Who won the Senate debate?
The debate was hosted by KERA in Dallas. Shelley Kofler of the host station, Peggy Fikac of the Express-News and the Chronicle, Ross Ramsey of the Tribune, and Crystal Ayala from Univision were the panelists. The following summary is from notes I took during the debate. It is my best approximation of who said what–and who landed the best punches.
The first question was directed at Cruz.
There are 11 million undocumented aliens in America. There is a crisis in illegal immigration. What would you do about it?
Cruz: First we have to secure the border. Second, I oppose amnesty, it’s wrong and it’s unfair to people who came here legally. Third, I celebrate legal immigration. [Follow-up: What about a guest workers' program?] I do not support any expansion of immigration until we secure the border.
Dewhurst: I don’t support a guest workers’ program until we secure the border. I would add 40,000 more Border Patrol agents
[This is one of several instances in which the sequence of the questions was such that Dewhurst was reduced to making a "me-too" statement.]
What about the people who are already here?
Cruz: I would encourage anti-sanctuary cities legislation.
Dewhurst: I passed anti-sanctuary cities legislation. We need to enforce all of our laws.
Question to Dewhurst: Should the federal government have bailed out General Motors?
Dewhurst: Washington is broken. Texas is an example of what good government should look like. I’m proud of the Texas miracle, we have the fastest growing job base.
Question to Cruz: Without the bailout, there would be 2500 fewer [GM] jobs in Arlington. Didn’t the bailout help Texas?
Cruz: I don’t support bailouts, period.
[I just want to point out here that the bailouts worked extremely well, that they kept the American automobile industry alive through the worst of the recession, that most, if not all, of the money has been paid back, not only in the auto industry but also in the financial industry, and that the opposition to them is an example of how ideology can be blinding, even when we know all of the facts. Isn't it clear to everyone by now that the bailouts saved the international financial system?--pb]
Question for Cruz: One in three Americans is underemployed, what would you do to help them get jobs, pay their bills, and pay off their student loan jobs.
–President Obama has waged war on jobs. He should start by revoking the ban on offshore drilling
–Dewhurst: Look at the contrast between Texas and Washington. I cut taxes 51 times, cut school property taxes by 1/3, balanced five straight budgets without raising taxes
Question for Cruz: Should unemployment benefits be extended?
–I don’t think the answer is more government. Taxes have gone up.
–Dewhurst: The Club for Growth [which supports Cruz] says the Texas tax structure leads the country. By cutting taxes we grow revenues. That was the lesson of Ronald Reagan in the eighties.
Question for Dewhurst: Is there anything your opponent has done that says he lacks integrity?
–Dewhurst: I’m proud of my record of doing what I said I was going to do. I never compromised my conservative principles.
–Cruz: The lieutenant governor served in elected office for over a decade, he made compromises with Democrats. He may have cut taxes 51 times but there was one very big tax on business.
–Dewhurst: I eliminated business taxes for 40,000 businesses.
Then the format allowed each candidate to ask a question of the other:
Cruz to Dewhurst: Did you support a payroll tax or a wage tax?
–Dewhurst: No.
Dewhurst to Cruz: When I got out of college, I volunteered to serve in Vietnam. I joined the CIA. You went to Harvard Law School and practiced law. What qualifies you to be a United States Senator?
–Cruz: I spent five years defending the Constitution [as solicitor general in Texas].
Question for Dewhurst on Social Security: The Social Security system is out of balance. How would you fix it?
–Washington politicians have kicked the can down the road. We need to raise the retirement age and eventually we will have to do means testing.
–Cruz: We must have entitlements reform. Older workers will get their social security. For younger workers, there need to be three changes. Increase the age limit, control the increase in benefits, establish private accounts.
–Question for Dewhurst: Texas has the highest percentage of people without health insurance. What would you do about it.
–Cruz: Repeal Obama care. First thing I would do. I think the Supreme Court will cut the baby in half, leave some, repeal some. We need fundamental reform with market based solutions, like a 50 state market for health insurance
–Dewhurst: I will throw Obamacare in the trash can. It will break every state. Tort reform in 2003 provided medical malpractice insurance for doctors, now 24,000 new doctors in Texas
Question for Dewhurst: What do we do about developing more energy?
–The EPA is out of control, wreaking havoc on Texas and other states. Texas is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas, we need to expand our use of natural gas.
–Cruz: We should get the federal government out of energy exploration. For the first time, America can envision energy independence. We don’t have to rely on countries that hate us. The EPA stands in the way. [This is sort of old news. The EPA did not list the sagebrush lizard as an endangered species--pb]
Question for Cruz: Do you support the Keystone pipeline, and do you believe that eminent domain should be used to allow the pipeline to cross private land?
–The problem is that Obama shut it down and killed jobs. Now the oil will be sent to China, it makes the U.S. more dependent on foreign oil.
The questioner tried follow-up questions on the subject of property rights, but Cruz did not really respond except to talk about a key Supreme Court opinion. Then there was a follow-up question to Dewhurst: What should we do for landowners?
–I worked for six years to get eminent domain through the Legislature. The pipeline must sit down with landowners, look at alternate routes, find a fair market value.
Question for Dewhurst: Mexico is our largest trading partner. How would you keep the gate open for commerce?
–We’ve got to keep trade going across the border. We must close the border by tripling the size of the Border Patrol.
–Cruz: I support free trade, but there is a crisis on the Border. People die crossing the Border. More and more people are OTM “other than Mexicans”
Question for Cruz: Should we cut defense spending?
–No. But we should stick to the budget requested by the Pentagon, stop Congress from spending above and beyond the budget.
Follow-up to Cruz: Do you support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
–We were correct to go in, but we stayed too long. We shouldn’t engage in nation-building. Don’t try to build a democratic utopia.
–Dewhurst: We went to war with a noble purpose. The Iraq war was based upon information about weapons of mass destruction. Obama is anxious to cut and run. We should follow overriding principles: (1) Only go to war if a vital matter of national security is involved; (2) keep our military as strong as possible. (3) Stand firm with our ally Israel.
Question for Cruz: Should the U.S. intervene in Syria?
–No. It’s not our job to intervene all over the globe.
–Dewhurst: What is in the best interests of the U.S? Allies are providing arms to freedom fighters. We would respond if Scud missiles are fired at Israel.
* * * *
I thought Dewhurst won the debate. Here’s why: On several occasions he was able to refer to his record of achievements while in office:
–”I cut taxes 51 times”
–”I passed tort reform in 2003, which brought 24,000 new physicians to Texas”
–”I worked six years to pass eminent domain”
–”I passed sanctuary cities legislation”
Furthermore, he was able to mention that he had volunteered to serve in Vietnam and that he had joined the CIA. These are impressive credentials, and it told viewers something about who David Dewhurst was that most of them probably didn’t know. He also pointed out that the Club for Growth has said that Texas’s tax structure leads the country, and the Club for Growth is supporting Cruz!
Cruz, when asked by Dewhurst, what qualifies you to be a United States senator, answered, “I spent five years defending the Constitution.” He might have elaborated about cases he had won–a ruling that allowed a monument for the Ten Commandments to be placed on the Capitol grounds, for example–but he didn’t. In short, Dewhurst was able to point to a record of achievement and Cruz was not. Dewhurst was able to expand what people knew about him, and Cruz was not. I can think of only one instance when Cruz had Dewhurst on the defensive, and that is when he asked the Dew if he had ever supported a wage tax? Dewhurst said no, and Cruz indicated that he had evidence to the contrary. If he has the goods, we will undoubtedly hear it from the Cruz campaign in later ads, but on Friday night, Cruz didn’t lay a glove on Dewhurst. He was more articulate than Dewhurst, to be sure, but that isn’t where the battles are won and lost.
Texian Politico says:
“Isn’t it clear to everyone by now that the bailouts saved the international financial system?” – Paul Burka.
Sure. Just ask Greece and the rest of the European Union. Bailouts are awesome and only a Cruz loving troglodyte would oppose them!
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paulburka Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 9:24 am
So you think that it would be fine for Greece to default? Doesn’t affect the U.S., right? We’ve got an ocean to protect us. This is another case of blind ideology that would lead us to ruin if given the chance.
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Rithmetic Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
The debate was a toss-up, which means Dewhurst won.
Any semblance of messaging Cruz had was stepped on in his post-debate attack on Rick Perry. He chose to attack Russia…and the media/grassroots punished him by making that their focus.
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Texian Politico Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I thought you said bailouts saved the international financial system? So, why is the EU still on the verge of cracking up? Didn’t the bailouts make it all better?
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Alan Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
TARP-style bailouts were/are intended to help banks deleverage in the long term and deal with liquidity issues in the short term. None of that has to do with Greece’s problem, which is that as an EU member it has to contend with a monetary policy that makes it economically uncompetitive and facilitated a fiscal crisis by making their borrowing costs artificially low.
JP says:
The debate was like watchin somebody kiss their sister. Not very exciting to watch, and nobody scored…
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Arturo says:
Is is absolutely clear the bailouts avoided a depression and total crash of the auto industry.To think not is to be disingenious.
This debate showed Texans that this is an election of the lesser of two evils, two unimaginative party march steppers, two party over country hacks.
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Anonymous says:
I don’t know who won the debate and don’t care because I know who’s going to lose: Texans, and it doesn’t matter which one of these self-serving pols wins. Dewhurst and Cruz will vote exactly the same way our other GOP waterboy votes in the U.S. Senate. You don’t even need a brain to follow instructions.
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Anonymous says:
Scott Braddock said Dewhurst looked like a leader; Cruz a protester. . . and something about people seeking the office of US Senate having been elected to city council or something first. . . That about sums up this race.
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Bodhisattva says:
I thought the most distinguishing characteristic of the debate was the inability of the candidates to answer a direct question or to get beyond the most fulsome platitudes. If I’d thought to take a drink every time Cruz said “Washington is broken” or Dewhurst said “proven conservative leader,” I’d still be sleeping it off (Monday morning).
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John Johnson Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 11:44 am
Tom Coburn will give direct answers to pointed questions. Bernie Sanders will. Very few others currently in office know how. It is all about party talking points. if they get off message they get their hands slapped.
Dewhurst won the debate, but it was not about doing well…he just had to do better than Cruz, and he did.
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Jonesy says:
These candidates are simplistic and moronic. No real intelligent answers to very complex questions that plague our nation. It was like robots were debating. Why have people debate. Just have tape players repeat sound bites “I would secure the border” “I would repeal ObamaCare” “I would deregulate every industry in the US” “I would run the US like Texas” –if these guys hate Washington politicians, why are the so eager to get there?.
Is this really the best Texas can produce? Shame shame shame. LBJ, Bentsen, Ann Richards, Bush Sr. are rolling over in their graves..
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Texian Politico Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Hey Jonesy, when did George H. W. Bush die?
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cyrus says:
Sounds like nobody challenged them to justify their answers on the question of our % of uninsured. “Repealing Obamacare” would make health insurance out of reach for over 1 million Texans. Which means it would do the opposite of helping get more people covered. In other words, neither of these guys gives a damn about making health coverage accessible, and in fact they seem to delight in the idea of making it even harder for working folks and the poor to get coverage. They’d both be a disaster for Texas and the rest of the country.
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Willie James Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 8:26 am
Both candidates showed to be very weak. Anyone can spout the right wing Faux News talking points. What you have to think about is what they would do after they have the wingnut vote….Cruz would probably stick to the path of party first but Dewhurst actually has a slight bit of potential to stand up to party. Doubt it, though.
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Canadian Border Patrol says:
The Cruz-zer was the Los-zer!
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Blue Dogs says:
I watched the debate and it looked like Dewhurst knew what the hell he was talking about 80 percent of the time. Cruz acted like a teenager with a temper tantrum ranting about “five years as Solicitor General”.
I’m saying Dewhurst won the debate and he’s likely the GOP nominee and next US Senator from Texas at this point.
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Texian Politico Reply:
June 25th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
And I’m still saying that Cruz wins the run-off. There isn’t much Dewhurst can do at this point to save himself. Its too late. He had his chance in the first round and blew it. Its going to be the hardest of hard core conservatives and Ron Paul libertarians turning out for Cruz on July 31st and in the July early voting.
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paulburka Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 11:48 am
The Ron Paul libertarians turned out to vote for Ron Paul. I doubt that they will come back to vote for Dewhurst (or Cruz, whose politics are not aligned with the Ron Paul crowd). There’s a better chance that Leppert’s establishment voters will turn out to vote against Cruz.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 11:44 am
Dewhurst will likely get all of Leppert’s supporters and whatever supporters Craig James got.
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Anon-e-moose says:
You clowns don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. That debate was a disaster for David Dewhurst. He looked and talked like a buffoon. He hasn’t given voters a reason to vote for him other than trying to steal Perry’s record, and he didn’t offer anything in this debate either. He sucks so much at this it isn’t even funny anymore. I hope Cruz wipes the floor with him at the end of the month because he and his chump team all need to go home and hit the bottle.
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TexRusk Reply:
June 26th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Paul doesn’t think so. And Paul should know. In fact, I hear a rumor that Paul actually left the city of Austin to see what Texas was like back in 1978 or so.
The problem with “blinders” as Burka says, is that EVERYBODY has them, and very, very few people recognize them. When you’re an insider who never goes to any Republican club meetings in Tyler or Collin County or Weatherford or anywhere else, you can’t really know what messages will resonate with Republicans.
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Simon says:
Oh crap. There really isn’t ANYONE to vote for.
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Karen says:
There are lies and distortions in both of their answers. Dewhurst must have forgotten the number of physicians Perry claim. lol
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/aug/25/rick-perry/rick-perry-says-texas-added-21000-doctors-because-/
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Karen says:
Cruz says taxes have gone up? Federal taxes? Nope.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/dec/01/barack-obama/obama-says-taxes-lower-middle-class/
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Happy Democrat says:
If Cruz pulls off the upset, which is entirely possible, he will be part of the Tea Bagger caucus within the Republican caucus, which makes Mitch McConnell’s life miserable on a regular basis, and helps Democrats maintain the majority. Go Cruz, Go!
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Blue Dogs Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 11:45 am
I tend to see the Republicans winning back the United States Senate, keeping the House and possibly have Romney defeating Obama in the presidential race.
Folks are sick and tired of Obama, which is going to get even higher because 10 Dems are NOT going to the DNC convention in Charlotte, NC this fall when Obama speaks.
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Dan C says:
This runoff could be decided by fewer people than typically vote in a Dallas City council election, which ain’t many. I am a political junky. So are many of my friends. I don’t know anyone who actually watched the debate. I didn’t. Why bother? It was obvious they would just spit out Fox News talking points. Anyone know what the ratings were? Like many people, I will be somewhere cooler (Santa Fe) on July 31. Will I bother to vote for Dewhurst early? I don’t know. Only reason to do it is that Cruz is not only a total and complete wingnut, but a complete douche-bag too. Only reason to vote for Dewhurst is that if Cruz gets the nomination and can run with an R beside his name, he’ll probably win in November. What a pathetic state of affairs.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 11:47 am
You can blame the lack of a big name on the TX Dem side for that because everyone they tried to entice running for statewide said NO.
Bill White refused to run for KBH’s Senate seat this year after he got SPANKED by Perry in the 2010 gubernatorial race only carrying 28 out of 254 counties.
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