Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Televised debate generates a few sparks
Creigh Deeds lashed back over assertions by opponent Bob McDonnell about the Democrat's tax plans.
Associated Press
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds (left) responds to a question as Republican challenger Bob McDonnell jots a few notes during a televised debate Monday night in Richmond.
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roanoke.com/politics
RICHMOND -- Virginia's candidates for governor clashed over transportation, the economy and equal rights for women and gays in their first televised debate Monday night, an exchange in which Democrat Creigh Deeds accused Republican Bob McDonnell of lying about his record and policy positions.
Trailing in the polls, Deeds reacted aggressively when McDonnell painted him as a tax-raiser and attempted to link the Democrat with federal labor and pollution-control measures moving through Congress. McDonnell lit the spark on the debate's first question, saying Deeds supports $1 billion in new taxes for transportation.
"You just heard him restate a lie just now," Deeds said.
Later in the debate, Deeds lashed back when McDonnell accused him of supporting a federal cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and said the proposal would cost households $1,700. Deeds said he opposes the bill that has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and accused McDonnell of "spending millions of dollars lying to the voters of Virginia" about his decision.
"I guess he wants this campaign to be decided on issues that he's going to lie about," Deeds said.
McDonnell, the former attorney general, said after the debate that Deeds' attacks were "beneath the dignity" of a gubernatorial candidate.
"I think we need more civility in politics and I don't think we need name-calling," McDonnell said.
Deeds stood by his assertion after the debate.
"Maybe that was too strong of a word for a debate format, but the fact is he's a one-trick pony," Deeds said, complaining that McDonnell "keeps telling the same untruths over and over again."
Deeds' jabs punctuated an otherwise subdued debate staged in the studio of Richmond public television station WCVE. The two candidates were seated at a table in front of moderator Judy Woodruff, a panel of questioners and an audience of about 120. The League of Women Voters and AARP sponsored the event.
Deeds and McDonnell renewed their long-running argument over transportation funding, restating familiar arguments for the television audience. Deeds called transportation the state's most pressing issue and said he would assemble a bipartisan commission to hammer out a long-range plan for funding more than $1 billion in annual road and transit needs.
"If that commission can produce a plan that raises new funding for transportation that's supported by the General Assembly, I'll sign it," Deeds said.
But Deeds has not outlined a specific plan to generate revenue, saying only that he would not divert funds from education or other essential state services.
McDonnell has been happy to exploit Deeds' lack of specificity on taxes, arguing that Deeds would push to increase gasoline taxes and other levies.
"He's taken everything off the table but tax increases," McDonnell said.
McDonnell has promoted a transportation plan that calls for privatizing the state's liquor stores, imposing interstate tolls at the North Carolina border, and new borrowing, among other things. Deeds has argued that McDonnell's plan relies on unrealistic revenue assumptions and ideas that already have been rejected by the General Assembly.
"I've laid out a very detailed plan ... about 12 different funding mechanisms that are creative but don't raise taxes," McDonnell said.
McDonnell said job creation and economic development are top campaign issues and that he would champion low taxes and limited regulation to attract businesses. Deeds said he would offer tax credits for every new job created in his term and help rural economies by pushing for the extension of broadband Internet to underserved areas.
The candidates also fielded questions about government policies toward women and gays. Both said they supported policies guaranteeing equal pay for women, but Deeds criticized McDonnell for voting against a 2001 House of Delegates resolution supporting pay equity. McDonnell said half of the senior staff in his attorney general's office were women. Deeds said women would fill at least half of his gubernatorial Cabinet slots.
There were no questions about McDonnell's 20-year-old graduate thesis, which raised questions about the Republican's attitudes about working women and gays. But McDonnell restated his opposition to Gov. Tim Kaine's executive order which added sexual orientation to the state government's nondiscrimination policy. McDonnell said he opposed the order on constitutional grounds, and that the General Assembly should decide such matters. Deeds said he would renew the order.
The candidates will debate for the final time Oct. 20 at Roanoke College, an event sponsored by WSLS television (Channel 10).
