Richmond, VA - The reviews continue to roll in from the first Senate debate between Tim Kaine and George Allen. During the debate, Tim Kaine “stressed the need to ‘win the talent war,’” “expressed a passion for developing more alternative energy initiatives,” and “pitched himself as a moderate political leader, mentioning frequently that he cut state spending by $5 billion during his time as governor, while simultaneously making investments in infrastructure and human development.”
In contrast, the debate exposed George Allen’s inability to match his rhetoric with his big-spending record, his role in creating our nation’s economic problems, and his long history of practicing the politics of division.
National publications and newspapers across the state have taken notice of these stark contrasts. Some key excerpts from this weekend’s editorial coverage are below:
Allen Can't Reconcile His Rhetoric With His Big-Spending Record
“During last week's debate with Democrat Tim Kaine, [George] Allen - a former governor and U.S. senator - struggled to reconcile his current campaign message of fiscal restraint with his voting history.” [Virginian-Pilot, 12/11/11]
“Allen now faces challenges from some conservatives whosee him as the embodiment of Republicans who say one thing when they’re running for office and do another once they’re elected.” [Danville Register and Bee, 12/11/11]
“Kaine said Allen talks tough on budget discipline but ducks tough decisions; that he is "all boots and no cattle" — recalling the biting précis of Allen by the late Bob Kilpatrick, a nationally prominent insurance executive who refused to support him for the 1993 Republican nomination for governor.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11/11]
"This leaves Allen vulnerable to criticism on the issueon which Republicans believe economic uncertainty gives them the upper hand: repairing the nation's finances. But neither the tea party nor Kaine will let Allen get away with it, having voted to finance with bigger deficits a senior drug benefit under Medicare and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11/11]
“The argument that Allen is suddenly not conservative enough for Virginia may even work…” [Danville Register and Bee, 12/11/11]
“In discussing "personhood" — the idea that the law should consider a fertilized human egg as a full person with all the same rights — Allen flunked a 10th-grade biology quiz.” [Staunton News Leader, 12/11/11]
Allen Didn't Give Voters A Single Reason To Reelect Him
“In their first debate this week, Kaine actually challenged Allen from the right. He said the national debt increased $16,000 during every second of Allen’s Senate term — a claim the fact-checking website PolitiFact Virginia judged true.” [Danville Register and Bee, 12/11/11]
“Allen backed wars and tax cuts that blew holes in a national budget surplus…” [Staunton News Leader, 12/11/11]
“Allen is saddled with baggage from his six years in the Senate, where he's on record supporting the No Child Left Behind Act, an expansion of Medicare prescription benefits, unfunded wars, increases in the nation'sdebt ceiling, deep tax cuts and pay raises for himself. [Virginian-Pilot, 12/11/11]
“Spending, Allen conceded, "was a problem in those years." [Virginian-Pilot, 12/11/11]
"Kaine blasted Allen's tenure in the Senate, which coincided with much of the overreach of the Bush administration. The Democrat put Allen on the defensive by echoing Tea Party themes. Kaine will continue to press the case — and should." [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11/11]
“Forget that the seat is open because Jim Webb, who narrowly defeated Allen for a second term in 2006, isn't running. That detracts from the preferred narrative: Allen can't deny contributing to the mess in Washington and sending him back will only make it worse. This might seem a stretch were it not for Allen's evident discomfort defending a red ink-stained Senate record from which he tries to divert attention…” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11/11]
Allen Proved That He'd Continue To Practice the Politics Of Division If Reelected
“But Kaine on Wednesday asked if Allen also didn't know the meaning of the words Allen spoke just before using the M-word: "Welcome to America. Welcome to the real Virginia." Even to someone who never heard "macaca" before, the meaning comes through loud and clear in that context. The message coming from a modern, Southern elected official is horrifying — and voters decided, disqualifying.” [Staunton News Leader, 12/11/11]
“When called out and cornered, he reverted to form, referring to Kaine as "Doctor Kaine," in a derisive way for a laugh.”[Staunton News Leader, 12/11/11]
“Calling someone a mean-spirited name, it appears, is still a George Allen reflex, and a window on his character. Somewhere he's going to have to learn he has to stop having "macaca" moments if he stands any chance of winning in 2012.” [Staunton News Leader, 12/11/11]
“During Wednesday's debate, he pledged to work to unite people, despite railing a short while earlier about Obama administration energy policies and the "sanctimonious social engineers" in Washington hindering economic growth.” [Virginian-Pilot, 12/11/11]
“As the macaca moment and other episodes demonstrate, Allen is not above name-calling, often to the delight of his immediate audience but occasionally without regard for the larger one. Allen was at it again against Kaine, describing some federal employees as ‘sanctimonious social engineers.’” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11/11
“Such a characterization could prove perilous in a state where a quarter of the economy is attributed to Washington largesse. Federal workers — they're voters, too — may wonder whether Allen can be trusted to protect their jobs, particularly those dependent on the defense budget he claims to hold dear. [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11/11]