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4th District rivals agree at debate: Bailout was a bad move

Musgrave-Markey clash focuses on economy

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 9, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Fourth Congressional District candidates Betsy Markey, left, a Democrat, and incumbent Marilyn Musgrave, a Republican, face off Thursday at Colorado State University in the first of three debates.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Fourth Congressional District candidates Betsy Markey, left, a Democrat, and incumbent Marilyn Musgrave, a Republican, face off Thursday at Colorado State University in the first of three debates.

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U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who is in a tough re-election fight, portrayed herself as someone who is bipartisan and understands the struggles of real people during the first of three debates with her Democratic opponent.

But Betsy Markey, who is challenging the three-term Republican incumbent in the 4th District, tried to paint Musgrave as another politician who is tied to the "failed policies of the last eight years."

"People are hurting in this country, and the tired policies of the past have failed us," Markey said in her closing statement after the hourlong debate Thursday at the packed Organ Recital Hall at Colorado State University. "It's time for a fresh perspective."

Musgrave said Markey doesn't know her record.

"I'm the one on this stage that has demonstrated that I can work in a bipartisan way to come to solutions in Congress," said Musgrave, who at least twice talked about working with Sen. Ken Salazar and Rep. Mark Udall, both Democrats.

"I have voted to override the president's veto three times. I stood up to the leadership of my own party. When it comes to choosing between my party and the president and the people of the 4th District, I will always choose to stand up for the people," Musgrave said.

The 4th District, which encompasses 18 counties in the northern and eastern part of the state, has been held by a Republican since the 1970s.

The two candidates, who have been clobbering each other with attack ads that triggered questions from the audience, kept things cordial - for the most part.

When asked if there were any misconceptions about them in the negative ads, Musgrave asked sarcastically: "Do we have a time limit on this?"

The two agreed on one point - both opposed the $700 billion federal bailout of the financial industry.

Musgrave said the bailout didn't help Main Street and that she has long been an advocate for small businesses.

"They will help us in this economic crisis," she said. "They will help the American family, help make ends meet."

Markey noted that she has run small businesses but said she opposed the bailout because it did not provide assurances that taxpayers would be protected.

Stylistically, both candidates handled themselves well, said John Straayer, a political science professor.

"Musgrave tried to portray herself as she has since the 2006 election, as more bipartisan than she has been in the past, concerned with more issues," he said. "But still the tone was fiscal conservatism, anti-tax, don't want to tax the oil and gas industry, that sort of thing."

Straayer said Markey was "more clearly disposed, more willing to initiate conversations about things like alternative energy and tax credits."

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099. Staff writer Tillie Fong contributed to this report.

Comments

  • October 10, 2008

    1:28 a.m.

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    GladysKravitz writes:

    Soooooo....let's see....Musgrave has more to lose in this race as the incumbant. That being the case all she seems to do is campaign on her opponents record instead of her own. Why then should she be re-elected? She hasn't stood up for anything other than tearing down Markey. I think that any candidate that desperate is only running out of self interest than for their constituents.

  • October 10, 2008

    5:44 a.m.

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    2Disgusted writes:

    Musgrave failed to fix the roof while the sun was shining. We sent her to DC to do a job; keep the US working. She failed. She should be fired. Markey knows the work that needs to be done to clean up this mess (deficits/national debt) and then fix the roof (education, research, energy, infrastructure) for our children and grandchildren. It won't be easy and we will all need to pitch-in to make it happen much like our grandparents had to do when they left to us the most successful country in the history of the world.

  • October 10, 2008

    6:04 a.m.

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    Tom writes:

    And don't forget (as if we could) that Musgrave wants a ban on same-sex marriage written into the U.S. Constitution. That idea may be on her back-burner these days, but it's still too warm for me.

  • October 10, 2008

    6:43 a.m.

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    Shaupeen writes:

    Musgrave cares not for anyone even the least bit different than her, which, thankfully, includes most reasonable people. District 4 people, please send her home unemployed.

  • October 10, 2008

    3:56 p.m.

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    Bob299 writes:

    I think Marilyn Musgrave has been worrying more about what happens in peoples' bedrooms than about our country.