomever comes out of the Primary on the D side… will CW show up for a substantive debate with them, or will he simply send a hack… as usual?

The only winning part of that debate was when it was over. A great "America is the problem" debate.

kevin your mom is a hack. max linn is a moron, like a tomato

drman321
You obviously were not at the debate!
Hackworth looked like a kid being presented with a pop quiz! Someone has coached him to answer everything, with Obama. He is a brand new democrat, and really doesn't understand that not all democrats are Obama fans. It was painful to watch him seach for the next word he was going to say, very unsure of himself. After all,this democrat stuff, is real new to him. I'm sure that if he would have came there as himself (Republican) He would a least looked like he was confident with what he was saying. Obama is not the answer to all questions.

[MBFLA]

Not impressed with the two wanna be Dems Mr Linn and Mr Hackworth. Mr Hackworth makes drying paint look exciting and misquotes Obama constantly without having one original thought. Mr Linn has original thoughts: I have enough money to beat Bill Young. Sorry, Max, we have enough guys with money in Washington and we need someone who actually understands the issues!
The real Democrat on the ticket is the very articulate and passionate Samm Simpson who knows the issues inside out and speaks from her heart AND her brain. The "gentlemen" try to ignore her because she is the real threat to the good old boys taking the seat and doing the same old thing in Washington. She is the only one of the three to have been a Democrat longer than 6 months. The men are raw opportunists!

Stop it with the "who can win the race" talk and vote for the most qualified candidate who will actually focus on doing their job in an honest and forthright manner.

She will serve us well!

Keep up the horse race talk and good decent people will continue to believe they "can't win an election" and shouldn't bother running for office.

Don't let good candidates go to waste because they don't fit the mold of a "successful politician" because we don't need any more "successful politicians" making policy for our nation, our communities or our people.

We need good, kind, honest, decent people with BRAINS shaping policy!

Simpson fits that description.

I think Hackworth will be the stronger competitor against Young.

I personally like Samm, and she is undoubtedly the keeper of the flame. Max Linn seems out of place, his dissonance with the democratic crowd overshadowing whatever pluses are there that you have to squint hard to see. Hackworth emerges as the leading candidate who has the greatest ability to turn a scratch in Young's armor into into a more devastating indictment on the failures of the Bush Administration.

Young many get away with dismissing Simpson or Linn, but dismissing a Mayor of a city in your district who has a good record will look like he's avoiding scrutiny. The fact that Hackworth is a moderate who has defected from the Republicans only underscores Young's blind ties to a failing Administration that has failed our country miserably. When I learned more about Hackworth's record in the community and how long his family has supported important human rights issues, I felt much more comfortable with him as a Democrat, since those community and human values were always there with him.

The most important thing isn't to tear people up in the primary, and I get turned off by people who insist on attacking Simpson. We need to be realistic and focus on the groundwork to weaken Young now and to set up a Dem victory in 2010, if not 2008.

[Kevin]

"The "gentlemen" try to ignore her because she is the real threat to the good old boys taking the seat and doing the same old thing in Washington."

Bottom Line! But will CW "My kids need a job" Young come out of hiding for a real debate?

St. Pete Times,

You can do your usual "spin" on this debate, just remember, that there were people there with video.
You also mentioned that this was the second debate, but you forgot to mention who won the first one.

Answer: Samm Simpson, and she got the endorsement of that club.

As for last night, If you would have asked the people who where there, who they thought won.

Answer: Samm Simpson

This is not because she knows how to do a debate well, it's because SHE knows the issues, inside and out.

Maybe this time around you can redeem yourselves, simply by writing the truth. You have already tried ignoring her, in hopes that she will go away, obviously that didn't work!

Samm Simpson, the winner??? If she is such a die hard democrat why did she want to change her affiliation to Republican in January to vote for a Republican? Her pro-life stance surely isn't democratic. I really saw her for the nut job she is last night. "someone walking down the stairs with shoe laces untied holding onto a rickety banister, why fix the banister when the stairs should be fixed. Makes no sense, why not just tie your damn shoes. Her analogies made no sense. Instead of fixing anything we should buy birdseed. birdseed? Are you kidding me. Did she take drugs before the debate or is she really that out of touch with the American people?

For Independents in District 10 who would consider voting against Rep Young I would suggest that the Democrats are not giving us a reasonable choice.

Personally, Hackworth and Samm are not viable options based on their immigration views. We must enforce the law and base immigration rules on what benefits the nation not the ethnic special interest groups and cheap labor employers.

Hopefully Linn will be able to evolve as a candidate in such a way as to become more competetive otherwise I suspect myself and many others will vote Young again.

9:45
I couldn't agree with you more! The Dems need to understand the only way to TRULY win, is by backing a person of the people, not the " chosen one"

9:46 comment that Hackworth is more electable, but I like Samm. That's crazy! Hackworth is only more electable because people like you are too damn lazy to do the hard work that is involved to get the peoples voices heard. Obviously the status quo, is good enough for you, but maybe others are really ready to make a real difference. If you are uncomfortable being true to yourself, than you don't deserve to have a true representative in the office.

I am a true Republican, yes there are still some out there. I was at the debate last night. Samm Simpson was the clear winner, she has the knowledge to take this postion, but I am certain that all of you Democrats, know this as well, but you will continue to back who you think is more "electable", and we will continue to reap the benifits, of your ignorance.

He has the best chance because he is the mayor of a city in district 10???? do you think about the things you say, he is the mayor of a town of 36,00 people, probably only 18,000 registered votes, the population of the 10th district is around 900,000. that is not even one percent of the population of the 10th district.

Hack probably won't even carry dunedin that strongly as much of Samm's grassroots team is registered to vote in Dunedin.

Had he been mayor of clearwater or st petersburg your statement would carry more merit.

10:08
If you didn't understand her analogies last night, then maybe we should tell her and her people, that they need to "dumb it down" so people like you can keep up.
I guess you're more inline with, How would Obama respond, or what postion can I buy next?

[D-10 Voter]

I don’t know about you all, but;

I have seen many… “electable”, “viable”, “well-dressed”, “well-funded” politicians standing in front of the courthouse and behind their lawyer, who ties to explain away the corrupt behavior.

I’ll give Samm a chance!

MBFLA

Samm is not a TRUE democrat like you say. She threw out there that she is the only candidate there that has been with the party for 6 months BUT that's pretty hypocritical of her to say cause she has only been a dem for 3 years. How does that make her a better candidate? I have been a life long Dem raised in a family of Dems, would that make ME a better candidate than her? She herself was about to jump ship and throw Dems out the window to go REPUBLICAN for Ron Paul? Really? Come on! People do not fear her because she is a threat. They fear her because she is a hippy wack job and her campaign is full of conspiratorial thinking nutts due to her far out messages. Some we all can agree on but then most issues ..... she goes WAYYYYYYYY out there.

you forgot to mention who won the first one.

Answer: Samm Simpson, and she got the endorsement of that club.

As for last night, If you would have asked the people who where there, who they thought won.

Answer: Samm Simpson
------------------------------------
Were you at the same debates? Samm was not the clear winner of any of them. She got the endorsement of pinellas dems because she has been going there for many years and has a lot of supporters there. She did not get the endorsement because she "won". First debate she failed to properly answer health care and just ramble off about aspartame not saying 1 solution to the problem and got called out on it. Last night Samm and Max were definitely the strongest there. Again though, she tends not to give real solutions. Instead she was talking about falling down stairs with your shoes tied and having birdseed to hand out in beautiful meadows full of lillys and fluffy white rabbits...the 70's were nearly 40 years ago...She needs to get with the now.

Hackworth seems to think he is the only one who can reach across the isle.If the statement is true that Samm was ready to jump ship to become a Republican to vote for Ron Paul, then I think she is more credible for reaching across the isle, when it comes to restoring our Constitution, and getting out of Iraq.
Conspiratorial thinking, hippy nutts? Look at what she was saying in 2006. Bush and Cheney are war criminals. The American people were tricked into a war. Change is needed in the healthcare system . People are going to start losing their homes. The middle class is disapearing. People in government are making big money off of this occupation. Scientist who talk of global warming, have been shut out.
Conspiracy? I think NOT!
I would rather be considered a hippy nut job, than have the attitude that, what the American people don't know, can't hurt them.

11:26 Where did the rest of my statement go? I had the statement above,11:26 and somehow the rest of it was edited out? If you notice the ----- in between, and not a clear solid _________ that is between each persons comments. No wonder people are considered conspiracy thinkers. Sentences get dropped, and formats get changed. Everyone on this blog can clearly see this. You obviosly have the ability to edit this site.

11:43

You go to further my point...Instead of thinking logically that I copy/pasted a portion of your post to quote it. Then put a ---- as a divider to separate my post from yours. You think it's a St. Pete Times conspiracy and I have admin rights to edit your post and control the boards so the people don't get the "truth"!!! O NO! Please think and don't listen to the drugs in your head :)