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October 20, 2010 in City
McMorris Rodgers, Romeyn clash in TV debate
Congressional candidates discuss jobs, economy
Candidate Daryl Romeyn and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers meet for a debate Tuesday in the KSPS studio.
(Full-size photo)
Democratic challenger Daryl Romeyn tried to paint Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers as a do-nothing incumbent who has no solutions for federal deficits, illegal immigration, high school dropouts or childhood obesity.
McMorris Rodgers suggested Romeyn was someone who didn’t understand complex forest issues and would tax small businesses out of existence and set off a trade war with China.
In their first – and likely only – televised debate, the three-term congresswoman and the former television reporter agreed on very little Tuesday except for the importance of the American dream and the need to secure the nation’s borders before addressing other problems with illegal immigration. Those few seconds of agreement on immigration were closed off with Romeyn’s suggestion that McMorris Rodgers should’ve done something about it already: “She’s been there six years.”
Asked how to cut unemployment and boost the region’s economy, Romeyn suggested programs to manufacture airplane parts and help for timber and farm communities. McMorris Rodgers said it’s not government programs but government stability on taxes, regulations and health care costs that will get businesses hiring again.
“We need to calm the waters, first of all,” she said.
Both danced around the request for tough choices they’d make to cut the federal budget after saying it had to be balanced like a household budget. McMorris Rodgers said she’d roll back spending to pre-Obama, pre-stimulus levels of 2008.
“Grandiose statements but no details,” countered Romeyn, who said he’d cut “waste in government.”
“Get our economy growing,” McMorris Rodgers countered.
“Let’s get people back to work,” Romeyn replied.
Getting people working in some Eastern Washington forests takes actions, not words or government programs, he added. “Get some folks out there with some chain saws and get to work.”
No, it takes discussions among the “warring factions” to open some areas to cutting, others to recreation and preserve others, McMorris Rodgers said, adding that that’s what she’s been doing with U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat.
Romeyn said he favored pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan right away and spending money in the United States that had been planned for roads and irrigation projects there. McMorris Rodgers said she supported President Barack Obama’s plan to increase troops, although she didn’t support a deadline to begin a reduction.
Asked about previous comments that the U.S. should impose tariffs on Chinese goods, Romeyn said he’d favor such charges on all energy-saving technology that could harm U.S. manufacturers of green products.
“I don’t think starting a trade war is the best way to get our economy going,” she replied.
Romeyn tried to knock McMorris Rodgers, who is part of the House GOP leadership, for voting party-line Republican: “She votes 97 percent of the time with her party.”
McMorris Rodgers said she works with Democrats when the need arises, such as with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on Fairchild Air Force Base issues, and contended that Romeyn’s the one tied to his party: “My opponent’s supporting the policies of the last couple of years that have added to the deficit.”
Both decried negative advertising. McMorris Rodgers said she thought having debates on the issues was the best approach. Then why has she not appeared with him at a public event before that debate, countered Romeyn.
The debate almost didn’t occur. It was first canceled because McMorris Rodgers couldn’t fit it into her schedule, then when she freed up time, Romeyn initially said he couldn’t. They didn’t agree to debate until Monday.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
schleufer on October 20 at 5:22 a.m.
i think daryl did a great job, he told her how it is and i dont think she liked it. that blush on her cheeks seemed to change color as it went on. i cast my vote for daryl pretty much without knowing anything about him other than his weather man job just because whats been going on has to change. after seeing this debate i know i did the right thing. the people didnt elect her just so she could go to DC and promote somebody elses agenda.
JBlim on October 20 at 5:36 a.m.
Yeah, he looked good. If every voter saw the debate he would win.
drywitt99 on October 20 at 5:42 a.m.
Republicans cannot debate…..they cannot govern. All they’re good at is giving money to rich people.
kaywrightmcg2003 on October 20 at 5:58 a.m.
It is time for a new congress-person ~ 6 years of not much accomplished by Rep McMorris Rogers. Daryl was a breath of fresh air and new ideas for JOBS in Eastern Washington. My choice in now very clear.
Scoutster on October 20 at 7:31 a.m.
Romeyn looked a little anxious, agitated at times.
He also dropped a couple of gifts she gave him. Like when she was talking about her voting record and admitted that she did, in fact, vote to greatly expand the deficit (this is a fact, not ideology), and he shifts the discussion back to pork and the North-South Freeway. Huh? He could have landed a severe blow then. When the microphone went back to her, you could almost see the relief in her face that they were talking about the freeway again. Whew!
His rookieness showed, but he didn’t tank. He might make a pretty good showing in two years if the GOP takes over. (If you think the public is angry NOW, wait till the boys who drove us here get the keys back!)
Albert on October 20 at 8:08 a.m.
I’m a bit on the prejudiced side, i.e. I’ve already voted for Darryl. With that said, Rodgers is the “money pit” and we already know where “that’s” going. Darryl is honest, would make a refreshing change, and KNOWS our community and it’s needs. Rodgers knows Rodgers and in her book, “that’s all that counts”. It would be nice to see her in the unemployment line.
misjustice on October 20 at 9:01 a.m.
For a rookie, he did very well. I agree with Scouster, that at times he seemed anxious. He probably was.
Where he succeeded was at keeping her on the ropes regarding her record/accomplishments; it was apparent that he’d done his homework. And she seemed surprised that he would even go there, which I found priceless; I loved it that he called her out on her 6 years as an ineffective legislator for Eastern Washington. It’s about time someone did!
Dazzeetrader11 on October 20 at 10:01 a.m.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/oct/19/mcmorris-rodgers-romeyn-spar-over-jobs-immigration/
From last night. I don’t know why the SPokesman doesn’t include prior threads.
WillyPeter on October 20 at 10:11 a.m.
My, all these liberals telling each other how well Daryl did…funny. It’s fundamentally the same crowd that thinks that a guy who has no experience would be a good congressman - but gals, like former legislators O’Donnell, Angle, and Palin are “not qualified.”
misjustice on October 20 at 10:31 a.m.
Those “gals” aren’t qualified because they are idiots!
jddavis on October 20 at 12:10 p.m.
I was really impressed with Daryl. His cutting edge idea for job preparation that encourages highschool students to follow their passion of “knitting” will really make a difference!
Seriously, was anyone’s mind swayed either way by the debate? If so, it would be interesting to know what issue(s) were the reason.
benedict on October 20 at 12:23 p.m.
‘gals’ like Palin and O’Donell are not qualified to use a cash register, let alone the purse strings of this nation. Palin quit her elected job as gov. why does anyone think that her endorsement is an asset?
PoorSportsmansAlmanack on October 20 at 12:31 p.m.
It would be interesting to see what happens post-2012 redistricting. While Spokane County is marginally Republican, the counties that make this district safe for an empty suit like Rodgers are located to the west and far south.
Her margin of victory in the counties with the most urbanized populations (Spokane, Whitman and Walla Walla) has been unspectacular and she has taken advantage of the nationalizing of politics to deflect attention from her own hypocrisy.
bdr on October 20 at 12:41 p.m.
With a 97% VOTED no average it appears Rodgers is a rubber stamp for the McConnell lead disaster.
Now you know why she didn’t want to debate. all this stuff would be brought forward.
The democrats have brought fourth some Ideas for the future.
the republicans have brought fourth the exact same Bush Idea for the future (Rodgers pointed out tax reduction has worked before in the debate) .
No sweat on their brow just do Bush again thinking!
The aha moment is tax reduction worked (when you had jobs)!
If Rodgers hasn’t come up with alternative ideas to move the economy (like bank reform) and redirecting school money for job creation for school dropouts shes toast.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 20 at 12:46 p.m.
Neither are all stars but Cathy has the position to do a lot more for Spokane. She’s far from and idiot.
She can be lobied and make some changes needed. She’ll cut the budget…welll she herself might not but she’ll vote for a tax cut for everyone.
Besides..all you guys yell about “idiot” women! Not correct and not fair. The “Idiot in Chief” is what they’re fighting against.
All of those women have won ekections/primaries. Quit watching MSNBC and actually listen to them. I don’t want Reid…and I don’t want a bunch of spending libs…we’ve seen how well that goes. Each and every woman is for tax cuts and budget restriction. We need that.
Besides…after NBC Universal is bought by comcast ( closes in Jan), Olberman, Maddow, Ed , and probably Chris Mathews ( twitchy leg boy) will all be gone. Listen to the middle..not right or left. Make your own thoughts…undriven by the media of soundbites and “say whatever you need to say to hold onto your job” media. Might be entertaining…but it’s bad for the country. Vote Cathy! Vote Baumgartner, Vote for Rossi…and in two years Obama will be gone hopefully.
jddavis on October 20 at 1:18 p.m.
Seems to me the Democrats have held the majority in both houses, so passing ANY legislation they want is a foregone conclusion. Saying the Repuplicans are blocking passage of legislation is not accurate; they don’t have the votes to do it.
With that said, why isn’t all the “good ideas” the Democrats have come up with passed? Some of those “good ideas” have been passed and now the public is mad as hell. Both Houses of Congress are on the verge of a major power shift because of it. I know somehow Bush has something to do with it, right?
David_1 on October 20 at 1:59 p.m.
Daryl, I’m so sorry you chose to embarrass yourself so badly last night. You clearly demonstrated that you are way way way way way in over your head.
You are seriously outclassed by someone who is so incredibly more knowledgeable of the issues facing our District, State and Nation. Not only does McMorris Rodgers demonstrate her vast knowledge, but she clearly exhibits a very deep passion for the people she represents.
Most impressive was the charisma and style in which Cathy articulated the facts. At the same time, your only approach to the debate was to attack attack attack Cathy while offering nothing of value aside from a few very stale, worn out talking points. Do you seriously believe that you can be effective in Congress with that as your style and approach???
Sorry I have to be the one to break this to you, but its back to the farm and donkeys for you Daryl. Not that that’s a bad thing. We need that. It’s just that we need Cathy McMorris Rodgers to be our Congresswoman
jddavis on October 20 at 2:15 p.m.
@ Misj Does idiots = different view? I KNOW you can do better than that! I have seen (read) it…
Blondscence on October 20 at 2:34 p.m.
I don’t vote for the party. But at this time and even though Cathy looks weak, we need her to support the surge toward the middle. This socialism is plain awful for us..both here in Spokane AND across the country. What Cathy needs to do is get some things out here…money type development things. Call it pork if you want…we’ve been left behind. Foley brought projects …ones we needed but couldn’t fund. She should use Tom as a template for success for herself and for the region.
8john on October 20 at 3:09 p.m.
McMorris talks about calming things down - but she continues to support spending money on wars that serve no purpose except to reduce the excess population (if you think your loved ones are “excess”).
McMorris supports a dysfunctional Department of Education and supports a “race to the top” rather than dumping the Department of Education and sending all the money back to the states with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. She supports micromanaging our school district, school boards, administrators, teachers, parents and students.
Whatever Daryl may do he would have to work hard to do as much damage as Congress has done.
The problems we have are not the result of any specific administration but the result of a dysfunctional Congress.
schleufer on October 20 at 3:49 p.m.
Wow it looks like she only has about 5% of the voters on this blog. Maybe boehner can help her with that. Looks like the weatherman just gave her a gloomy forecast. The repubs are probably lookin at that big pile of money they have and all these negative remarks and can’t figure why it ainte adding up.
misjustice on October 20 at 3:56 p.m.
jddavis; no idiot does not equal “different” ideas. Idiot = stoopid.
You can’t seriously think that Angle, Palin, and McDonnell are qualified for the positions they seek? Palin couldn’t even fulfill her term as Governor, she’s a quitter.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers is smarter than “those gals” but she has not been an advocate for this district. Cathy needs to go.
jddavis on October 20 at 4:29 p.m.
Sorry MisJ, I mistook your point. Is Angle qualified? I don’t think she is the best Republican for Nevada; I think Reid is an idiot. Palin? She was elected governor and resigned…don’t necessarily think she did a bad job while in office. McDonnell? Throw enough pasta at the wall and some will stick.
As far as McMorris Rogers is concerned, I met her at a Veteran’s town hall event in Spokane in June 09. I got my issue(s) with the VA resolved in short order because of her influence and because she had VA representatives there with enough horsepower to get things done.
As for the 5th District? I don’t think Romeyn presents enough detail for his position(s). “Do the research, I did” doesn’t really make for a strong position.
I don’t think any of our candidates are stupid (except Reid ;-) ). I have a different perspective than all of them, some more than others.
eagleproducer on October 20 at 4:55 p.m.
Dazee: When you tell us McMorris Rogers is “any thing but and idiot” don’t you think we should reject your argument outright since you don’t know the difference between and and an?
eagleproducer on October 20 at 5:01 p.m.
This is Cathy’s rationale for her political ethos: If we don’t capitulate to the ultra-wealthy in the U.S. they’ll just take their ball and go home leaving us to fend for ourselves in the vacuum left behind by their previous magnanimous largesse.
It’s all true. I’ve been deceived for soooooooooo long. It really is in all of our best interests to have the top 1% earning more than the bottom 50%.
Thanks, Cathy, for the clarity. I feel reborn.
bumblebeetuna on October 20 at 5:14 p.m.
Daisy says, “All of those women have won ekections/primaries. Quit watching MSNBC and actually listen to them.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwSljJAzqg
I think you should listen.
schleufer on October 20 at 5:54 p.m.
i just have to put this vid up one more time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVOS1CC6V5I
boehner pleads vote yes…
Dazzeetrader11 on October 20 at 6:33 p.m.
Spoke..Daisy knows the difference…her keyboard doesn’t.
And yes Cathy should win. If you guys knew some volume of politicians, you’d soon know that YOU yourselves know more about most anything than they do.
Marr is an actor…I’m in town and saw him debate Baumgartner today. He just makes it up as he goes…and says anything and everything that might stick. He cliams Baumgartner’s against veterns, and just about everything NOT on any agenda. Asked how he knows this…he just went on saying irrational things…BUT..he looked good…lke he knew something about what he was saying.
He’s a mess…as most of these figures are.
Cathy looks good but she knows things. SHe doesn’t speak well but she does knows things from her experiences.
I’m just so disappointed by the politicians this year.l Most just “act” and play to the crowd. Not a deep knowledge of anything. And the worst part is that they DO need to know what they are talking about. I suppose many just make deals and move on.
Gloomy over it. They are working for themselves and not doing service to the people who elect them. Baumgartner will. Marr won’t.
Cathy will…Daryl needs experience. He acts well though. Seemed nice…I thnk he has a future. The one guy who REALLy knows his stuff is Rossi. No matter how hard Murray’s camp tries to associate him with bad stuff…most of it’s fabricated and most is just pie in the sky wishful thinking.
eagleproducer on October 20 at 7:21 p.m.
Daisy: I evaluate politicians by their actions. You can cite the “things” she knows, but not a single accomplishment other than an ability to get elected in an overwhelmingly conservative district. I could put my cat up with an R next to her name and as long as one of her meows during a debate resembled “cut taxes” and “support the troops” she’d get elected.
eagleproducer on October 21 at 2:58 p.m.
Daryl and the debate panel missed a huge opportunity to ask Cathy what cuts she proposes to what programs to pay for extension of the Bush era tax cuts or does she favor adding to the deficit to keep them? Where was that question and where was Romeyn in not bringing it up.
I blame any of Romeyn’s anxiousness on a couple of factors. One, the local party apparatchik has never been behind his candidacy. Look at the money they’ve poured into the Marr candidacy compared to Romeyn’s. He has faced a huge uphill battle when it comes to funding. She can outspend his 10 to 1 and still have loads leftover for her next campaign which will probably be against Cantwell. Secondly, Cathy didn’t offer any deviation from the usual pablum that she normally issues. It’s easy to appear relaxed while bleating the same talking points you’ve been bleating the last six years. None of which by the way, have worked to spur job growth or end foreign conflicts. She’s for allowing the Pentagon an open ended contract and limitless access to the Treasury to what ends even she can’t define with any degree of clarity. Darryl talked about specific issues that confront the people of this district and solutions to alleviate them. Cathy talked about supporting the troops, and cutting taxes, and “calming the waters” but not one specific things she’s done or will do for the 5th district.
Sweetfire on October 22 at 6:17 p.m.
Anyone who sides with Obummer needs to go away.