Candidates for New York’s 20th Congressional District, Eric Sundwall and Scott Murphy, will debate tonight at 7:30 PM, sponsored by PBS and Times Union. Sundwall is a Libertarian, and Murphy is a Democrat. The Republican candidate, Tim Tedisco, will not be participating in the debate.
You can read the full article here. Source: Albany Times Union.
Steven,
I agree with you totally on the healthcare answer. He should have said something along the lines of “to ensure everyone who wants healthcare can have healthcare we need to ensure everyone can afford healthcare, and the best way to do that is to lower taxes and allow more private competition in the healthcare market to drive down prices,” rather than “why should I pay for your healthcare?” While the question may well be legitimate, most people don’t think “yeah, why should he,” they think “what an ass!”
I don’t know why the above link didn’t work…probably my lack of html knowledge. 🙂
I largely agree with Nate’s assessment of the debate.
I got the sneaking suspicion that Murphy is an attorney, practiced at making any statement he makes sound like a sound argument. But I do agree that he sounded a bit pompous.
Nothing that Sundwall can’t overcome with a little practice.
OTOH, Sundwall could have had a better healthcare soundbite. He did sound a little cold hearted. Something many Libertarians have been accused of.
PEACE
Here is an easier link to watch the District 20 event:
http://www.tinyurl.com/WMHTforum
Ok, so I’ve gotten around to watching the debate. Here are a few of my thoughts on the subject, as an independent objective viewer (haha):
So, first off Sundwall did a decent job in my opinion, didn’t sound like a lunatic, and hopefully the exposure increased not only the amount of people who now know who he is, but also will consider voting for him. I think however that as he himself put it 50% of the eligible voters don’t vote, probably much more in a special election, and these people are potentially much more willing to vote for someone outside the duopoly, if they knew someone like that was running. They are not however all that likely to have watched the debate, as they are probably weary of politics and possibly didn’t even know there was a third party member at the debate, assuming that it would be the same old same old.
Secondly the debate moderators seemed biased against libertarian views, at least at the beginning, before even giving Sundwall a chance to answer the question. Also many of the questions, intentionally or not, were posed in an awkward manner for a libertarian to answer. The audience questions however were much more fair in that sense, and I believe he did better answering them.
As I had mentioned earlier I believe Murphy was the better speaker (although personally I felt he sounded like a pompous ass at times, and tended to be repetitive), although Sundwall spoke better than in the two clips I had watched on his website. Murphy also had his height and upright posture going for him, which sadly often has more impact on voters than the issues.
I felt Sundwall did quite well on the question about the next generation footing the bill, although to be fair this was really a gift to him on a silver platter, and Murphy speaking after him was probably able to win that one by “agreeing” and then saying how wonderful the stimulus was. I think Sundwall could have and should have come out more forcefully for investigating Bush violations of the constitution, even if only to differentiate himself on an issue that might make some voters vote for him.
I’d have to say that Murphy “won” the debate. He gave less controversial answers, many if not most people do agree with him more on subjects like health insurance and he just seemed more at ease. He managed to make the “stimulus” sound necessary and good, mainly by linking it to things “everyone, everyone, everyone needs.” I think it’s good that Sundwall gave controversial answers, don’t get me wrong, and think at some points he should have been even more controversial, although it’s a fine line that he certainly doesn’t want to cross and be considered just some nutcase. I just don’t necessarily think it helps him “win” a debate. You could say that facts should win a debate, but neither candidate really offered any facts in any regard.
In closing I’d like to say two things:
1) It was lame of the debate to allow Tedisco soundbites to be read that offered no substance whatsoever and gave the moderators no chance to ask followup questions like: Answer the question, dammit! (Ok, that’s not a question, but to a lesser extent they did do this to Murphy, and worded questions unfairly to Sundwall.)
2) While he didn’t come out and support the Progressive-Libertarian-Alliance (which frankly would have shocked the hell out of me if he had) he did say the congressmen he respected most were Dennis Kucinich as well as Ron Paul, which should hopefully score him some votes from progressives, as well as his libertarian/progressive views on the wars.
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I think Tedisco was probably an idiot even before this.
As for Sundwall winning the debate, I’m going to wait and see. He should probably win on the issues, but Murphy seems to be a better speaker, and probably has more debate experience.
As for gaining supporters, yeah I think that should happen simply because of the news coverage, provided he doesn’t make an ass of himself, not that I think he will. But a lot of people are set in their ways – “four legs good, marijuana baaaaad” – so I’m not so sure he’ll gain as many as one would like.
Agreed with Robert I guess. Tidisco is an idiot for this.
I have no doubt that Eric Sundwall will win the debate and many, many new supporters tonight.
Morris Guller
Lexington, New York
It would be very cool if he were to win. First Libertarian Congressman.
OK Eric. Here is your chance to take back the progressive vote from the democrat. pbs=progressive broadcasting system.