Sunday, April 11, 2010

Observations of the 9th District debate

I attended the 9th District GOP candidates debate last night in North Vernon and was glad that I did.  There is nothing like watching the candidates gathered together and answering questions to get a better idea of how they respond to issues and situations.  It was very enlightening.  Hats off to Mark Holwager and his wife and the Jennings County GOP for a very well organized and well run show!

The format was well thought out and went very well.  Each candidate was given the opportunity for a 3 minute introduction, the order determined by a draw beforehand.  Mike Sodrel went first followed by Rick Warren, Todd Young and finally Travis Hankins.  That order was reversed for the end comments by each.  Questions were asked by the moderator and each candidate given the opportunity to respond for 3 minutes.  An opportunity for a one minute rebuttal was given to each also.

I must admit that my mind was changed during this debate.  Like many others I have felt that the GOP needs some newer fresh candidates to attract more young folks and to change the old stereotypes that have been perpetuated about the party for a number of years.  Because of those concerns I was glad to see candidates like Todd Young and Travis Hankins in this race.  Of those two  I had felt that Todd Young was a very promising candidate because of his extensive resume, which includes military service (Naval Academy and Marine intelligence officer), political service (aide to Senator Lugar) and his legal experience.  And I appreciate Travis Hankins for his strong conservative philosophy and his grassroots campaigning and ability to motivate a great number of folks to his candidacy.  Rick Warren should be commended for his courage at taking on his run but he is much too laid back for this type of thing.  That leaves Mike Sodrel, the perennial Baron Hill opponent, making his fifth run at this thing.  When Mike announced he was running again, I was disappointed.  I felt that he should have deferred to one of the younger guys and offered his resources and expertise to one of them and help build a younger GOP.  I was one of those really disappointed at his last run, I thought he should have done better.  I felt his time had come and gone.

But watching the debate last night changed my mind.  Of the four candidates Mike Sodrel, I felt, was the most polished, gave the better responses, had a better command of the issues and presented himself as the best candidate to beat Baron Hill in the fall.  Todd Young spent the night taking potshots at Sodrel's record and trying to draw Sodrel into a fracas.  The first couple times it seemed legitimate but, over time, it grew tiresome.  And the crowd sensed that it was tiresome, it seemed like he was trying to conduct a prosecution.  Every time Travis responded to a question he would speak as if he was in front of a large crowd without the benefit of a PA system.  He was literally shouting in a clipped campaign style that did not seem appropriate for this type of setting.  Sodrel seemed relaxed and was able to provide examples of his previous term in Congress to issues like immigration, national defense and tax policy.  Philosophically, there is not much separating the four.  They all support term limits, are pro-life, favor strong national defense and want to secure our borders.  But of the four I felt Mike Sodrel has the benefit of having been there before and knowing what to expect and how to get things done in Congress. He has been toe to toe with Baron Hill four times and knows what to expect from him and how to push his buttons.  Judging from last night's performance I'm afraid any of the other GOP candidates would get eaten alive by Baron in any kind of a debate setting.

Then there are the practical, poltical considerations of  money, organization, name recognition and connections.  Mike Sodrel wins ALL of those among these four candidates.  He can raise money and has his own.  He has an organization built in the part of the district that has the most voters.  He has the name recognition (for better or worse) in the district and he is connected with the National Republican Congressional Committee and has the endorsement of Mike Pence. 

Todd Young and Travis Hankins are great young GOP candidates.  I am glad they are in this race and I encourage them to continue building their organizations and building a younger more conservative 9th District GOP.  But for this race, this year, against Baron Hill - I will be supporting Mike Sodrel. - SP

21 comments:

  1. Mike was in congress once before and he did not inspire leadership or give the voters a reason to keep him in office. We do not need recycled pols (as evidenced by his polished speaking, BHO speaks very well too), we need new leadership that will stand and fight. Loudly if needed.

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  2. If Young is losing political junkies like Bob then that is bad news for Hankins.

    Hankins needs Young and Sodrel to split the political junkie group.

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  3. I, too was at the debate last night and agree pretty much 100% with Bob's analysis. The more I hear Todd Young speak, the more insincere he comes across and Sodrel, like him or not, smoked the others with his composure and explanation of what he would do with our tax code. His single (there are many) example of US products being on a level playing field with imports/exports was a grand slam!
    Great reporting Bob, keep it up!

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  4. You may accuse Mr. Young of taking Posthots at Mr. Sodrel but his points were still valid. Mr. Sodrel has had his chance. Actually 4 of them. The one time he has actually managed to win against Baron Hell he didn't represent us well and Couldn't hold onto the seat.

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  5. Todd Young has demonstrated that he can raise campaign funds across a wide spectrum of the population. Todd Young is pro-life and strong and a fiscal conservative. He has the skills and the conservative mindset to be a fine represenative for the 9th district. Todd Young is a fresh face and is more "electable" than any of the other candidates. Sodrel has raised very little money in this campaign except for his own money he loaded to his campaign.

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  6. It was an excellent debate w/Mike Sodrel making
    great points backed by experience and knowledge. I went in a Todd Young backer and came out a Mike
    Sodrel supporter as a result of listening to what
    each candidate had to say and how it was said.

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  7. I to was at the debate. Hankins (as is his style) tends to regergatate talking points popular to conservatives. He's smart and spirited, but inexperienced and naive. Young acts more like Hill than Hill and it was a turn off. My concern is that Sodrel won't be able to beat Hill. He's done it before and I believe he's learned from past failures. Hill is out best chance at beating Hill this year.

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  8. Not computer savvy enough not to be Anonymous. Suffice to say that I'm the War Eagle from Madison (aka Rick) inviting you all to the Madison Tea Party next Saturday at 3 PM at the Riverboat Inn in Madison (just east of the bridge).
    About the debate last night, I'm with Bob. Professor Sodrel schooled the other 3 students despite the petulant and rude and angry shots by Mr. Young. My high school freshman student sons nudged me frequently with a Reaganesque "There he goes again (Dad)." I thought Mike's responses were reasoned, articulate, Conservative and cogent to the very real and present danger that the Baron and the Obama regime pose to our country.
    I do indeed hope that Travis continues his political career (and he is a politician despite protestation to the contrary). Nothing wrong with politicians, at least those who have the good of our God-given country in their hearts. I think he does.
    Mr. Young quoted Ronald Reagan I believe but he sure did not understand Reagan's 11th Commandment ... "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican." I would be hard pressed not to break that when speaking of or about Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe or Arlen Specter (well, we knew he was a Democrat other than during the Clarence Thomas hearings), but Mr. Young just seemed mean throughout the debate. He had his retinue of bulletpoints to snipe at Mike and he would not be dissuaded by the 350 people in the room. That kind of tone-deafness may work in Carmel, but not in the 9th District.
    I agree with you, Bob, for this race, this year, I'm supporting Mike Sodrel for Congress. I agree with Mike and Mike Pence, this year's election is the most important in our lifetime as well as the life of our country.

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  9. Mike Sodrel has stressed his experience all along as his biggest asset in his bid for Congress and last night it showed. Never...I mean never, take on Sodrel on the Constitution. He is well learned on its content. The election is over for Todd Young after last nights rude and frustrating hissy fit at Mike Sodrel. I give Hankins 2nd place, but his immaturity showed with words like "gooder". Good person,just not primed as Sodrel. percentage wise: Sodrel 65%.. Hankins 20% Young 10% and Warren 5% ( nice guy).

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  10. While it is sometimes mentioned that Sodrel couldn't hold the seat, let's acknowledge the elephant in the room. George W took down a very large number of fellow Republicans.

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  11. excellent commentary.
    I attended as well and couldn't agree more with what you have written. Mike Sodrel for Congress!

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  12. I believe Don Mantooth won this debate. Don clearly was the class of the field with his quick wit, life experience and polished answers.

    Clearly Hankins is over rated he had no supporters there and no yard signs anywhere either.His answers were ill timed and ignorant compared to Mantooth the hero; Hankins certainly did not receive the loudest audience applause.


    After Mantooth beats Hill in 2010 I would like to see Donald Mantooth defeat Obama/Biden in 2012. Perhaps Barth GOP chairman Ted Ogle could be President Mantooth's Chief Of staff.

    For full disclosure I am 100% objective and I in no way am biased against any of the other candidates. Also, my views reflect that of the ninth GOP electorate.

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  13. I have just been informed that Mr Mantooth did not debate and is not running. This is too bad.

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  14. We were unable to attend, but we know Mike Sodrel to be a committed and sound conservative who does indeed know the Constitution. He carrieds a small copy in his pocket and has handed them out to many of his constituents. We are 100% behind Mike Sodrel.

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  15. Mike did not impress me in his last run and has put little effort into his run this time. If he is not willing to work to get elected, I don't see him working real hard in Congress. I would much prefer him to Hill but that is not saying much. Just because he has had the last decade to perfect his stump speech does not make him the best candidate.

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  16. I have watched Mike throughout his campaigns. He is certailnly knowledgable concerning the Constitution. I will have to go with him. I thought Young early on was the man but not now.

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  17. I don't understand how Sodrel is going to go from losing by 20% in the last election to beating Baron Hill.

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  18. Sodrel may be knowledgeable about the Constitution, but he helped W and most of the GOP lead us into a lot of fiscal trouble.

    Young's critiques would have been more effective with fewer attempts but pressing the points.

    For example, Young correctly pointed out Sodrel's moderate scores from fiscal conservatism watchdog groups. Sodrel countered with strong scores from *conservative* watchdog groups-- none of which focus on *fiscal* conservatism.

    Of course, there are a variety of criteria from which one can choose a candidate. But when it comes to fiscal conservatism, one thing is clear. If you want a proven fiscal moderate, go with Sodrel. If you want a principled fiscal conservative, Young probably works and Hankins is a guarantee.

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  19. Let me remind you..Mike Sodrel HAS TAKEN HILL OUT BEFORE and is now even better positioned to TAKE HILL OUT AGAIN. Pence, Right to Life, etc. all know Sodrel is the dominating candiate!! All Republicans need to unite to Defeat Hill and the Liberals. No second chances, even though all the candiates are nice guys, you have to do what's right for the future.

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  20. Now That's some GOOD ADVICE!!!!

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  21. Little doubt about best representative for Congress in the 9th. Mike Sodrel is our best chance against Hill. Mike Pence backing is huge in what his support will bring to the table in the general election. Hill will say anything now to "warm " his way back. It's time again for Congressman Mike Sodrel!

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