McCaskill destroys Akin in debate
Yael T. AbouhalkahThat wasn’t pretty for U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin or his supporters.
The Republican was crushed by Democrat Claire McCaskill in their first debate on Friday.
The incumbent was clearly more aggressive, came armed with more specifics and really attacked Akin much more during the discussion.
As for Akin, he fell back on the normal mantra of saying Washington is evil, big government is bad, and the private sector will solve all of America’s problems.
That helps with his base, sure. But it won’t attract much support from independent voters, who are looking for someone who can go to Washington and really work with the system to help fix it.
I will note that both Akin and McCaskill did not do much good for themselves in answering how they would really cut the budget (the Simpson-Bowles question) or in both denying that government has a role to play in reducing America’s very real and costly obesity problem.
My specific comments on these and other issues are found below.
I will agree with McCaskill critics on at least this one: She was really trying to portray herself as a moderate on a number of issues, trying to attract independent votes in this hard-fought election.
But she’s really a liberal on many issues, and that’s not really a bad thing.
As for all the issues handled in the debate, here are links to my commentaries on them.
Here is Round I on the opening statements.
Here is Round II on Akin’s extremism.
Here is Round III on Postal Service answers.
Here is Round IV on Medicare.
Here is Round V on foreign policy.
Here is Round VI on deficit reduction.
Here is Round VII on obesity.
Wes McCoy
8 months agoMany years ago, the Jewish Community Center sponsored a number of Ukrainian Jews to come to Kansas City; since they were short on education and language, the Center assisted them in starting small businesses-and they were successful!
One in particular told me he was able to tell what it was like in America by reading Pravda–and I was stunned by that statement. “But all they printed was lies about the US!”
“Of course–-and that’s how I knew what it was like. I read Pravda and I knew the total opposite was true!”
Such as it is with the Star—have to read it 180 degrees out of phase like Pravda to find out what REALLY is happening!
Mark Hastert
8 months agoIf he can’t handle a local TV interviewer Mr Akin should have never debated a former prosecutor.
Joshua C. Beshears
8 months ago“But she’s really a liberal on many issues, and that’s not really a bad thing.”
Ha wow and I wonder why you think Akin got destroyed in the debate. Would you really expect a liberal like yourself to admit defeat?
Johnathon Busby
8 months agoAkin couldn’t handle one easy softball question on non-network tv about a month back. Would anyone really expect the ignorant fellow to actually be able to debate? To articulate an intelligent thought, and actually defend it?
Akin shouldn’t be trusted to sack french fries, let alone hold office.