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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (7048)	10/14/2006 4:14:51 PM
From: Ann Corrigan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224707

The Santorum and Casey Debate Interrupting and pointing, the Senate foes clashed on their dedication and priorities. Caroline Budoff, The Inquirer, Oct 13, 2006 PITTSBURGH - Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and Democrat Bob Casey Jr. sparred over character and policy yesterday in a lively debate. From the first minutes to the last, the candidates talked over each other, pressed their own questions, and leveled stinging criticism. They clashed over where Santorum sleeps at night, how often Casey does his job as state treasurer, and which of them is more transparent with voters. "Look in the camera and tell the people how many 9-to-5 days you've spent," Santorum said, pointing at Casey, then the camera. "... Look in the camera, Mr. Casey." "This is a legitimate question. He's questioning my work ethic" said Santorum. Then he repeated to Casey: "Now I want you to look in the camera and tell people how many full days of work you spent at the treasurer's office last month." Casey did not oblige. So went the second debate in one of the nation's top Senate races. In the Pittsburgh KDKA-TV studios, Santorum and Casey discussed North Korea, Iraq and immigration, but it was less of a policy exchange than a sharp-tongued duel months in the making. Santorum needed to shake up the campaign - and he did, at least during the debate, by putting his opponent more on the defensive than Casey had been in months. The two-term senator displayed the combative nature that has earned him admirers, but that has also fed criticism he is overly partisan. In a closing argument that was an emotional plea for his job, Santorum made no apologies about his aggressive style. "I'm a passionate guy. I'm tough, I'm a fighter," he said. "But you know what? I'm an Italian kid from a steel town. What do you expect from me? I'm a guy who had to grow up having to scratch and claw. I wasn't born into a family that had a great name. My dad's an immigrant to this country. I've worked hard, just like you do in western Pennsylvania to fight for the things you believe in." The son of a two-term governor, Casey asked voters to back a new direction, promising to fight unfair labor deals and deliver children's health insurance. Like his opponent, who stood only inches away, Casey often wagged a finger at Santorum. Near the end, it looked as though they were ready to tussle. Moderator Ken Rice of KDKA interrupted, reined in the candidates, and returned the discussion to policy. Casey pressed his view that the country was less safe than it was before the Iraq war. Santorum stood by his support of the Iraq war and what he calls a global war on Islamic fascism. He said the approach had worked, noting that the United States has not been attacked for five years. In a bid to make Casey look unprepared on foreign policy, Santorum asked him to name the former Iranian president who spurred controversy in September when he visited the United States. Casey could not name Mohammad Khatami. Some of the candidates' most pointed exchanges focused on how much they work. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that between March and December 2005, Casey spent about 40 percent of the workdays on his campaign. The report also showed that Santorum attended fund-raisers on 97 of 211 workdays. During the debate, Santorum portrayed himself as a senator who delivers, defending veterans' hospitals from cuts and even puppies from dog-breeding operations. The debate concluded with a chance for each candidate to pose a question to the other. Casey asked Santorum to defend his statement last month that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was doing a "fine job." "Has he made mistakes? You bet he has made mistakes," Santorum said. "We have all made mistakes in Washington. We're learning as we try to adapt post Sept 11." Santorum asked Casey to identify the percentage of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System pension fund invested in companies identified as shipping jobs overseas. Casey, who sits on the system's board, said he could not, but defended its investments as sound. Santorum answered for him - 25 percent. And again, decorum was gone. Despite the hour-long slugfest, they smiled at the end, shook hands and left the studio. The Pennsylvania Cable Network will replay the debate at 1 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Sunday. The candidates will meet again Monday in Philadelphia for an 8 a.m. debate at KYW-AM (1060) and a 7 p.m. meeting at the National Constitution Center.