Three debates down, two to go, and we're going strong. I want to thank everyone who's been blogging about my debates. As many have already pointed out, you can watch some videos of the matches
here.
Before running down some of the highlights, let me just say I'd wanted to get into the ring with my opponent since I entered this race. And while I was hoping Vito Fossella would agree to debate - the voters deserve to hear from their prospective representatives - I was still surprised when he accepted five, the conventional wisdom being if you're ahead, don't get in the center of the ring - just dance around. The quick back story is that after avoiding my proposal for months, after I went to his campaign headquarters with a copy of that same proposal, and after, we have reason to believe, Fossella took an internal poll, he finally agreed to debate.
Round one was hosted by a local chapter of the AARP in Staten Island. And if the audience was any indication, it was a knockout for us. While we discussed several issues,
Social Security was one of the main concerns. My opponent is fond of saying he does not and never has supported the privatization of Social Security, but he has spoken on both CNN and at the Republican National Convention in favor of it. I am against it.
Later in the debate, the crowd and my opponent got quite a surprise after he'd spoken about ensuring the safety of first responders and insinuated that I would not protect them. Fossella left himself wide open on that one. In my rebuttal, I asked if there was an EMT in the room and was able to point to my daughter. She reminded everyone in the room that she's married to a police officer. Think I'm not looking out for my kids? An effective double jab.
Round two followed just that night, at a debate hosted by the Pleasant Plains/Princes Bay/Richmond Valley (PPPBRV) Civic Association. While we debated many issues, I also noted that I would be an accessible Congressman, and wouldn't speak only through spokespeople, as my opponent does.
At the end of the (very long) day I went back to my corner in better shape than my opponent. As Tom Wrobleski of the Staten Island Advance reported, "Fossella got the worst of it."
One night's sleep and less than 24 hours later we met again. But this third debate, our first in Brooklyn, had a different focus. I'd intended on opening with a standard biographical run-down, but I changed my mind when I arrived at the debate, having just seen Vito Fossella's latest campaign piece. On the back of this four-pager was a picture of myself (rather amusing, in how ridiculous it was) but also a picture of Osama bin Laden.
A vote for Steve Harrison, Vito Fossella claimed - a vote for a Democrat, he more than implied - means you support Osama bin Laden and terrorism. This is a horrendous ploy. How dare the Republicans portray themselves as the party of morality and patriotism!
The awful tactic itself shows why the George Bush, Vito Fossella - the Republicans - are so dangerous. My picture next to one of bin Laden brings me one step closer to being declared an "enemy combatant," one step closer to being thrown in jail and one step closer to being "aggressively interrogated." I am a proud American. I am a patriot. But the Republicans would have it that if you're not one of them, you're for the enemy.
This has, of course, been the message of the Republicans all along. And all along we've known they're wrong. John Spencer did an Osama bin Laden TV ad attacking Hillary just this summer. Now Vito's playing dirty; his gloves are off.
Am I angry? No, but I am stunned. In one fell swoop, the vileness of the Bush/Fossella/Republican policies became crystal clear to me, as I was falsely accused of supporting terrorism. The Republicans do not own patriotism. I'm going to respond, but I'm not going to swing wildly. Keep your arms up, your combinations tight. We can win this thing.
I opened the debate hosted by the Dyker Heights Civic Association by addressing this campaign lit., and it got a quite a response. The first question from the audience was addressed to Vito Fossella; a woman asked if he had approved the bin Laden piece, and what he meant by it. People - Vito's constituents - are not happy with this ugly tactic.
The press has picked up on this, and it's really picking up steam. Check out the NY Times article on and this Observer Politicker post. All the local papers are on it - the Brooklyn Papers and the Home Reporter, as well as the Staten Island Advance.
I'll have two more debates with Vito Fossella, one in Staten Island this Friday, October 20, and one more in Brooklyn next Tuesday, October 24. See harrison06.com for details, and please come by.
There are less than 3 weeks till Election Day, and Democrats are on their way to victory. We're going to play by the rules, and we're going to win.