Jan Ting & Mike Protack
Earlier this evening, the College Republicans at the University of Delaware hosted both Republican US Senate candidates. Both were given ample time to speak, and both followed their speeches with question and answer sessions.
Jan Ting did very well. This is my third time seeing him doing this sort of talk, and this was the best performance of his I have seen so far. His speach covered a lot of ground, but did so with a style that encapsulated his message without lecturing. Ting seemed to have a clear grasp of the issues and where he stood. He spoke with a tone that allowed him to sound educated, but not condescending. His responses to the questions fielded by the audience sounded thought out and reasoned. It seemed like most of the room had a favorable impression of Ting, especially on immigration (he has also laid out his position here).
After a short recess, Mike Protack was given the floor, and that is where the meeting took an interesting turn. Protack laid out his message, focusing on what he deems to be the big issues of 2006, health care and pensions. Protack talked heavily on re-facing the Republican Party, especially about reaching out to labor unions, and trying to fight for the "working man." Sounds a little too much like the Democrats if you ask me. Apparently, some of the College Republicans in the audience agreed, and asked Protack several pointed questions, both about his positions, and some of his claims.
One member disagreed with him when he said that "most jobs do not require documentation to get." She countered this point with facts that in her five jobs, she had to present documentation to get all of them, in various places, including resteraunts. She said that Protack's statement was misleading, and called him on it, causing him to stammer and try to qualify his answer. She then accused him of dodging the question. Others accused Protack of not exciting the base, and questioning what they called a deluding of values to try to reach out to the middle, rather than the base. In response to that, Protack said something reminiscent of John Kerry in 2004, claiming that his conservative positions were all on his website. Yet another questioned him dilligently on his call for national healthcare. If Mike Protack cannot handle a group of self-identified Republicans in college, how can he expect to do against an established Democratic politician?
After the meeting, Ting stayed and chatted with several students, Protack finished one of his arguments with an audience member, and then left.
Cross-posted at Delaware2006.
Jan Ting did very well. This is my third time seeing him doing this sort of talk, and this was the best performance of his I have seen so far. His speach covered a lot of ground, but did so with a style that encapsulated his message without lecturing. Ting seemed to have a clear grasp of the issues and where he stood. He spoke with a tone that allowed him to sound educated, but not condescending. His responses to the questions fielded by the audience sounded thought out and reasoned. It seemed like most of the room had a favorable impression of Ting, especially on immigration (he has also laid out his position here).
After a short recess, Mike Protack was given the floor, and that is where the meeting took an interesting turn. Protack laid out his message, focusing on what he deems to be the big issues of 2006, health care and pensions. Protack talked heavily on re-facing the Republican Party, especially about reaching out to labor unions, and trying to fight for the "working man." Sounds a little too much like the Democrats if you ask me. Apparently, some of the College Republicans in the audience agreed, and asked Protack several pointed questions, both about his positions, and some of his claims.
One member disagreed with him when he said that "most jobs do not require documentation to get." She countered this point with facts that in her five jobs, she had to present documentation to get all of them, in various places, including resteraunts. She said that Protack's statement was misleading, and called him on it, causing him to stammer and try to qualify his answer. She then accused him of dodging the question. Others accused Protack of not exciting the base, and questioning what they called a deluding of values to try to reach out to the middle, rather than the base. In response to that, Protack said something reminiscent of John Kerry in 2004, claiming that his conservative positions were all on his website. Yet another questioned him dilligently on his call for national healthcare. If Mike Protack cannot handle a group of self-identified Republicans in college, how can he expect to do against an established Democratic politician?
After the meeting, Ting stayed and chatted with several students, Protack finished one of his arguments with an audience member, and then left.
Cross-posted at Delaware2006.
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