adn.com | Alaska Politics : The House debate

Alaska Politics

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.

Contributors

Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau this summer, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the Daily News before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune two years ago to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Now he's back in Anchorage. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins writes about Anchorage city government and politics. He covered last year's campaign for governor, and has blogged extensively about Alaska politics for the past year. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

Features

2008 Election

At one point the races with Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young promised to be the highest-profile campaigns in Alaska history.

PHOTOS

The Photo Blog: From the RNC

Photographer Marc Lester is blogging on Sarah Palin and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis this week.

SECTION

Gov. Sarah Palin

Get past and current coverage of Alaska's Governor as she battles to become the next vice president.

Photo galleries

Reader-submitted Palin photos

The House debate

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: August 5, 2008 - 1:11 am

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage--

Ok, it’s late and this is going to be a little rough, but here are some highlights from tonight's KTUU debate among the U.S. House candidates.

Among the Republicans, Lt. Gov Sean Parnell came out swinging against Congressman Don Young in his opening statement, saying “we’re tired of being the nation’s symbol of excess and greed.”

But Parnell didn’t have an answer when moderator Jason Moore asked him to list five Don Young earmarks he found objectionable. He brought up the controversial Young Coconut Road earmark in Florida, but didn't list any others Young authored.

Moore then asked Parnell to list three earmarks Young obtained for Alaska that he doesn’t like.

“It’s not a particular earmark in Alaska I’m concerned about it’s the abuse of the process,” Parnell replied.

Moore asked Young why he’s spending more than a million dollars of his campaign money on legal fees. Young answered that it’s expensive to have lawyers cooperate with the federal government in its investigation, and he doesn’t have money of his own.

Moore pressed him on what’s being investigated.

Young said he's made it clear he can't comment on the specifics (he has said that is at the request of his lawyers and the justice department) but expects to be exonerated when it’s all said and done.

Young went after Parnell for claiming his campaign contributions come from individuals and not special interests. Young said $115,000 -- about half of Parnell’s campaign money-- came as bundled contributions through the Washington D.C. anti-earmark group Club for Growth, The group is also funding its own ads against Young.

“How can you truthfully claim that you’re not taking special interest money?” Young asked him.

Parnell replied those are contributions from individuals who believe in limited government, lower taxes and less government spending. “That’s what I stand for,” Parnell said,

Young charged the Club for Growth is “one of the most extreme groups in Washington D.C.” and wants to cut funding for vets and Alaska Native education, among other things.

Kodiak state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux also targeted Parnell for supporting the governor’s plan to give a license and $500 million state subsidy to TransCanada to pursue the natural gas pipeline.

“I would say that giving $500 million to a Canadian company is not getting government out of private enterprise,” she said.

Parnell defended the plan as having improved Alaska’s chances for a gas pipeline on the state’s terms. He said he expects TransCanada will end up joining with the oil companies who hold the gas leases to make the project happen.

LeDoux, when asked about her experience compared to the congressman and lieutenant governor, said she would bring a fresh perspective.

She also said she’s a second term state legislator and served three terms as Kodiak Island Borough mayor. She called herself a fighter.

“I’m tenacious, methodical, focused and I never give up,” she said in her closing statemen,

Parnell said in his closing statement that he wants to restore trust and make sure the next generation isn’t saddled with a deficit.

“Frankly, I just want to be a light, and make a change, make a difference,” Parnell said.

Young said “I’m running because I’m the best person for the job.”

The two candidates competing in the Democratic primary for the House seat, Ethan Berkowitz and Diane Benson, also debated.

Benson came after Berkowitz on campaign contributions, charging him with receiving money from big tobacco, Veco executives and lobbyists.

Berkowitz said Benson is attempting to “make something out of nothing.” He said he hasn’t received any Veco contributions since 2000 and fought the company’s influence when he was the minority leader of the state House.

“I stood up to them on the House floor,” Berkowitz said, referring to a speech he gave blasting undue interference in the legislative process.

Benson countered that was after the corruption had taken root and the FBI was already in Juneau.

Berkowitz, for his part, asked Benson if she regretted running for governor on the Green Party ticket in 2002, and taking votes away from Democrat Fran Ulmer to help Republican Frank Murkowski to get elected.

Benson said she didn’t regret it. “I learned a lot… I certainly didn’t influence the outcome of that race.”

Murkowski beat Ulmer in that race 129,279 votes to 94, 216 votes. Benson brought in 2,926 votes, according to the state division of elections.

One question the moderator asked the two Democrats, but not the three Republicans, is if they’ve ever smoked marijuana. Both Benson and Berkowitz said they have.

Benson and Berkowitz differed from the Republicans (who all agreed specifying a withdrawal timeline is a bad idea) in saying the U.S. needs out of Iraq soon.

"I support an immediate planning for withdrawal...It is in our best interest and the Iraqi people's best interest to withdraw," Benson said.

Berkowitz said staying indefinitely in Iraq only draws down the strength of the military and costs the nation far too much.

login or register to post comments

20 August 26, 2008 - 5:36am | fsmith

Parnell and his Club for Greed supporters

The Club for Greed, as Mike Huckabee termed them, have a single agenda item: They don't want to have to pay a dime in taxes. With funders such as oilmen David and Charles de Ganahl Koch, worth $17 billion apiece, the CFG pretends to be interested in cutting spending when all they want to do is abolish the estate tax. Don Young's appraisal of them is spot on.

It's a shame that Parnell wasn't asked the estate tax question. The federal government which contributes so much to Alaska would lose $776 billion dollars in just the first ten years, if the estate tax were repealed. It affects just .3% of all U.S. taxpayers. Its funders also want to repeal the minimum wage - bringing slavery back in the 21st Century. So greedheads don't want to have their heirs paying anything on the appreciate of stock value, for instance, but want people in many states to make a fraction of the federal minimum wage.

If we didn't have a road to drive on or a public school for our kids to go to, the Kochs would be delighted. These are the kind of out-of-state supporters that Parnell attracts.

At least Don Young voted to raise the federal minimum wage.

19 August 6, 2008 - 8:00pm |

Removed

This post was deleted for being off topic or violating the ADN user agreement. We encourage readers to "flag" offensive or off-topic comments for review by ADN staff.

18 August 6, 2008 - 2:59am | gcp

Parnell is just a bunch of platitudes in a suit and LeDoux is in

way over her head. Don Young is still quite clearly the best man for this job.

Earmarks are the way that business is done in Washington and it would be foolish to send someone there who refuses to deal in the status quo. We have far too much infrastructure left to build up here to stop bringing home the money that the US Government promised us when we agreed to Statehood.

This whole earmark issue is just a Liberal whining point that has been blown out of proportion. Would people really rather that the Congress just sent millions compounding to billions of dollars to their home states with no explanation as to how it is to be used? The purpose of an earmark is to clarify the rationale behind the funding in question and I cannot understand why anyone would see that as a bad thing.

Don Young has done his job and done it well. He has proven himself to be the man who gets things done and Alaska would be foolish to force him to quit before he is ready.

August 7, 2008 - 7:35am | truthseeker

Not quite like that............

the money wouldn't so directly to the states to spend. It would go to a federal bureauacracy where some government hack in washington DC would make the decision if your state got any projects.

Would you prefer that to having your elected representative make that decision.

Parnell doesn't have a clue what he is talking about. "new energy" and "I am the light" just isn't going to cut it. Don Young kicked his ass.

August 6, 2008 - 8:32pm | rfn

I'm convinced.

The only way we're ever going to get a gasoline tax high enough to stifle demand is to return Don Young to Congress!

August 6, 2008 - 8:40pm | muzungu

Very true

Somehow along the way, I missed it when raising taxes and bragging about being responsible for out-of-control spending was redefined as "conservative".

August 6, 2008 - 8:20pm | muzungu

Baahhh baahhhh baahhhhh

"Don Young ...... money ..... Don Young ....... federal pork is good .........Don Young ....... earmarks serve Alaska ....... Don Young ....... brings home the bacon ........ blah blah blah".

17 August 5, 2008 - 11:54pm | idiocracy

Can I get you anything Mr. Young?

Don Young made Sean Parnell look like a scared little boy. How pathetic.

16 August 5, 2008 - 9:31pm | Diogenes_lamp

The best one is....

Special Interest Don Young, who collects record amounts of outside money....talking about anyone else raising money is a bad joke.
Don is ignorant, arrogant and corrupt. To tell you the truth, for a 20 term incumbent, he sounded pretty damn stupid. Why not just say vote for me because I'm Don Young....the frigging dolt.

August 5, 2008 - 9:55pm | rfn

Ya gotta read the polls.

See, Alaska is trending left. Begich is gonna win...ask any pollster he hires.

Now on the Democrat side in the House contest ya got Dianne Benson, a nice lady who really tries but has been labeled a "greenie" so has to position herself a little more to the right. Then there's the boyo from Frisco whose roots are showing; made more visible by the Florida Carpetbagger who's giving that sport (carpetbagging) a really bad name.

So here's Don Young up against a one nice lady who, like Mayor Mawk, is playing the sympathy card and opposed by a decent and personable young guy who some suspect of being a little Liberal. "A little liberal" isn't enough to draw the New Liberal Alaskans but does alienate the regular folks. Besides, he used to be a legislator and those are the guys who want you to freeze this winter while they play petty power games over energy assistance.

If we believe that Alaska is leaning left, then what's Don Young to do? Simple. Shuffle a wee bit left with a proposal for a gasoline tax that'll save the planet! Speak loudly and assertively. None of his true believers will pay any attention to gas tax - in their minds he's just kidding - so he holds his base and attracts that New Alaskan Left.

And that's how he wins again!

15 August 5, 2008 - 7:12pm | not2green

substance over symbolism? ...Please?

Sean Parnell wants to be a light? I spent quite a bit of time in the capitol when he was doing his thing down there - since he didn't seem to be a member of the CBC, I didn't pay much attention; just thought he was OK. But now I just saw him on 6 o'clock news talking about wanting to be a symbol. This whole Palin/Parnell wing of the AK GOP is something new. Prevo's kids never talked like this. This new redneck liberalism is something to notice of, and learn more about, as they say things that used to alarm conservatives.

I'm hoping LeDoux get it. She seems to be the most similar in substance the "Palin" message ideal many Alaskans want to vote for.

14 August 5, 2008 - 6:01pm | metanoia2k

Republican Effexor

The Debate reminds me of this video:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ea0b05d406

13 August 5, 2008 - 3:55pm | urban_eskimo

Earmarks are bad?

Curious how parnell is banking on saying earmarks are bad. Alaska is in need of transportation earmarks, military spending earmarks, sea port earmarks and economic development earmarks. How would parnell propose to fund these needs if there are no earmarks designated to help finance road construction, brudge building and maintenance, adequately funding the military let alone the many social programs. perhaps mr parnell should have spent more time at the state legislative arena to better learn the needs and wants of the electorate before attempting to move up the political food chain.

August 5, 2008 - 4:04pm | Cartman3_15

Oh, please

Parnell served longer in the state legislature than Young did.

And he did so with distinction, modeling principled conservative leadership in several key legislative roles, including co-chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee during difficult fiscal times for the state.

August 5, 2008 - 4:18pm | nautical_nanook

oh, PUUULLLLEEEEEZE

Hate to point out the obvious, but Don Young kicked the crap out of Sean Parnell. It was a beating. Parnell looked like a deer in the headlights. What was with that 10 second pause in his closing argument before he told us that he was going to "be a light"? I mean, what the hell does that mean? Isn't that the stuff you rehearse and memorize before you get up on stage and an audience of thousands of TV viewers? He looked like he had no idea what he was talking about (notice lack of any specifics- zero) and, what's worse, he was just unprepared. This guy is WAY in over his head. His complaint about earmarks is just the same old rhetoric, which is all he ever talks about because he doesn't know the issues- even Jason Moore made a point when he asked whether Parnell understood that sometimes you trade one earmark in another state for one in your state- that's just politics. Frankly, if it helps to build a senior center or remote road here in Alaska, that's fine by me.

Say what you want about Young- the guy knew what he was talking about and he did a helluva job. He was the most knowledgeable and prepared of any of the candidates.

And what's with Parnell's commercials claiming that "He balanced the budget..." What, single-handedly? It was just him- and no one else- that balanced the budget? Riiiiiiiiiight.

August 5, 2008 - 4:32pm | Cartman3_15

Parnell has shown

demonstrable knowledge of balanced budgets and their importance to fiscal responsibility. At the very least, there is a clear record of this in his service.

That's way more than his opponent can claim.

Would you like to talk about ethics and the ability to be a positive ambassador for Alaska now? Didn't think so.

August 5, 2008 - 5:06pm | nautical_nanook

Shine a light

Look, just because you claim something to be fact doesn't make it true. All Sean Parnell proved last night is that he has no real grasp of the facts, didn't do his homework, and came unprepared to a congressional debate. He floundered up there. It was painful to watch. He demonstrated that he's going to have a very difficult time moving out from Sarah's shadow.

Don Young may not claim that he will be a "light for Alaska." But you can't say he's not a fighter. Parnell however is all rhetoric and no substance. Too bad the Repubs couldn't find a brighter light to run against Don.

August 5, 2008 - 7:53pm | Cartman3_15

Sean Parnell is the best

candidate out there.

He has shown demonstrable knowledge of balanced budgets and their importance to fiscal responsibility. At the very least, there is a clear record of this in his service.

That's way more than his opponent can claim.

Would you like to talk about ethics and the ability to be a positive ambassador for Alaska now? Didn't think so.

Thanks for the opportunity to point these things out again.

August 5, 2008 - 6:16pm | TheSdog

You need to understand something

cartman likes politicians who never know details and never do their homework. "Prepared" is a word to be shunned in cartman's world.

Parnell performed just like Palin did in debates only to an even greater degree. That only endears him to cartman even more.

August 5, 2008 - 8:01pm | Cartman3_15

How pathetic is it

that you're so obsessed with your anti-Palin rhetoric that you can't even view Sean Parnell as his own man with a CLEAR, PRINCIPLED AND DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF SERVICE TO ALASKA?

Thanks for the opportunity to point this out, by the way.

Please, tell us all how Don's squandering of tax dollars on pet projects for his sugar daddies is "conservative." Tell us how Don cares about Alaskans when the vast majority of his campaign contributions come from outside the state. Tell us how Don is a model congressman and a representative of Alaska that we can all be proud of.

It's pretty sad when you'll actively support a crook like DY over a well-qualified, caring, ethical and hard-working person like Sean Parnell just because you don't like Palin.

Go ahead now. Spin away.

Better yet, just go away.

August 5, 2008 - 10:52pm | TheSdog

cartman

Earmarks are a horrific way to do business. And guess what? If Parnell gets to DC and does not bring home bacon he will be out on his kiester. It may not be a good thing but that is the way it is.

It sounds good to blame earmarks and they are a problem but they are the proverbial drop in the ocean(or maybe a lake). The real problem is entitlement programs with over half of federal spending being payments to individuals.

Did you not watch the debate? Perhaps you would like to tell the blog how much of Parnell's campaign is being bankrolled by the Club for Growth. Even if you agree with the positions of such a group which is the case with both of us I suspect it means Parnell is being bankrolled from outside.

Details always seem to escape Posse members like yourself.

August 6, 2008 - 7:58am | Cartman3_15

Young is corrupt

and is an embarrassment to the state and its people.

You'd have maybe a bit of credibility on this issue if you weren't so new here and remembered Parnell as a legislator (from your district, I believe).

You weren't here. You don't remember him. And as usual you'd rather drink the Kool-Aid and parrot talking points than do some homework.

The bottom line remains the same for you and your equally misguided blog brethren -- you're supporting a corrupt candidate. And instead of defending his record, all you can do is criticize others -- often for things Young is guilty of, too.

August 6, 2008 - 12:51pm | TheSdog

cartman

If Parnell showed he had any clue at all he might get my vote. In that debate he was slaughtered because he was ill-informed, ill-prepared, and ill-spoken. That is not a good combo for anyone who wants to be in the US House.

Right now, I am undecided but LeDoux and Parnell show me nothing. That may be better than the something Berkowitz is showing us but that is not saying much.

August 5, 2008 - 10:31pm | truthseeker

OK bigmouth Cartman..............

lets hear you try to tell us about the earmarks for Alaska that you are against. Stunning loss for parnell when he couldn't even answer that question.

Perhaps YOU are the shinging "light" that can answer this for us.

Pathetic performance, no substance, meaningless drivle about new energy......blahblahblah from parnell.

Clearly not qualified to represent Alaska. Light weight to the max.

August 6, 2008 - 7:59am | Cartman3_15

Sean Parnell is the best

candidate out there.

He has shown demonstrable knowledge of balanced budgets and their importance to fiscal responsibility. At the very least, there is a clear record of this in his service.

That's way more than his opponent can claim.

Would you like to talk about ethics and the ability to be a positive ambassador for Alaska now? Didn't think so.

Thanks for the opportunity to point these things out again.

August 6, 2008 - 8:12am | pixieteeth

If Parnell is so great...How come

He can't do his job of updating Alaskan regulations that need an overhaul big time. He takes time to go campaign and debate (which he does poorly) but what he was elected to do...up date regulations...he either doesn't want to (refuses to use what little power he has) or can't figure it out? Just wondering...

August 5, 2008 - 8:21pm | north_to_alaska

Are you from Alaska, or are

Are you from Alaska, or are you an employee for the Club for Growth? If so, please stay out of Alaskan politics, you people know nothing about this state.

Thanks

August 5, 2008 - 8:24pm | Cartman3_15

And you're just another

defender of corruption who has nothing of substance to say about your own candidate.

You can believe whatever it takes for you to sleep at night, but I think it's pretty clear that you are in serious denial if you think you, as a supporter of DY, know anything about this state and what its citizens want.

August 5, 2008 - 10:06pm | wildbill3

Oh my...

Thanks for speaking up for all the Alaskans. Who would speak for us if it weren't for you! You are a shining light! NOT.

I've been here a very long time,raised five kids here and helped build this state. Sorry man, I'll speak for myself and you should speak for yourself as well.

August 5, 2008 - 11:02pm | north_to_alaska

The funny thing is, that I

The funny thing is, that I bet this "cartman" character is from Washington DC and works for an organazation known as Club for Growth.

I will say it again, if you don't know anything about Alaska, then shut your mouth and quit making things up and spreading lies on blogs.

You're just bitter that our Congressman does a damn good job for our state and brings home money for us. It must be dissapointing to live somewhere where your Congressman isn't as affective as ours.

August 6, 2008 - 11:14pm | Cartman3_15

The funny thing is, that you

are the one without an Alaska driver's license in your wallet.

You accused two others last week of being from the Club for Growth. Is that all you've got for anyone who wants to support a candidate who would restore dignity and fiscal sanity to Alaska's only House seat?

Should we talk about some of your boss's contributors now?

August 6, 2008 - 7:23am | Number1Dad

You know what's funny...

...you would think that this "Club for Growth/DC guy" would know that cutting earmarks saves ZERO dollars. ZERO. The money is already budgeted by Congress. All cutting earmarks does is allow DC bureaucrats in the White House to control where the money goes. I don't know about you, but that's the last thing I want. But something tells me it's what "cartman" wants...

12 August 5, 2008 - 3:43pm | Bill508

Young the crook

Young is a crook. How old is this guy? Well past his prime.

11 August 5, 2008 - 3:39pm | black33

ParnELL is still not a conservative

He only pretends to be when he needs the "Club" for Growth dough- from an organization that is opposed to government funding of senior citizen programs.

He seems on board with the "Billion Dollar Bandaid," the co-governors plan for energy relief that will do nothing for the long term.

They've been in office two years- why isn't there a statewide energy plan now that they can use as the basis for requesting appropriations from the legislature for some long-term solutions?

9 August 5, 2008 - 2:08pm | billvogel

A million dollars is required to "cooperate" Don?

Representative Young says " it is expensive to have lawyers cooperate with the federal government in its investigation". Actually it doesn't cost a dime to cooperate, much less a million plus.

All it takes is an honest person.

What a crock, Don.

And what a crook, is Don.

August 5, 2008 - 2:27pm | muzungu

How dare you rock the boat!

Shhhhh, we wouldn't want to derail the gravy train, now would we? After all, what's a little backscratching and graft among friends? Isn't that the theme of modern-day politics: "go along to get along"?

Besides, by speaking against a duly-elected US Representative, the Bush administration could at any time declare you a traitor and an "enemy combatant", and whisk you away forever! Better watch what you say --- after all, we all know that a loyal and "patriotic" American NEVER questions the government or his political masters.

8 August 5, 2008 - 11:28am | jajones

The kindest comments I could have

For miss LeDoux is be prepared next time you come to a debate you seemed very unaware as to the needs of this state and frankly did not seam up to the task of running for any office.

August 5, 2008 - 11:45am | muzungu

And the others as well

I thought the whole Republican debate was a rather shameful performance. Both Gabrielle and Sean seemed shockingly ill-prepared, and although Don was the smoothest talking of the three, as usual he was the most contemptible in his arrogance and casual acceptance of his corruption and big-spending habits.

7 August 5, 2008 - 10:33am | username08

Where do the candidates get their money?

Follow the link below to learn more about the actual campaign filings from all candidates and quickly answer questions like how much cash does Berkowitz have on hand (about $400K out of $620 raised) or how much has Parnell received from Club for Growth (about $165K out of $300 raised):
http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/efile_search.shtml

August 5, 2008 - 4:00pm | heman

Where is don getting his money ?

CPC- PAC
Comm. for Preservation of Capitali PO Box 65314
Washington, DC 20036

Indian Community Bay Mills
12140 W Lakeshore Dr.
Brimley, Michigan 49715

BP North America Employee PAC
4101 Winfield Road - 106D
Warrenville, Illinois 60555

Chevron Employees PAC
1401 Eye St., NW, Ste. 1200
Washington, DC 20005

August 5, 2008 - 8:26pm | north_to_alaska

You should take a look at

You should take a look at who these companies donate to. If you did a little research and looked into who they donate to, you would find that they donate to all incumbent candidates. I would rather receive funds from a company such as Chevron who is involved in Alaska, instead of an anti-Alaskan group such as Club for Growth.

Also, keep in mind those "terrible, awful, corrupt" oil companines are the ones paying your PFD and making it possible for residents of Alaska to have lower taxes than the rest of the country.

August 5, 2008 - 9:27pm | Diogenes_lamp

Actually...

It's OUR resources that make it possible for Alaska to have lower taxes. OUR resources do this and even allow for outside companies to make obscene profits as well.
You should learn a little about how OUR resources and wise investments give us OUR PFDs....you company suck-ups would like to believe it's the oil companies. The price of of AK Crude is down $26 dollars in the last month...our gas prices have dropped 5 cents. Explain that crap while you are at it.

August 5, 2008 - 11:09pm | Cartman3_15

Trash-talking

the Club for Growth seems to be the talking point du jour of the business-as-usual wing of the AK GOP. They all say the same thing, while appearing not to care about DY's lengthy list of questionable, out-of-state contributors.

August 5, 2008 - 11:06pm | north_to_alaska

You are correct about it

You are correct about it being OUR resources. However, nothing would be built without these companies. Take the recent TransCanada deal. Their CEO even pointed out that nothing will get done unless Exxon and the others are involved.

You should quit being short-minded about the situation. The oil companies have played a large role in us recieving PFD's. I for one, appreciate companies that develop and allow for a state like Alaska to profit for years.

If you want to live in a socialist society, I suggest buying a one-way plane ticket to Venezula. On second thought, our Governor is taking us down that road......

6 August 5, 2008 - 10:21am | LilysDaddy

Predictibe Ms. Benson

What was it, the second sentence she uttered of the evening?

"My son, who was injured in Iraq."

I'm appreciative of your son's service; I'm sure we all are. And I'm sorry he was injured in service to our nation. But please, quit using him as a platform plank! Tell us what you'll do for the military, for vets, for long-term medical care of military members who are injured. But quit using him as your political ID.

And Diane, did you ever answer the question about drilling in ANWR? No, not about "birthing caribou." Do you support drilling in ANWR?

Yes? No?

(BTW, the question about Fran Ulmer and the 2002 race was a legitimate one.)

August 5, 2008 - 3:12pm | niklake

Two Items:

1) ANWR. This from Robert Dillon's article at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner today on the debate. Dillon is the best authority on Alaska oil industry issues, and was at the debate:

"Second question: Do you agree with national Democrats on blocking of ANWR?

"Berkowitz: I'm the first one to admit that my party is wrong about developing Alaska's resources.

"Benson: it's curious to me that it's blamed on the Democrats when Republicans have been in charge for so long.

"Moore followed up to ask if Benson supported developing ANWR. The answer, yes.

"ANWR is a national refuge, but I do support responsible development of the refuge," she said."

2) Diane Benson's son's injuries. Benson brings this up to explain why she decided to challenge Young in 2006, when the Democrats didn't even anticipate having somebody run against him. And she also uses the case of her son's injuries and her involvement in his marvelous and stirring recovery to illustrate how she has gotten to know many of our Veterans, our serving military, and their families. When she says she has become knowledgeable about Veteran's issues, she is spot on.

I've found all her mentions of her son to be highly contextual, and your remarks about this to be offensive.

And I'm speaking as a disabled US Army Veteran.

Phil Munger

August 5, 2008 - 6:20pm | TheSdog

Munger

Who cares if you are a veteran?

Many people in Alaska are veterans including me. I was stop-lossed just like Benson's son and it is an evil program but so what.

You do not even have the intestinal fortitude to call yourself a liberal and be proud and instead hide behind this nonsensical "progressive" label. It would appear your disability has more to do with higher cognitive function.

And if you buy that ANWR is closed because of Republicans which is the one of the most silly AK Dem claims you only prove you need to go back to the VA and get some more cognitive testing done.

August 5, 2008 - 7:51pm | Cartman3_15

Does it make you feel superior

in your obviously insecure little world to be such an asshole?

Now tell us how the Republicans were in control of everything for six whole years but ANWR remained closed. Surely you're not peddling the nonsense that this crop of Ds somehow outsmarted the majority?

Clearly, you're way more interested in hanging labels on people and pretending to be superior than you are in the truth. What a piece of work.

And just for the record -- not that I expect you to answer -- but how is it that you have the audacity to criticize someone else for pointing out their status as a veteran when you never, ever miss a chance to throw it out about yourself?

August 6, 2008 - 2:35am |

Removed

This post was deleted for being off topic or violating the ADN user agreement. We encourage readers to "flag" offensive or off-topic comments for review by ADN staff.

August 5, 2008 - 4:41pm | LilysDaddy

Sorry,

her continuing use of her son's military service and injury in Iraq is offensive. Do you propose that prospective voters consider her fitness for office on that basis?

I'm not considering her son as a candidate for U.S. House.

I'm not considering Ms. LeDoux's late husband and son as co-candidates for U.S. House.

I'm not considering Mr. Begich's late father as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

I do consider your fall-back on your disabled status to be offensive. Can you explain what, exactly, that adds to your remarks, re: Ms. Benson? Nothing? Again, her reminder of her son's military service and injury, in every public appearance I've witnessed, is offensive.

And I say that as a retired USAF officer with 26-years of service; oh, and with a disability, too, Phil buddy.

(And btw, what, exactly, does "responsible development" of ANWR mean? Would the oil producers develop ANWR irresponsibly? Who decides what's "responsible?" Ms. Benson? She can answer yes or no.)

Search Jobs | Place an employment ad

Alaska Politics

Contributors

Features

Archive

The House debate