Debate 3: Increasingly Desperate Garrett Remains on Defensive

October 24th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2008
Contact: Jeff Hauser, 201-767-8162, jeff@shulmanforcongress.com

After cutting debate 2 short, Garrett wishes he hadn’t agreed to a third debate

Haworth, NJ — Dennis Shulman won his final debate today as incumbent Scott Garrett continued to flounder. Shulman has swept all three of the debates in the Fifth Congressional race.

Today’s debate victory comes at the end of a week of three debates and enormous momentum for Shulman — just this week, Republicans and independent observers have signaled that Garrett is vulnerable:

* Garrett’s name appears on a leaked internal Republican “Death Watch” memo as endangered1, and his name appeared on a separate leaked NRCC memo soliciting volunteers for ten endangered incumbents2.
* The Club for Growth, which typically assists extreme right wing Republicans in primary races, has made an independent expenditure on behalf of Garrett and only two fellow incumbents, signaling they think he’s in tremendous trouble3.
* Both Larry Sabato4 and the Evans-Novak Political Report5 have moved the race in Shulman’s favor from “likely GOP” to “lean GOP.”

Here are some highlights from today’s debate:

* Shulman called on Garrett to say to his face what he has been saying through press releases6. “Your press releases say that I “lack a commitment to the United States Constitution and our political heritage as a nation.” Like your colleague Michele Bachmann, do you have no shame? [...] This is an accusation that I am anti-American. You cannot be that desperate.” Garrett wouldn’t stand by his remarks, nor would he apologize for them even as he backpedaled.
* Each time Shulman called Garrett on his record, Garrett whined - but offered no rebuttal. For instance Garrett called it a distortion of his record to say he has repeatedly voted against veterans, but Dennis explicitly cited his votes against the GI Bill for the 21st Century, which will provide a college education to our returning veterans. Additionally, Garrett has received a ZERO percent scorecard rating from the Disabled American Veterans. 7
* Garrett continues to make no defense as to why he makes nearly $200,000 a year and deserves government health care for his family, but the children of working poor people do not deserve similar health insurance. Shulman called Garrett’s opposition to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) “immoral,” and said: “You’re telling me your children are more deserving than the children whose parents don’t have a job in Washington.” 7
* Unlike Garrett’s tired cliches to defend his ineffective record on fiscal responsibility, Shulman outlined a specific plan to rein in wasteful spending that Garrett supports: (1) end the war in Iraq rapidly and responsibly; (2) end subisides to Big Oil, e.g., Exxon-Mobil; (3) conduct a rigorous audit of corrupt government contractors like Halliburton; and (4) pursue the corporate tax evaders whose headquarters in the Cayman Islands are as fake as Garrett’s farm.

  • 7

    • RUSH TRANSCRIPT; recording will be available at wrnj.com

    Sources:

    1. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/23/195735/03/405/640307
    2. http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1008/NRSC_Desperately_seeking_volunteers_.html?showall
    3. National Journal’s House Race Hotline, 10/20/08: “When the Club, who normally likes to just play in GOP primaries, endorses an incumbent, you know GOPers are worried.”
    4. http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=LJS2008102305
    5. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29151&s=rcmp#continueA
    6. http://www.garrettforcongress.com/news_details.php?nID=275
    7. Check the facts at www.shulmanforcongress.com/fact-check

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