COUNTDOWN 2008: 10th District rivals hold intense debate

The incumbent congressman accused his opponent of promoting a “liberal, socialist agenda.” The challenger called the incumbent “extremist.”

Those weren’t the only harsh words Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Bobby Saxon hurled at each other Sunday night.

The Georgia 10th District congressional rivals spent nearly a half-hour arguing over abortion, military records and who had a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution. The debate, sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club, was held at the studios of Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Broun is a Republican from Athens representing a heavily GOP-leaning district. That didn’t stop the congressman from attacking Saxon, ridiculing the Democrat’s claim of being a conservative and accusing him of supporting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and “her radical leftist agenda.”

Broun based his accusation, in part, on Saxon’s refusal to state publicly if he plans to vote for Democrat Barack Obama for president.

“[Saxon] is going to raise taxes on everybody in this state,” said Broun. “if elected, he will promote a socialist agenda in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Saxon countered that Broun had spent most of him time in Washington promoting an “extremist” agenda, instead of working on issues important to 10th District constituents.

“Extremists like yourself” want to “tie me to someone else with a national political agenda out there,” Saxon said.

Broun also accused Saxon of being “for abortion [and] against the Second Amendment” and for supporting a “liberal, cut-and-run” strategy favoring an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Saxon said he was personally pro-life but believes in a “woman’s right to choose.” He denied that he opposes gun ownership rights, noting that he has a large collections of guns himself.

As for the “cut-and-run” accusation, Saxon, a Iraq combat veteran, shot back, “I know what it’s like to be shot at. I know what it’s like to watch people die.”

Saxon then sought to turn the tables on Broun by accusing the congressman of misleading voters about his own record.

Broun, a Marine reservist from 1964 to 1967, never saw combat. According to Saxon, Broun has told voters his military service was “pre-Vietnam.”

“Will you look into that camera and tell the people of the 10th District why you misled them about your military record?” Saxon asked Broun.

Broun shot back, “Bobby, you’re so full of it.”

In his closing remarks, Broun again raised the specter of socialism in Washington.

“I view the federal government as this huge ball of twine of socialism that’s been wrapping itself around us for years,” said Broun. “I’m working in Washington to unravel those strands.”

Saxon, in his closing remarks, compared himself to the late Charlie Norwood, a Republican who represented the 10th District prior to his death in 2007.

Saxon urged voters to choose him “if you want another congressman who will represent everyone in this district, who will work in a conservative bipartisan way to represent you.”

The Broun-Saxon encounter followed a debate between 1st District congressional candidates Jack Kingston and Bill Gillespie.

Among other things, Gillespie, the Democratic challenger, said Kingston, the Republican incumbent, had failed to support soldiers and their families.

“A soldier voting for Jack Kingston is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders,” said Gillespie.

“My opponent talks about change, but he supported the $700 billion [Wall Street] bailout,” Kingston said.