While the Louisiana US Senate candidates, Mary Landrieu and John Kennedy were debating on Louisiana Public Broadcasting on Sunday, the real debate was occurring on the Internet.  Emails from the campaigns were blistering and flying furiously once full of offensive or defensive citations.  The tactics used by the campaigns are a sophisticated way to “spin” and sometimes even to educate the public about the “real” issues or character statements.  Here are the electronic debate points (a sort of he said, she said) that were sent out in full throttle during the debate: 

DEBATE FACT SHEET: Landrieu Hypocrisy On Iraq

(From Kennedy campaign)

Tonight, Mary Landrieu Claimed She Never Supported A Timeline For Withdrawal In Iraq. THAT IS A LIE.

In April 2007, Mary Landrieu Claimed That She Opposes Setting An Arbitrary Deadline For Bringing U.S. Troops Back From Iraq

Landrieu was quoted in a Washington Times article saying, ‘“We must set clear goals and benchmarks for success in Iraq. ... But I cannot support timetables that call for redeployment based on an arbitrary calendar date,’ Mrs. Landrieu said, stressing she supports full funding for the troops.”’ (S.A. Miller, “GOP Eyes Success On War Funding,” Washington Times, April 14, 2007)

A press release from Landrieu’s office stated, “And I will continue to oppose any arbitrary timetables that could jeopardize the safety of our troops or diminish our nation’s fight against terrorism.” (Landrieu Votes for Continued Troop Funding, Clear Benchmarks for Iraqi Success,” Office of Senator Landrieu Press Release, http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/06/2007316943.html, March 15, 2007)

In March 2007, Landrieu Voted Against An Amendment To The FY07 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill That Would Have Stripped The Language That Set A Timeline For Withdrawing U.S. Troops From Iraq

According to Congressional Quarterly Weekly, “By the slimmest of margins, Senate Democrats last week managed to keep alive an effort to tell the president when he should start withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

“On March 27, senators defeated, 48-50, an amendment that would have removed such language from a $123 billion fiscal 2007 supplemental spending bill (HR 1591).” (Liriel Higa, “Hill Braces for Supplemental Veto,” CQ Weekly, March 30, 2007)

Landrieu voted against the amendment that would strike language in the bill calling for the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008. (Rejected 48-51: R 46-2; D 1-47; I 1-1) (H.R. 1591, CQ Vote #116, March 27, 2007)

In March 2007, She Voted For A Resolution That Also Called For A Date-Certain Deadline

Landrieu voted for passage of the joint resolution that would establish a more limited mission for U.S. forces in Iraq and set a non-binding goal of withdrawing most combat troops by March 2008. Within four months of enactment, the measure would require the president to limit the U.S. mission to counterterrorism efforts, training Iraqi forces and protecting U.S. assets. (Rejected 48-50: R 1-47; D 46-2 I 1-1) (S. J. Res. 9, CQ Vote #75, March 15, 2007)

Mary Landrieu’s Campaign

John Kennedy today said he is opposed to withdrawing American troops from the War in Iraq.  Watch this video to listen to Mr. Kennedy endorse a plan to withdraw troops:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiecDko_I4Q.

September 2004 – Kennedy Favored Timetable For Withdrawal Of U.S. Troops: In September, Kennedy said he favored a specific timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. (Times-Picayune, 9/20/04)
 
2008 – Kennedy Wants To Continue War In Iraq:  According to the News-Star, "four years later as he runs against Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu, Kennedy is fashioning himself as a GOP conservative who wants to continue the war in Iraq."  (Monroe News-Star, 7/14/08)

Mary Landrieu’s Campaign

John Kennedy today said he never opposed more than $1 billion in hurricane relief for farmers impacted by Gustav and Ike.  He is lying about his record.

Kennedy Opposes Money For Louisiana Farmers: On October 3, 2008, Kennedy defended Coburn's opposition to hurricane relief for Louisiana farmers and criticized Senator Landrieu for working to secure $1.12 billion for farmers who suffered losses during Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Kennedy called the effort "election year politics" (Kennedy Campaign Update, 10/3/08; Times-Picayune, 9/28/08)

Kennedy Rejoiced At Bill's Failure: James Gill of the Times-Picayune reported in October 2008, "...Kennedy up and rejoiced at the bill's failure. He praised Coburn for catching 'Mary Landrieu red-handed playing politics with our farmers.' Somebody should have told Kennedy that our farmers didn't mind." (Times-Picayune, 10/12/08)

DEBATE FACT SHEET: John Kennedy Has ALWAYS Supported Louisiana’s Farmers

(From Kennedy campaign)

The Times-Picayune article on John Kennedy’s support for farmers is completely inaccurate. John Kennedy has ALWAYS supported aid for Louisiana’s farmers, but he will never exploit our farmers to score political points – like Mary Landrieu is doing.

John Kennedy will never play politics for personal gain because he has been standing up for Louisianans his entire career.

Mary Landrieu’s Campaign

Despite John Kennedy's misleading attacks against Senator Landrieu's record, Senator Landrieu has fought to balance the budget and return America to the budget surplus we enjoyed in the 1990s.

Crossed Party Lines To Support Constitutional Amendment To Require Balanced Budget: In 1997, Senator Landrieu voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. She was one of 11 Democrats to support the amendment. (SJRES1, Vote #24, 3/4/97)

Voted For Balanced Budget Act Of 1997 That Produced Balanced Budget For The First Time In 30 Years: In 1997, Senator Landrieu voted for the Balanced Budget Act, which reduced government spending and balanced the budget for the first time in thirty years. (HR 2015, Vote #209, 7/31/97; Rock Hill Herald, 6/7/06)

Supported Pay-Go Legislation: In the U.S. Senate, Landrieu has voted nine times for pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules requiring both tax cuts and mandatory spending be offset in an effort to balance the federal budget.. (HR 2669, Vote #264, 7/19/07; SCONRES 21, Vote #172, 5/17/07; SCONRES 21, Vote #87, 3/21/07; SCONRES 83, Vote #38, 3/14/06; S 1932, Vote #283, 11/3/05; S 2020, Vote #340, 11/17/05; SCONRES 18, Vote #53, 3/16/05; SCONRES 95, Vote #38, 3/10/04; S 2514, Vote #159, 6/20/02)

DEBATE FACT SHEET: Landrieu Wants To Nationalize Healthcare System. Now The “Moderate” Candidate Wants To Nationalize Banks?

(From Kennedy campaign)

Tonight Mary Landrieu said she wants to nationalize our banks and healthcare system. How much more liberal can you get?

Mary Landrieu Voted With Barack Obama 81% Of The Time.

Since Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2005, Mary Landrieu has voted with Obama 81 percent of the time. In the 956 total number of instances when both senators voted “yes” or “no,” Landrieu and Obama voted together 772 times - 80.75  percent of the time.  (CQ Vote Comparison, Conducted 8/12/08)

Barack Obama Is The Most Liberal Member Of The United States Senate.

National Journal: “Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings.”  (Brian Friel, Richard E. Cohen And Kirk Victor, “Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007,” National Journal, 1/31/08) 

DEBATE FACT SHEET: “Moderate Mary” Endorses Liberal Obama

Louisianans across the state are asking – If Mary Landrieu claims to be such a moderate, then why did she endorse the most liberal member of the United States Senate, Barack Obama, for President of the United States? And why does she refuse to talk about it?

Mary Landrieu: “Well I’m proud to be running with Barack Obama.” (Mary Landrieu, Election Qualifying, Louisiana Secretary Of State, 7/11/08)

Mary Landrieu Voted With Barack Obama 81% Of The Time.

Since Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2005, Mary Landrieu has voted with Obama 81 percent of the time. In the 956 total number of instances when both senators voted “yes” or “no,” Landrieu and Obama voted together 772 times - 80.75  percent of the time.  (CQ Vote Comparison, Conducted 8/12/08)

Barack Obama Is The Most Liberal Member Of The United States Senate.

National Journal: “Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings.”  (Brian Friel, Richard E. Cohen And Kirk Victor, “Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007,” National Journal, 1/31/08)

On Abortion:

Mary Landrieu voted with Barack Obama “to repeal the ‘Mexico City’ policy, which bars U.S. aid to international family planning organizations that perform or promote abortions, even if they use their own funds to do so.”  (S 600, CQ Vote #83, Landrieu Voted Yea, Obama Voted Yea, 4/5/05)

On Taxes:

Mary Landrieu voted with Barack Obama for the largest tax increase in American history. (S Con Res 21, CQ Vote #114, Landrieu Voted Yea, Obama Voted Yea, 3/23/07)

Americans for Tax Reform: “This budget provides for the largest tax increase in American history, drastically increases spending, and if enacted will slow economic growth.” (“ATR Urges Senators To Vote Against The Proposed Fiscal Year 2008 Budget, S. Con. Resolution 21,” Americans for Tax Reform, 3/21/07)

On Opposing Conservative Judges:

Mary Landrieu voted with Barack Obama opposing the confirmation of Justice Sam Alito. (Senate Vote #2, On The Confirmation Of Samuel A. Alito, Jr. To Be An Associate Justice On The Supreme Court, Landrieu Voted Nay, Obama Voted Nay, 1/31/06)

Mary Landrieu: “Judge Alito's record gives me cause for concern.” (Senator Mary Landrieu, “Sen. Landrieu, After Urging Against Filibuster, Votes No On Alito,” Press Release, 1/31/06)







 

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