Conway, the state's attorney general, said that while he agreed with some Obama policies including health care reform, he would be an independent voice looking out for Kentucky.
Asked about his campaign ads and reported comments depicting Paul as "crazy," Conway said: "I'm not saying Dr. Paul is crazy. I think some of his ideas are out of the mainstream and they're out of touch with the values of normal Kentuckians."
The debate moderated by "FOX News Sunday" anchor Chris Wallace included accusations by Paul that Conway flip-flopped on some issues, first backing and now questioning cap-and-trade energy legislation and the expiration of some Bush-era tax cuts.
Conway denied changing positions but made clear that he now was firmly in the moderate camp on some hot-button issues, for example insisting that all the tax cuts should be extended.
Obama wants to extend the tax cuts for the 98 percent of the country earning up to $200,000 individually or $250,000 as families, while returning to higher tax rates of the 1990s for the 2 percent making more money.
Republicans, along with some Democrats -- including Conway -- say all the tax cuts should be extended as the economy slowly recovers from the recession.
Conway accused Paul of being out of touch with Kentuckians by advocating policies that he said were out of the 1930s. He repeatedly cited Paul's past suggestion of a $2,000 deductible for Medicare coverage and reducing the federal role in mine safety regulations as examples.
And while Jack Conway would certainly be a better Senator than Rand Paul, at best he would be another Evan Bayh/Ben Nelson type. The really sad part is out of the four primary candidates from the two parties, Conway is the furthest to the left. That means he's mistaken for a Republican only most of the time.
I'm not sure why Conway thinks he can beat Rand Paul by trying to be conservative. That dog don't hunt. Ahh, but I don't have much of a choice, do I? After all, Rand wants to raise the retirement age for me.
Conservative Ben Nelson type over Rand Paul? Absolutely. I'll take predictable over insane.
"In the October 3 Kentucky U.S. Senate debate on Fox News Sunday between Dr. Rand Paul and Jack Conway, Conway failed to mention he considered raising the retirement age or cutting benefits to Social Security in 2002.
ReplyDeleteIn 2002, Conway Said Raising The Retirement Age And Reducing Social Security Benefits Should Be Considered To Preserve Social Security. "Northup said she supports partial private investment to preserve Social Security rather than raising the retirement age and reducing benefits, which she has ruled out but Conway has said should be considered." (The [Louisville, KY] Courier-Journal, "Northup, Conway Attract Support," Al Cross, July 30, 2002)
In 2002, Conway was quoted saying: "A year ago, I was asked 'If Social Security was about to become insolvent, what do you do?' I said Everything's on the table."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFOxtxl2nGw&feature=player_embedded