Congressional District 4 Debates: LiveBlog!
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Tonight, the Congressional District 4 candidates will debate at 8 p.m. from Jacksonville University. Tune in on Channel 4 or live stream the debate on www.news4jax.com and join the online conversation as we live blog on metrojacksonville.com.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-aug-congressional-district-4-debates-liveblog
Mic checks just concluded. K justice entertained for a bit. Seems like less people tonight the. Yesterday.
Sheriff Williams is lingering along the side aisles in full uniform.
Candidates have taken the stage. There are four not three...
from the left
Bill Mcclure, Lake Ray, John Rutherford, and Hans Tanzler.
Let's do this! Candidates are on-stage now and Kent Justice is making the same jokes as last night. Love that guy.
Pollster for Rutherford called last night.
Lake Ray fans are already getting rowdy.
Let the debates begin...
Kent makes the introduction...
Rick makes his JUPPI introduction...
Per Kent, candidates who polled at 3% or higher based on a UNF poll are on the stage. There are, I think, three other candidates in this race. Kent will host them on this sunday show, "This week in Jacksonville."
Only candidates that polled at 3% or more in the recent UNF poll were allowed to participate. Lots of electeds here tonight - Property Appraiser Jerry Holland is here (I'm sitting next to him - love talking politics with that guy!), Sheriff Mike Williams, City Councilman Jim Love....
St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure starts with the small government conservative talking points. Limited gov't blah blah blah
Lake Ray goes the same route as McClure in opening comments.
McClure now railing against taxes.
Rutherford begins into with a "washington is broken" political mumbo jumbo. Terrorism is going to get you and your children.
Bill McClure: Begins with big government is bad. He's self-funded and will not accept a federal pension. An outsider
Tanzler: Another outsider. he's for term limits. outlines career puts narco-terrorist in jail. Wants to demolish obama and his policies. He's disgusted.
Ray: I'm a professional engineer. He's fed up with washington. They've forgotten us. and that we are gov. for the people by the people and something else people. He just goes down the check list of what makes a super conservative...
Nothing new here, folks. Political mumbo jumbo with nothing actually said but at least we know that government they want to be a part of is soooooo bad.
^ stephen and metedith, I think you guys can handle this. I don't know that I have the stomach to hear 4 different candidates say the same exact thing in the same exact way.
QuoteWow. This is a version of Rutherford that we've never seen before. Angry, rightwing and dog whistle messaging.
My thoughts exactly. I think that's why I feel instantly deflated.
McClure, I appreciate his calm cool approach.
All agree in cutting taxes and shrinking government significantly. Shocker.
Limited government blah blah blah
I'm having a hard time figuring out who's talking since they're all saying the same things about executive overreach and the evils of big government.
All just raised their hands and said they're supporting Trump. Jesus.
They all endorse Donald trump.
Who did they originally vote for...
Rutherford: Rubio
Ray: Rubio
Tanzler: Rubio
McClure: trump
This debate is so frustrating that my MacBook just froze in protest. On my iPhone.
Tanzler, blames Rutherford for letting Arabs into Jacksonville. Calling us a "sanctuary city".
They all support mass deportations of illegal immigrants. This really is getting boring with them all repeating the same Republican talking points.
Just saw former Councilman Bill Bishop is here too.
Should we build a wall?
McClure - yep, and it was originally Congress' idea supposedly
Ray - yep
Rutherford - electronic wall? lol "According to Israel, walls work" "the tunnels are amazing"
Tanzler - yep "must be effective to stop the invasion" "first priority" Ellis Island? That closed a long time ago, dude.
This debate is becoming a long discussion about how bad bad immigrants.
They are discussion Trump's never gonna happen plan to deport 11 million
Tanzler literally just said " we have to close the borders and stop the invasion"
You'll be comforted in knowing Lake Ray voted against sharia law. One has to wonder what really happens in tallahassee.
They all support deporting. Rutherfords, walked around the question, which gives me hope.
On the wall:
McClure: build the wall
Ray: a wall sends a message that the usa is not free to just walk on in. I support it.
Rutherford: we need to secure our borders. it doesn't need to be physical. Israel has walls. it works for them. Tunnels are real. they get under walls.
Tanzler: stop the invasion. build the wall.
Kent is not letting them get away from Trump. The last three questions are about Trump's ambitions.
Why are they asking these questions?
Do you support banning Muslims from entering the US?
Ray - I don't support anyone coming in the country without vetting them
Rutherford - create "safe zones" for Muslims here? like, ghettos or concentration camps
Tanzler - "strike them there before they get here and we must stop them before they come" but then disagreed that we should stop all Muslims - agreed with Rutherford
McClure - "we're not following the rule of law" "they're not following our Christianity" !!!!!! WTF
So, obviously, this is not for me. If I was the voter they were going after, who would be the most winningest candidates based on this debate. I think it's lake ray. He speaks well, confident.Throws facts around.
Back to terrorrism and immigrants are going to destroy america. The question, should we ban all muslims.
Are safe zones a euphemism for refugee camps? Rutherford recomends safe zones, created by the USA in countries where
Tanzler gives the most decent answer...lets not prevent people coming here following the American dream but background checks.
McClure: they are not following are rules or laws, our Christianity, our laws...
Rutherford - Black lives matter is a hate group because their rhetoric leads to violence. Does he remember that he's supporting Donald Trump?
Kent asks, is Black Lives Matter a hate group:
Tanzler: I support the death penalty for those that want to kill US. Who is us? Hits at rutherford who is opposed to the death penalty.
McClure: ethical answer...surprise! selective enforcement of crime based on the color skin is wrong.
Ray: All lives matter. Sympathetic. Holds back .
This is jaw dropping .
On to NRA...who loves guns the most.
Rutherford is attacked by Tanzler for not loving guns based on a particular policy. Rutherford explains the policy. He says, I opposed allowing firing warning shots under "stand your ground...we don't even allow our police to fire warning shots. We certainly don't want our citizens firing warning shots."
We're onto Lake Ray defending a tweet. I missed the topic.
Closing:
Ray: I am an accomplished legislator and most qualified
McClure: I'm a legislator too
Rutherford: I'm the only candidate with a staunch record of conservatism
Tanzler: Running for the right reasons; not a career politician
closing statements:
Ray:
You will be voting for a member of congress. I have a record as a legislature. Look at my record as a conservative republican. Only candidate endorsed by the NRA.
McClure:
I'm a st. johns commissioner. i have conservative values. we created jobs. we cut unemployment.
Rutherford:
The only person who has conservative leadership experience. I work with law people in federal governments. he ran a $498m business and they carry guns.
Tanzler:
I've never run for office before. my dad told me to be a statesman. family value. national security. fed up with washington. promises to break furniture in DC>
Thanks for joining us! Just wrapped up :)
Quote from: TheCat on August 17, 2016, 08:40:48 PM
So, obviously, this is not for me. If I was the voter they were going after, who would be the most winningest candidates based on this debate. I think it's lake ray. He speaks well, confident.Throws facts around.
correct. He is the only semi-moderate and the only one who actually has decent legislative experience (City Council and State).
I'm voting for Ed Malin.
Thanks MJ for covering this.