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10/8/2010
Kagen-Ribble debate: Clear contrast
Charlie Cook is not a partisan. After all, he’s got a business to run – and that business happens to be political reporting. I’d say Charlie Cook can’t afford to be partisan – he’s built a mountain of credibility with the political types, as well as the you-and-me types just plain grassroots interested in politics.
I go through that diatribe of Cook’s nonpartisan bona fides to add credibility to his words in his piece yesterday (included in FoxPol News) sharing a discussion he had with a Democratic pollster:
[The pollster] went on to suggest that destroying their Republican opponents might be their only ticket back to Washington.
Looking back, that was pretty sound advice, and it's exactly what a lot of Democratic candidates have started doing.
.... For those with young children, it may be a good time to make sure the Disney Channel is paid up on your cable and the DVD player is in good working order. You really don't want your kids watching commercial television these days, given the negative ads that are already running by candidates on both sides.
There is no question that Democrats have their backs to the wall. It's unprecedented to see so many incumbents running behind their challengers.
And I go into Cook’s Democratic pollster’s advice because it’s exactly the way 8th District Representative Steve Kagen is running his campaign. Exactly. It came out in spades in last night’s debate with GOP opponent Reid Ribble.
Both candidates performed well. Kagen came across defensive in his opening statement, but then confident – and itching for a fight. Part of that fight included disrespectful references to his opponent as “Reid” and repeated errant representations of Ribble’s positions. Kagen’s confidence extended to a portrayal of pride in his votes on the stimulus and Obamacare. His attacks included the classic Democratic right hook on Social Security. Andrew Stiles at National Review wrote about Wisconsin’s races yesterday (on Feingold) and today. From today’s piece:
As their numbers continue to fall in the polls, the state’s Democrats, who lack a single popular policy item to run on this cycle, seem to have settled on a well-worn strategy -- accusing their opponents of wanting to take away Social Security.
[U.W. Political Science professor Kenneth R.] Mayer calls this a “classic Democratic campaign technique” that, more often than not, signals weakness. “The [Social Security] issue is the last assault a Democrat can make when they feel like they’re losing,” he says.
Kagen followed the playbook to a “T.”
Self-assured and prepared, Ribble demonstrated a tremendous breadth of knowledge, studied policy positions and where needed, solutions. And he didn’t allow the attacks to go undefended. Appearing gentlemanly but firm, he called a lie a lie and at one point suggested subtly that perhaps Kagen’s “M.D.” stood for Mis-Directed.
Repeatedly, and in his closing remarks as well, Ribble beseeched the audience and perhaps all of America for adult conversations to solve our very real, huge impending problems, e.g., immigration and Social Security. The lifelong Fox Valley resident pointed out the contrast between Kagen’s $200,000 worth of negative ads and his own continuing commitment to a positive TV and radio presence that it is hoped will move those discussions forward.
Let’s see how this plays. The American voter says they want serious campaigns, adult conversations. They are getting it from Ribble.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Does anyone know where I might be able to watch the entire 8th Congressional debate online? Yesterday's debate, that is? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Andrew Ellis (Fri Oct 08 08:54:44 2010)
Nevermind. Just found it on Fox11.
Andrew Ellis (Fri Oct 08 08:58:12 2010)
And it will be shown on Fox11 tomorrow (Saturday) night at 7:00. Let us know your impressions.
Jo (Fri Oct 08 09:27:54 2010)
I was at the debate last night. It was reasonably well-run and there were no "gotcha" questions that I could discern, even though one of the questioners from Fox 11 asked Reid Ribble what his stance was on a non-existent agriculture bill. She recovered nicely and went to another question.
There did seem to be a preponderance of union people there and lest you accuse me of "union profiling" some were wearing jackets and shirts with their union logos on them.
The audience, on the whole, was well-behaved. The supporters of each candidate did burst into applause and laughter at one point during the evening and at the end, before Tom Milbourn, the moderator wrapped it up, and after Steve Kagen made his last remarks Kagen supporters burst into applause. At the end there was more applause and "spontaneous" loud shouts of "Ka-gen! Ka-gen! Ka-gen!"
I was just thankful there was no bullhorn. Next time I think I'll bring mine.
C. R. Stevenson (Fri Oct 08 09:57:47 2010)
Being at the debate it was apparent that kagen is trying to bait Reid and get him to be angry. The most important point mentioned by Kagen was when he said he wrote the health care bill. WOW is that ad material!!.
Reid needs to ask the question in either opening or closing statement are you better off now than you were 4 years ago? when Steve Kagen took office.
The voters in the 8th district need a congressman that will do things "FOR" them not "TO" them as Steve Kagen has done to us!!! Stay focussed.
Jay Schroeder (Fri Oct 08 09:57:57 2010)
Jay,
I was at the debate and believe Ribble did an adequate job. I disagree with him on many things but he was reasonably knowledgeable and well spoken.
I don't believe that Kagen said he wrote the health bill. What I believe he said (at different points) was:
A) "I read the whole bill"
B) "I wrote a one Page Bill (expanded to three page) that would require full internet based pricing disclosure for all medical procedures"
I know he did write that disclosure bill, which didn't get passed, as I have seen it.
The tape will show what he said of course.
dave allen (Fri Oct 08 10:33:14 2010)
I attended a Kagen rally at UW GB a year or more ago and the room was ringed by union heavyweights. Intimidation? You bet, and I didn't like it. It was not reported anywhere.
Charlene Johnson (Fri Oct 08 18:13:55 2010)
One thing i will never forget was the 2008 Kagen television ad with several seniors giving him praise one at a time. The ad closed with an adorable little old lady, a woman who looked like shoe-in for a sweet old grandmother role in a hallmark film, looking at the camera and saying, "Shame on you John Gard."
That type of tactic seems to be his mantra as far as ads go.
Nathan H (Sat Oct 09 13:05:46 2010)
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