I was at the debate tonight between a progressive Democrat Steve Harrison (Yeah !!)
http://www.harrison06.com/
and the incumbent Vito Fossella (Boo! Hiss!).
A word about the district. It contains a sliver of Brooklyn (where I live) and all of Staten Island (pop. 460,000 appox.) Fossella, who is the only R Congressman in New York City, is a member in good standing of the BushCo. Rubber Stamp Squad.
Tonight they met at a church hall in Brooklyn for a debate.
This is what it looked like to me:
I did not have a recorder so merely took written notes which are by nature inaccurate. I apologize in advance for any errors. (The characterizations are MINE and I don't apologize at all).
Announcements said 7:30 but everyone seemed to know that meant 8PM. (I'm new at political participation AND at writing diaries).
Around 7:40 several SUVs pulled up and disgorged a number of local parochial High School students(they had their school bookbags) wearing Fossella buttons and discussing cheering for Vito.
By 7:55 there were between 100 and 125 people (80+ seated) (20+ standing) a few seated on the stairs. Order was called and the local sponsoring organization (The Dyker Heights Civic Association) did about 10 minutes of Assoc. business and introduced the moderator (a local attorney named Kensey(?) I could not actually hear his name but everyone seemed to know him. He explained the rules and flipped a coin.
Steve (Yeah!) started his 5 minute introduction saying he had intended to tell us about his roots in the community and his community service. He mentioned a few high spot and turned his attention to "Deception".
He showed a piece of glossy campaign literature from the Fossella (Boo!) people. Steve said he didn't mind attacks on his record, he didn't mind Fossella(Boo!) using his(Steve's) picture but offered to provide a better picture, but he did object to him putting a picture of Osama Bin Laden next to the picture of Steve. He said it was a deliberate distortion. Steve said he opposed terrorism as much as anyone in the room. But he did not believe in torture. He supported hunting terrorist while upholding the Constitution and America's values.
Vito(Boo!) began his 5 min. with a recitation of success he had in improving the local area. Taking credit for preserving the Fort Hamilton Army Base, the local Veteran's Admin. Hospital, and a local sea wall repair.
He moved to taxes. Absolutely no detail just I'll lower your taxes, Steve will raise them.
Terrorism: He is for wiretapping without warrents, the Patriot Act, Forceful interrogation, prevent another Sept 11th (you didn't think a ReThug could go 30 minutes without 9/11 9/11 did you?)
Questions from the floor:
to fossella--Q. Did you authorize the Osama--Steve ad, if so why?
A. Absolute Blather-- Terrorists are bad, Americans are great. Be afraid.
Steve: It's dishonest and deceitful. Would we do a Hitler--Fossella poster? NO! because it's wrong.
To Steve:Did Israel over react in Lebanon against Hezbllah ?
Steve: Not at first. Initially they had a right to defend themselves against attack, but should have tried to work with the Lebanese Govt. to bring a quicker end.
Vito: NO! No overreaction, Death! Carnage! Kill the terrorists.
There was a question about transportation money coming to the district.
Both answers were indistinct.
Steve said none that he knew of was in the pipeline.
Vito re-iterated his past successes with no clear mention of transportation.
To Vito:
Why did you vote against TRICARE(sp?)
Vito: I didn't vote against it. I love veterans, (insert flagwaving and rhetoric). I didn't vote against it.
Steve: First he voted to defund the program causing people to have to leave it for other programs, then he voted for it.
To Steve: If we leave Iraq why will North Korea or Iran respect us?
Steve: First Iraq has drawn so much men and material that we cannot do anything about either country. The rest of the world would respect us more if we acepted reality.
Vito: I'm not part of the blame America crowd.
N.Korea is Evil. Even the UN says so.
Closings
Fossella: Thanks to all, repeat his local achievements, drop a few politicians names, praised education.
Said He would lower taxes Steve would raise taxes.
Keep us Safe, Support torture and wiretaps.
Steve: We can be safe within the guidelines of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
I oppose secret prisons, Torture.
When Vito said he got money for the sea wall he said he got $16M he later revised that down to $5M but the actual figure is ZERO dollars.
Reminded people of the re-zoning that he (and the rest of Community Board) achieved that is a model for other communities. Thank You, Good Night.
The entire session lasted just over thirty minutes. Two other debates (for local office) were scheduled afterwards.
My impressions: Steve handled himself well, was informed and really was a bit angry about the Osama thing.
He was clear, organized and forceful. I overheard a person next to me describe Steve as "compelling".
Vito was well-dresses and slick. He managed to say almost nothing substantive, except take credit for past events and wave the flag. He seemed to realize that all he had to do was run out the clock without an error. When he tired of pattting himself on the back he moved onto rhetoric and platitudes.
On appearence and poise: Call it a draw
On Points: Steve Harrison.
On noise from supporters: The high-school kids.
Thirty minutes was just too little time to address the issues. Ninety minutes would have been just about right. There are two more debates scheduled. I'll attend the Brooklyn one and keep everyone posted.