Senate Democratic Candidates Don't Hide Discord during Debate

Senate Democratic Candidates Don't Hide Discord during Debate
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
By: Bobbie O'Brien, WUSF

August 3, 2010 -- There's no love lost between Florida's two Democratic primary candidates for US Senate, as evidenced by their most recent debate in Clearwater. Congressman Kendrick Meek and businessman Jeff Greene were aggressive with their accusations and didn't hide their disdain. .

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The two Democratic candidates battled over each other’s record and intentions. But, they also agreed on several points. To start, neither Meek nor Greene thinks Arizona’s new immigration law that toughens enforcement is a good fit for Florida.

Both agreed it was necessary for the federal government to bail out financial institutions with TARP money, and both favor a Florida Constitutional amendment to ban drilling off Florida’s coast.

Greene went a step further and used the oil spill issue against Meek, saying current office holders are at fault for the spill.

“This was not an act of God it was an act of man,” Greene said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a failure of Kendrick and all these other legislators in Washington for just failing to regulate oil companies.”

He then pointed out that Meek accepted campaign contributions from BP. Meek has accepted $1,500, but he responded quickly with his own charge.

“It’s interesting that he talks about oil and he’s invested heavily in petroleum, Venezuelan petroleum at that,” Meek said.

That exchange set the tone for the hour-long forum carried by Bay News 9 and Central Florida News 13 this week. Both candidates accused each other of negative campaigning and false accusations, and there were visible signs of contempt. Meek smirked when the moderator referred to them both as Democrats

“You say we’re both Democrats, and I had to smile because Mr. Greene is a new Democrat just coming to the party,” Meek said to the moderator.

“Kendrick Meek has been saying I’m not a Democrat. I was raised a Democrat in Massachusetts. My first US Senator was John F. Kennedy,” Greene countered. “Look, I made a mistake after I got out of business school 28 years ago. For a year of my life, I was a Republican.”

Meek pointed out that Greene ran for Congress in California as a “Ronald Reagan Republican” in 1982. Greene was registered as a Republican in California. It’s uncertain for how long. There’s a 10 year gap where his party affiliation can’t be substantiated.

Even with all the back and forth, they did talk about issues such as ways to reduce the deficit and stimulate jobs. Of particular interest to Floridians, each candidate was asked for his vision for the space program. Greene said the problem was not the phasing out of the space shuttle.

“We knew this was happening,” he said. “The problem, I think, is I’m disappointed the people who are representing Florida in Washington didn’t fight harder to get these new rockets that we’re going to be launching from around the country - get the companies here in Florida. None of the twelve companies competing to take our astronauts back to the space station are here in Florida.”

Meek responded, saying, “I think it’s important to know that [U.S.] Sen. Bill Nelson and I are working very hard to make sure that we create private sector jobs to protect the benefit of those individuals working there. I just left Brevard County sitting down with the mayor of … Cocoa, and I think it’s important that we look at the drain that’s taking place economically in that area.”