Jan Ting v. Mike Protack, New Castle County Debate
Earlier tonight I attended a debate between Jan Ting and Mike Protack, both jockeying for the chance to beat Tom Carper in November. The event was a New Castle County Republican Committee event, and was held at the Hockessin Fire Hall. WDEL's own Rick Jensen hosted (full disclosure, I am linked on Jensen's WDEL page), and made the event quite entertaining. I need to listen to him more often.
The debate format was opening statements (3 minutes each), then questions (2 minutes, plus one for rebuttal), and then closing (3 minutes). Jan Ting won the coin toss, and delivered his speech. Mike Protack started out in an ominous fashion, trying to crack a joke 'from Washington' about the Pope and George Bush walking on water. Not a sign that all is well.
The debate continued in such a fashion through the questions on energy, and really heated up with Iraq. However, I must note that Protack declared that the "solution for Iraq is through Iran." I think he was trying to talk about sectarian violence, but it left me really confused. If anyone could explain this to me, it would be appreciated. This from someone who has studied Middle East history at least a little more than the average American.
Protack indirectly attacked Ting a number of times on the issue of Ting's opposition to Vietnam, saying that veterans would not vote for him. Given that Ting was in college at the time, wasn't exactly extensive when compared to others. Ting countered by calling Vietnam a "noble struggle," and said that Protack belittled veterans by insinuating that they would vote as a block, noting that they are independent thinkers, and not easily herded into one camp, generally.
Protack also decimated his "conservative record" by calling for Universal Health Care, the details of which are on his website. One of the attendees remarked to me that Protack's website was "a website reminiscent of the 2004 Kerry campaign...a portal through which information lives, which the candidate does not know from memory." I can just say, that I will not vote for someone who wants state-run health care. No way. No how.
Jan Ting endorsed the Porkbusters' cause, though not by name , but he did say that he is anti-earmarks, and supports a line-item veto of some sort.
Jan Ting won the straw poll, getting 39 votes (72%) to Protack's 15. He has won every straw poll.
The debate format was opening statements (3 minutes each), then questions (2 minutes, plus one for rebuttal), and then closing (3 minutes). Jan Ting won the coin toss, and delivered his speech. Mike Protack started out in an ominous fashion, trying to crack a joke 'from Washington' about the Pope and George Bush walking on water. Not a sign that all is well.
The debate continued in such a fashion through the questions on energy, and really heated up with Iraq. However, I must note that Protack declared that the "solution for Iraq is through Iran." I think he was trying to talk about sectarian violence, but it left me really confused. If anyone could explain this to me, it would be appreciated. This from someone who has studied Middle East history at least a little more than the average American.
Protack indirectly attacked Ting a number of times on the issue of Ting's opposition to Vietnam, saying that veterans would not vote for him. Given that Ting was in college at the time, wasn't exactly extensive when compared to others. Ting countered by calling Vietnam a "noble struggle," and said that Protack belittled veterans by insinuating that they would vote as a block, noting that they are independent thinkers, and not easily herded into one camp, generally.
Protack also decimated his "conservative record" by calling for Universal Health Care, the details of which are on his website. One of the attendees remarked to me that Protack's website was "a website reminiscent of the 2004 Kerry campaign...a portal through which information lives, which the candidate does not know from memory." I can just say, that I will not vote for someone who wants state-run health care. No way. No how.
Jan Ting endorsed the Porkbusters' cause, though not by name , but he did say that he is anti-earmarks, and supports a line-item veto of some sort.
Jan Ting won the straw poll, getting 39 votes (72%) to Protack's 15. He has won every straw poll.
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