Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
It turns out that Jesse Kelly is too extreme even for the GOP establishment conservative editorial board of The Arizona Republic, which endorsed Ron Barber for Congress today. Barber provides steady centrism district needs (excerpts):
We think Ron Barber is the best choice to finish Giffords' term.
Voters may want a different style in November. For now, Barber offers continuity and steadiness. He served as district manager during Giffords' 5 1/2 years in Congress, and he knows the district and the people. He wants to focus on problem solving. Barber cites as a model the cooperative efforts of Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater and Democratic Rep. Morris Udall to secure funding for the Central Arizona Project.
Barber is a former small-business owner, and he worked for 32 years with the state's Department of Developmental Disabilities before joining Giffords' staff.
Although the border is no longer the burning issue it was in 2010, Barber says ranchers in the district do not yet feel safe. He hopes to build consensus in Congress around security measures, such as stationing Border Patrol agents closer to the line; one rancher told him it took two weeks to get a hole in the fence repaired. He also wants to add horse patrols in rugged areas, increase use of unmanned drones, add more mobile surveillance units and pursue a public-private partnership to put up cellphone towers to reduce the number of communication dead zones.
These are practical solutions with bipartisan appeal.
Barber also says it may be time to uncouple the elements of comprehensive immigration reform and look at what can be done piecemeal. He mentioned the alternative Dream Act being offered by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and a guest-worker program.
Barber says the federal budget has to be cut, but new revenue is also needed. He would retain the Bush tax cuts for the middle class, but says, "Those who have done well should pay more."
We may not agree, but we like his pragmatism and commitment to seeking common ground. He points to the Simpson-Bowles Commission budget report to show bipartisan ideas exist.
* * *
Voters would do well to send Ron Barber to Washington. He demonstrates a seasoned understanding of federal issues and congressional process, given his years working as Giffords district manager. He shares her moderate impulse to work well with others. He can provide the kind of centrist, constituent-oriented service residents of District 8 got from Giffords and from Republican Jim Kolbe before her.
The Republic stops just short of calling Jesse Kelly a liar on his false claims about "Democrats cut $500 billion from Medicare." The editors don't want to jeopardize their share of that GOP campaign cash windfall, after all:
He ran as a staunch "tea party" conservative in 2010, but he has since moderated his tone. Two years ago, he called Medicare and Social Security the "biggest Ponzi scheme in history." Now he stresses that he will protect benefits for current recipients. He calls this a clarification of his past position. Voters might wonder whether this new style is designed to shake off the firebrand image that hurt him last time.
Extreme Makeover Jesse Kelly 2.0. Too extreme even for the GOP establishment conservative editorial board of The Arizona Republic.
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Your shilling for the Green Party candidate couldn’t possibly be more obvious.
I am surprised, especially after viewing the debate on TV and again on my Computer. Mr. Charles Manolakis ( former DEMOCRAT) did a much better job. He was more consistent than Mr. Barber. Mr. Barber apparently forgot what he said at the beginning of the debate, because his end comments were almost opposite. I understand because Mr. Manolakis is much younger and his thoughts were coherent. He also is aligned with Congresswoman Giffords policies,(understandable due to being a former DEMOCRAT), whereas Mr. Barber seems to be back peddling.