Wis. U.S. Senate: Thompson Baldwin Debate, (Watch You Tub)

September 29, 2012

President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Chairman Lynn Swann and Tommy G. Thompson. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tommy, Tammy trade blows in first debate
September 29th, 2012
By M.D. Kittle and Ryan Ekvall / Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON – You won’t find liberal Tammy Baldwin and conservative Tommy Thompson agreeing on much in the race for Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seat.

Getting out of Afghanistan may be the one area the combatants come to terms.

In the first of three debates Friday night, Tammy and Tommy agreed on the need to end U.S. military involvement in the war-torn country, and quickly get American service members home.

Thompson came out swinging, pointing to his record as governor and singling out Baldwin’s record in Congress.

“I’m not in Congress you are. I’m in the private-sector creating jobs,” Thompson said, in one of the few confrontational moments of the debate. “I’m a reformer … I don’t criticize the other side.”

The distinctions between the candidates could not have been any more clear than when each was asked about gay marriage.

Baldwin, who would become the first openly gay U.S. Senator if elected, said she believes in equality in all areas of life. In short, she believes in gay marriage.

Thompson pointed to Wisconsin’s 2006 statewide referendum in which 71 of 72 counties supported banning gay marriage, preserving the state’s legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman.

“I support the citizens of Wisconsin,” he said, adding the matter is a state issue. In short, he doesn’t believe in gay marriage.