Published: October 07, 2008 11:26 pm            

ELECTION '08: Brad Ellsworth, Greg Goode debate health care, economy and war

VINCENNES — Their words may have sounded the same, but their actions are expected to be very different.

The economy, health care, energy and the war in Iraq were among the top issues discussed in Tuesday’s 8th District Congressional debate between Brad Ellsworth and Greg Goode.

Congress’ most recent action, the $700 billion bailout bill, was at the forefront among the economy discussion with Republican Goode calling it a bad bill rewarding bad decisions, politics and greed.

Though he wanted the people to hear a debate between him and incumbent Democrat Ellsworth, he said Ellsworth should have been in Washington with the rest of Congress working out the economic crisis.

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, the United States Congress can not wave a magic wand and solve every problem that plagues our country,” Goode said, noting that even after the bailout bill was passed, “Wall Street is still hurting and it is ultimately the private sector and a resurgence in investor confidence that will ultimately get the economy moving again.”

No one in Congress was going to give $700 billion away out of nowhere, Ellsworth said, noting a committee got together and put in safeguards to make sure taxpayers were protected.

“If I had thought for one second that this was a bailout of Wall Street, executive Wall Street, I never would have voted for this,” he said, adding this is not the time to find blame.

Both candidates agreed the crisis was a result of not enough regulation.

“I think that a traditional, common-sense regulation to ensure that this never happens again is in order,” Goode said. “I would certainly rather see additional regulation to prevent a catastrophe of this magnitude from ever happening again as opposed to my United States congressman knocking on my door and saying ‘Guess what, Greg, it’s your money that we’re going to be giving to those individuals’.”

In light of the recent economic crisis, both candidates were able to highlight why they are not in favor of privatizing Social Security and the disaster that could have resulted from investing Social Security money. This led to a discussion on how each candidate would handle health care.

It wasn’t socialized programs that brought the nation ahead in medicine, Goode said, attributing the advances in medicine to technology, innovation and personal drive.

He suggested a free market approach to health care, in which patients will have a choice and flexibility not driven by the federal government.

Decisions on health care must remain between a doctor and patient, Ellsworth said. He opposes a single-payer plan and said the government cannot afford to run a health-care program.

Congress is working on programs, though, that can help make health care more affordable such as expanding S-chip, a program that insures children who otherwise would be without, and allowing small businesses to pool their resources to insure their employees.

From health care, the debate moved on to energy and reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.

One of the first votes Ellsworth took after elected was to roll back the $14 million given to big oil companies to invest in alternative energies, he said.

“We’re going to have to use every tool in the toolbox,” he said, which will include oil, coal, compressed natural gas, wind and smart domestic drilling.

Goode noted his ideas and Ellsworth’s sound the same, but actions are very different and referenced his fact-finding trip to Alaska “to see for myself the great reserves that we have of oil, natural gas and coal.”

“I met a little-known governor named Sarah Palin,” Goode said. “I met Sarah Palin before she became cool.”

She knows energy, he said, but needs to have people backing her up.

Moving on to the war in Iraq, Ellsworth noted how it was a topic of debate two years ago when he ran against incumbent John Hostetler. It was discussed the war would not be won militarily, he said and that still rings true.

It will be solved politically when the Iraqi government regains control, he said.

His challenger was quick to point out Ellsworth’s “no” vote against Gen. David Petraeus’ request for troop reinforcements in summer 2007.

“… I believe we are reaching a time frame where those brave men and women are going to be able to come home,” he said, “but let me also reinforce one thing, the war on terror is not going away …”

Ellsworth admitted he was wrong, but noted he didn’t think the request was for enough people and has since voted to increase the size of the army and navy.

“Gen. Petraeus said there is no light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq, that he has pushed the champagne bottle to the back of the refrigerator,” he said. “That tells me that we need to focus our concentration on where the terrorists are — that’s Afghanistan” and Pakistan.

In closing, Goode named his top three priorities, if elected: he would join the house transportation and infrastructure committee to ensure Indiana is getting an equal or greater return on its taxes; focus on constituent services by first reopening offices in Vincennes and Covington; and never support any person as Speaker of the House such as Nancy Pelosi.

Active military members and veterans will be Ellsworth’s No. 1 priority, he said, with the economy and health care following.

Overall, Ellsworth said he was happy with how the debate turned out, but advised voters to fact-check because some of what Goode said about him wasn’t true.

“… It’s a typical Washington-type, what people are sick of, they would take a portion of a vote or an amendment on a bill and they spin it the way we want it to come across to the people,” he said after the debate.

Pointing out an incumbent’s record isn’t being negative, Goode said, “what’s sad is his voting record is so bad that there’s the perception of negativity.”

“I believe with all my heart and soul that the job is not that hard if you are in tuned with the values and the convictions and the beliefs of the constituents who put you there, and if I have to aggressively point out where he comes out on his voting record, that absolutely is fair game in the arena of politics.”

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.

        

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