VINCENNES — Their words may have sounded the same, but their actions are expected to be very different.
The economy, health care, energy and the war in Iraq were among the top issues discussed in Tuesday’s 8th District Congressional debate between Brad Ellsworth and Greg Goode.
Congress’ most recent action, the $700 billion bailout bill, was at the forefront among the economy discussion with Republican Goode calling it a bad bill rewarding bad decisions, politics and greed.
Though he wanted the people to hear a debate between him and incumbent Democrat Ellsworth, he said Ellsworth should have been in Washington with the rest of Congress working out the economic crisis.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, the United States Congress can not wave a magic wand and solve every problem that plagues our country,” Goode said, noting that even after the bailout bill was passed, “Wall Street is still hurting and it is ultimately the private sector and a resurgence in investor confidence that will ultimately get the economy moving again.”
No one in Congress was going to give $700 billion away out of nowhere, Ellsworth said, noting a committee got together and put in safeguards to make sure taxpayers were protected.
“If I had thought for one second that this was a bailout of Wall Street, executive Wall Street, I never would have voted for this,” he said, adding this is not the time to find blame.
Both candidates agreed the crisis was a result of not enough regulation.
“I think that a traditional, common-sense regulation to ensure that this never happens again is in order,” Goode said. “I would certainly rather see additional regulation to prevent a catastrophe of this magnitude from ever happening again as opposed to my United States congressman knocking on my door and saying ‘Guess what, Greg, it’s your money that we’re going to be giving to those individuals’.”
In light of the recent economic crisis, both candidates were able to highlight why they are not in favor of privatizing Social Security and the disaster that could have resulted from investing Social Security money. This led to a discussion on how each candidate would handle health care.
It wasn’t socialized programs that brought the nation ahead in medicine, Goode said, attributing the advances in medicine to technology, innovation and personal drive.
He suggested a free market approach to health care, in which patients will have a choice and flexibility not driven by the federal government.
Decisions on health care must remain between a doctor and patient, Ellsworth said. He opposes a single-payer plan and said the government cannot afford to run a health-care program.
Congress is working on programs, though, that can help make health care more affordable such as expanding S-chip, a program that insures children who otherwise would be without, and allowing small businesses to pool their resources to insure their employees.
From health care, the debate moved on to energy and reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.
One of the first votes Ellsworth took after elected was to roll back the $14 million given to big oil companies to invest in alternative energies, he said.
“We’re going to have to use every tool in the toolbox,” he said, which will include oil, coal, compressed natural gas, wind and smart domestic drilling.
Goode noted his ideas and Ellsworth’s sound the same, but actions are very different and referenced his fact-finding trip to Alaska “to see for myself the great reserves that we have of oil, natural gas and coal.”
“I met a little-known governor named Sarah Palin,” Goode said. “I met Sarah Palin before she became cool.”
She knows energy, he said, but needs to have people backing her up.
Moving on to the war in Iraq, Ellsworth noted how it was a topic of debate two years ago when he ran against incumbent John Hostetler. It was discussed the war would not be won militarily, he said and that still rings true.
It will be solved politically when the Iraqi government regains control, he said.
His challenger was quick to point out Ellsworth’s “no” vote against Gen. David Petraeus’ request for troop reinforcements in summer 2007.
“… I believe we are reaching a time frame where those brave men and women are going to be able to come home,” he said, “but let me also reinforce one thing, the war on terror is not going away …”
Ellsworth admitted he was wrong, but noted he didn’t think the request was for enough people and has since voted to increase the size of the army and navy.
“Gen. Petraeus said there is no light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq, that he has pushed the champagne bottle to the back of the refrigerator,” he said. “That tells me that we need to focus our concentration on where the terrorists are — that’s Afghanistan” and Pakistan.
In closing, Goode named his top three priorities, if elected: he would join the house transportation and infrastructure committee to ensure Indiana is getting an equal or greater return on its taxes; focus on constituent services by first reopening offices in Vincennes and Covington; and never support any person as Speaker of the House such as Nancy Pelosi.
Active military members and veterans will be Ellsworth’s No. 1 priority, he said, with the economy and health care following.
Overall, Ellsworth said he was happy with how the debate turned out, but advised voters to fact-check because some of what Goode said about him wasn’t true.
“… It’s a typical Washington-type, what people are sick of, they would take a portion of a vote or an amendment on a bill and they spin it the way we want it to come across to the people,” he said after the debate.
Pointing out an incumbent’s record isn’t being negative, Goode said, “what’s sad is his voting record is so bad that there’s the perception of negativity.”
“I believe with all my heart and soul that the job is not that hard if you are in tuned with the values and the convictions and the beliefs of the constituents who put you there, and if I have to aggressively point out where he comes out on his voting record, that absolutely is fair game in the arena of politics.”
Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.
Election 2008
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October 8, 2008
ELECTION '08: Brad Ellsworth, Greg Goode debate health care, economy and war
- Election 2008
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Vigo County election results
More than 44,000 ballots were cast Tuesday of the nearly 80,000 registered voters, giving Vigo County a 55.76 percent voter turnout. Voters who cast provisional ballots have until noon Nov. 14 to show proper identification in the clerk’s office. Members of the Election Board will certify the results by the end of Nov. 14.
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Obama triumphs, will be first black U.S. president
Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. “Change has come,” he told a huge throng of jubilant supporters.
- Ellsworth downs Goode in District 8 In a strong Democratic election year, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth was re-elected Tuesday to a second term as the 8th District congressman representing southwestern and western Indiana.
- House District 44: Former Greencastle major wins A former Greencastle mayor will head off to the Statehouse come January, and she said Tuesday night she’s ready to go.
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YOUTH VOTE: Sarah Scott students elect Obama, Daniels
Tribune-Star
Students and staff at Sarah Scott Middle School voted to make Barack Obama president and Mitch Daniels governor during a mock election Tuesday. - Vigo picks presidential winner again Vigo County voters chose Democrat Sen. Barack Obama as president, maintaining its status as a “bellwether” county, picking the winner in every presidential election since 1892 with only two exceptions.
- Harrison Township opts to keep assessor Voters in eight precincts in Harrison Township opted to retain a township assessor under a referendum vote on Tuesday’s election ballot. That’s was good news to Mick Love, who will retain his elected seat as Harrison Township assessor. The final tally on Public Question No. 1 was 6,587 for a “yes,” which would remove the office, to 9,506 for “no” which would retain the office.
- House District 46: Tincher pulls out win The race between Democrat incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher and Republican challenger Bob Heaton for the Indiana House District 46 seat went down to the wire Tuesday night, with Tincher pulling out a win.
- Republican Daniels wins 2nd term as Indiana governor Republican Mitch Daniels defeated former Democratic congresswoman Jill Long Thompson on Tuesday to win a second term as governor, but he may need a supply of olive branches to advance his agenda if Democrats retain control of the Indiana House.
- House District 45: Borders wins close race The Indiana House District 45 race between incumbent Republican Bruce Borders and Democrat Rick Marshall was too close to call for much of the evening Tuesday, with the final outcome apparent near midnight.
- House District 43: Kersey remains in seat Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-Terre Haute, will remain in the Indiana General Assembly for another two years, as the 12-year incumbent defeated Republican challenger Ryan Cummins for the House District 43 seat.
- Clay County's turnout one for record books Clay County’s voter turnout was one for the record books, officials said Tuesday evening.
- Parke County incumbents retain their seats Parke County incumbents retained their seats in Tuesday’s election. Republican County At-large Councilmen Dale Gerrish and John Pratt will be joined by fellow Republican J.B. Butler, a newcomer who received more votes than Gerrish and Pratt. The three GOP candidates won over the three Democrats in that race.
- Nearly 64 percent of registered Vermillion voters cast ballots Vermillion County voters turned out in big numbers Tuesday to hand victories to Democrats up and down the ballot. Nearly 64 percent of registered voters turned out in the mostly rural county, which includes the towns of Clinton and Newport.
- Sullivan County votes Repbulican in national election For the second time in its traditionally Democratic history, Sullivan County voted Republican in the national election. Overall, Democrats saw unexpected upsets, incumbent Republicans lost a few offices, and voter turnout here was exceptionally high, as expected.
- Indiana State students await impact of their votes Ashley Roce sat in the Cunningham Memorial Library eating pizza with her friends, waiting to see the impact of her first vote in a presidential election.
- Indiana transplants watch from east coast Indiana has done what couldn’t have been predicted in 2004: It has gone Blue — and by so doing, the Hoosier state has broken its 44-year tradition of being a Red state, and helped put a Democrat in the White House.
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Voter turnout in Clark County, Ill., highest it's ever been
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- Presidential election turnout down in Edgar County Despite an increase in registered voters for Tuesday’s election, turnout was lower than the last presidential election in Edgar County, Ill.
- Incumbents easily win school board seats Three Vigo County School Board incumbents readily won re-election Tuesday. In District 1, Mel Burks and Jackie Lower retained their seats, defeating Larry Faulkner. In unofficial results, Lower had 24,321 votes, Burks, 19,253, and Faulkner, 11,383.
- Democratic Commissioner Mason gets another four years Vigo County voters on Tuesday returned Democratic Commissioner Paul Mason for an additional four-year term as one of the county’s top executive officials.
- Rader wins Vigo judge Superior Court Divisioin 5 The winner of Vigo County judge for Superior Court Division 5 is Dr. Michael Rader. With 23,636 votes, or 56 percent, Rader defeated Republican challenger Dan Kelly, who earned 18,216 votes, or 44 percent. Totals are unofficial results from the Vigo County Election office.
- Allsup defeats Royer in Vigo Recorder race In a night that was friendly to Democrats, Nancy Allsup won the office of Vigo County Recorder, defeating Republican Bruce Royer. Allsup, with 26,486 votes, or 65 percent, celebrated her victory Tuesday night with friends and family at the Paradise Pavilion in West Terre Haute.
- Mansard wins another term as Vigo County clerk Democrat Patricia “Pat” Mansard has won another term as Vigo County clerk. Mansard, who has served as county clerk for 20 years, was busily working Tuesday night to finish up election results, but she took a minute to savor her win.
- FINAL: VIGO COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Final election night results from Vigo County
- FINAL: VERMILLION COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2008 Election results from Vermillion County
- FINAL: CLAY COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Election results from across Clay County
- FINAL: PARKE COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Election results from Parke County
- FINAL: SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2008 Results from Sullivan County
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NEW: Vigo County’s election record cited by Karl Rove
Karl Rove, the man credited with orchestrating President George W. Bush’s two successful campaigns for the presidency, reportedly singled out Vigo County as a place to watch tonight when election returns start coming in.
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