Candidates tackle foreign policy issues

By JENNA PORTNOY
The Intelligencer

Congressional candidates explained their foreign policy stances on foreign wars, immigration and energy independence during a debate Wednesday night at Central Bucks West High School.

Incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy, Republican challenger Tom Manion and independent Tom Lingenfelter answered 13 questions from panelists, readers and audience members. The Intelligencer-sponsored debate marked the last time the candidates will officially meet face to face before the election.

Candidates’ positions on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq set up a stark contrast.

Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, said he wants to bring home 120,000 troops within 16 months. He would refocus 7,000 troops on al-Qaida in Afghanistan — what he called the “number one threat to America’s security” — and keep 20,000 soldiers in remote areas of Iraq or Kuwait for training and strategic cover.

Manion, a retired Marine, said the country needs to support Gen. Petraeus and “stay in Iraq until we stabilize that country.”

“Iraqis are stepping up to lead the convoys,” he said, evoking his son’s memory. “I know that first hand, I heard that from my son.”

Turning to Iran, Manion called for a “multilateral” approach to keeping the country from securing nuclear weapons. If sanctions and “stranglehold” policies don’t work: “We have no choice but to defend ourselves and if that calls for a pre-emptive strike I would support that.”

Murphy said during his 22 months representing the 8th District he voted for sanctions against Iran and he blamed the Bush administration for failing to talk to the radical regime. There’s “nothing weak” about diplomats sitting down to discussions, he said.

Lingenfelter said the United States’ military might should be enough to prevent Iran from attacking.

“We should wipe them off the face of the earth — send a message,” he said. “Some people you can’t talk to. You just shoot them between the eyes and move on.”

When the discussion turned to energy independence, Manion and Murphy both talked of green-collar jobs and alternative energy options, including solar and wind power. Devoting big dollars to clean energy technology is hard to do “when you spend three trillion dollars in Iraq on direct and indirect costs,” Murphy said.

Manion, who pinned the cost of war at $860 billion, said the country’s infrastructure is built on oil and pushed for a “transition plan” that would tap domestic oil supplies.

Murphy said he broke with his party to support domestic drilling.

“We need to act with urgency because it is a national security issue when 70 percent of our oil comes from foreign sources,” he said.

On immigration, Manion said seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks Washington lawmakers have failed to pass comprehensive reform, including a “robust work visa program.” He slammed Murphy for sitting on a bill he co-sponsored, instead of pushing it to a floor vote.

Murphy responded that hearings are needed on the bill and touted his support for securing U.S. borders and stepping up enforcement and prosecution. Both said amnesty is not the answer.

In his closing, Murphy said he supported the creation of a local veterans cemetery, pay raises for troops, an increase in veterans benefits and funding education for troops.

But Manion said Murphy promised to bring troops home in March and maintained that “Washington leadership is broken.”

“We sent our representative down there to lead the change and that hasn’t happened,” he said. “The reality is 22 months is enough.”

Lingenfelter got by far the most audience reaction of the evening, starting with his opening statement when he dropped a stack of campaign literature on the floor. The papers remained throughout the hour and a half-long debate.

Lingenfelter stuck to his message of mistrust for the two major political parties, which he called puppets of moneyed special interests.

“The Republicans will tell you the Democrats are at fault,” he said. “The Democrats will tell you the Republicans are at fault. I agree with both of them.”

The Bulletin Salutes Col. Tom Manion For 8th

By The Bulletin

Sometimes, choosing a candidate for elective office goes beyond policy positions and campaign promises. On rare occasions, a leader emerges who exudes such an inspiring vision that people forget their skepticism and start believing again, having faith that he or she will rise above party lines votes and partisan bickering. A leader who would always put personal conviction first, regardless of the political consequences. A leader like 8th congressional district challenger Tom Manion.

Tom Manion is Col. Tom Manion, a decorated 30-year Marine officer whose service to his country and dedication to family always came first. He learned his value system of sacrifice, duty and honor from his working-class family upbringing, and in turn, passed those character traits along to his children. His son, Travis, following in his father’s footsteps as a Naval officer, was killed in action in Iraq.

It would have been easy for Col. Manion to cast blame for his son’s death, and demand America cut and run from Iraq. But instead, he honored Travis’ sacrifice by reinvigorating his call for American victory in this crucial war.

He chose to stand by his convictions because he knew it was the right thing to do. Talking with Col. Manion allows one to see his steel resolve, giving one the unmistakable impression that “giving up” has never crossed his mind.

While Tom Manion’s positions on the issues are certainly more in line with the voters in the 8th District - he believes in defending the Right to Life, the restoration of fiscal sanity, the need to drill domestically, and the necessity to lower taxes - The Bulletin’s foremost reason in endorsing the Colonel is because of his unwavering commitment to God, family and country. Pennsylvania needs that kind of leader.

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Is 8th District in play for Manion?

By GARY WECKSELBLATT
Bucks County Courier Times

He was in Bensalem Tuesday, sent his wife to Lower Makefield last Monday, visited Montgomery County last week and Lehigh County the week before that. On Tuesday, he and his running mate will be in Quakertown.

It’s become apparent that Republican John McCain believes the Keystone State is his key to the White House.

How might McCain’s effort to win Pennsylvania’s 21 electoral votes impact Tom Manion’s quest to make Patrick Murphy a one-term congressman in the 8th District?

It depends whom you ask.

Having McCain campaign in Bucks “can’t but help him,” said Gwynedd-Mercy College political science professor Terry Wimmer, a self-proclaimed “lifelong Democrat.”

But Wimmer, a Perkasie native, questions the appeal McCain will have in the Philadelphia suburbs and contends “the economy going bad is the best piece of news Patrick Murphy could have gotten.”

The view is shared by Terry Madonna, the pollster from Franklin and Marshall College.

“Once the issue moved away from Iraq, which Manion had as a more compelling argument, it was going to be difficult to defeat Murphy,” he said. “With the economy the way it is and with this district shifting Democratic, it will be very tough to unseat him.”

Of 444,963 voters in Bucks County, Democrats outnumber Republicans by 11,398, an advantage that has increased significantly since the April primary.

The tide is similar in nearby Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties.

And polls have shown Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama with a significant lead over McCain in Pennsylvania.

In a poll organized by Wimmer, Obama held a 45 percent to 30 percent edge over McCain in the four suburban counties. In Bucks, the numbers were 43 to 32.

Statewide, a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday gives Obama a 53 percent to 40 percent lead. A RealClearPolitics.com average of six state polls puts the lead at 10.5 percent.

The numbers likely would carry Murphy to a second term. But Republicans aren’t buying them.

“Every time John McCain is here our phones don’t stop ringing with support. It’s huge,” said Pat Poprik, chairwoman for McCain’s Bucks committee. “And the more people look closely at Tom Manion they can see those maverick similarities. As a business executive and Marine colonel, you know this is not someone who’s going to be told what to do in Washington.”

As for the polls, Poprik said, “If I believed in polls, President Kerry would be sitting in Washington now.”

In an e-mail, Manion’s press secretary, Karen Smith said, “We’re excited that McCain is intensifying his efforts here in Pennsylvania but not surprised. From what we’ve seen, this remains a very competitive race. The voters are telling us they aren’t convinced by poll numbers.”
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Those who question Obama’s support need look back no further than his 10-point loss in the state presidential primary to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who carried 60 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. State Democrats have been forced to explain Obama’s words at a San Francisco fundraiser about small town Pennsylvanians who “cling to guns or religion.”

And this week U.S. Rep. John Murtha referred to residents of the western part of the state he represents as racists and rednecks.

“Barack Obama has always underperformed his poll numbers. John McCain always outperforms his poll numbers,” said Charlie Gerow, a GOP strategist in Harrisburg.

Which lends credence to McCain’s contention that Pennsylvania is in play.

But is the 8th District in play for Tom Manion?

“The electorate is still very volatile,” Wimmer said. “Pennsylvania voters are notorious ticket splitters. They might vote for Manion and still give Obama a 3- to 5-percent edge in Bucks. There’s also the possibility that something could happen and voters could flip the switch against Patrick Murphy.”

Citing the 9 percent approval rating for Congress, Gerow said, “People are mad as hell at Congress but think their congressman is dandy. Tom Manion is an underdog but still in the game.”

James Carville, the popular Democratic strategist, doesn’t see it that way.

“It’s not a year a Republican is going to win this seat. … I don’t think it’s going to be close.”

Madonna agreed with Carville, saying “Republicans are really swimming against the tide here.”

But he added that in 2006 he expected Mike Fitzpatrick to hold his seat against Murphy, who narrowly lost the Bucks vote but captured the seat because of support in a sliver of Northeast Philadelphia that encompasses the 8th.

Madonna also said if pollsters always got it right this presidential race would be between Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani.

“If I’m Tom Manion and I’m still standing, I’ve got a shot to pull this off with a Rocky punch,” Gerow said.

McCain, Palin to visit
Republican candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin will visit Quakertown on Tuesday.
The free event is scheduled to be held at the baseball stadium in Memorial Park, 600 W. Mill St., from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

For tickets:

GOP headquarters, Quakertown,215-804-1072
Victory Center, Warminster, 267-282-5235
GOP headquarters, Doylestown, 215-345-6811
More info at johnmccain.com

Manion Questions Murphy’s Embrace Of ‘Fiscal Conservatism’

By Bradley Vasoli
The Bulletin

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-8th, of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, is one of three Pennsylvanians in the Blue Dog Coalition, Democratic members of Congress who espouse a more conservative economic agenda, distinct from the House leadership.

The group bills itself as a fiscally conservative outfit more restrained in spending than the party’s liberal wing. Mr. Murphy has himself cast two votes against passage of a Democratic budget on the basis that it would raise taxes too much and restrain spending too little.

His Republican opponent Tom Manion and nonprofits like Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) have been inquiring, however, as to what passes for fiscal conservatism in the current Democratic Party.

Mr. Manion has said Mr. Murphy has voted the preferred position of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., 93 percent of the time. Such statistics are inevitably contentious because many of the votes in Congress are unanimous. (Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has said roughly the same of Republican John McCain’s votes for the policies of George W. Bush.)

But when votes on economics are separated out, CAGW - a group co-founded by centrist newspaper columnist Jack Anderson - still paints a picture of Mr. Murphy’s record at variance with the congressman’s rhetoric. CAGW’s scorecard for House members says Mr. Murphy voted their preferred position 15 percent of the time.

Mr. Manion has further criticized the congressman for declining to support across-the-board spending cuts (with some programs excepted) ranging from one percent to three percent.

“The fact is, he hasn’t voted to reduce the cost [of government],” the Doylestown Republican said.

Democrats have, with Mr. Murphy’s encouragement, instituted the congressional PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) rules designed to provide budgetary restraint. But even in the wake of the new guidelines, the deficit has grown 170 percent since Democrats gained a majority in the chamber two years ago.

“I think the PAYGO is in name only,” Mr. Manion said. “PAYGO sounds good but all you have to do is go down to Washington. They [say] one thing down there and another thing at home.”

The two candidates furthermore disagree on the wisdom of raising some taxes to reduce the federal deficit. Mr. Murphy has opposed some tax increases as excessive, but has supported an increase for taxpayers in higher brackets.

“The priority should be on how we spend taxpayer dollars and making sure we get the best value for the money,” Mr. Manion said. “I think the worse thing would be to increase taxes in a time when the economy’s struggling.”

He said he believes policymakers should work toward reducing the estimated $100 billion in federal health-care programs before contemplating tax hikes.
Mr. Murphy’s campaign did not return two calls for comment.

8th District candidates get endorsements

By GARY WECKSELBLATT
The Intelligencer

Joe the Plumber became Joe the Farmer on Thursday in Bedminster.

Tom Manion made the comparison as he accepted the endorsement of about 50 farmers on property owned by Ken and Judy Buck.

Calling them “the fabric of our country and our community,” Manion said he supports tax breaks to create opportunities for both Joe and Josephine the Farmer.

“The small farm is where I am,” he said. “These mega farms are not what we need.”

Manion, a Republican, is running against Democratic incumbent Patrick Murphy and independent Tom Lingenfelter for the 8th District congressional seat that includes all of Bucks County and a small piece of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia.

The farmers were well aware of Murphy’s support for Sen. Barack Obama’s plan to increase taxes on people making $250,000 a year. They were also wary of Obama’s suggested increases on capital gains and the inheritance tax.

“You can own a million and a half dollars worth of farm, that doesn’t make you rich,” said Penrose Hallowell, who owns a dairy farm in Tinicum. “Every time we sell a cow it’s a capital gain.”

Murphy has also been commended by farmers, receiving the Friend of Farm Bureau award from the 44,000-member Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. The award was for his support of the 2008 farm bill.

In an e-mail, Sam Kieffer, the state bureau’s national governmental relations director, said Murphy has helped pass legislation “vital to Bucks County” that doubled the funding for farmland preservation and fix the alternative minimum tax this year. He also praised Murphy’s “commitment to renewable and alternative energies that initiate from the farm and help family farms.”

Manion has taken issue with the energy bill Murphy supported, claiming Congress “played politics” by passing legislation “that everyone knows is not going anywhere.”

Thomas M. Trycieki, a third generation farmer from Buckingham, said “this country is probably at a crossroads. We’ve got to get people like Tom Manion down there. … Someone with the toughness of a Marine and the smarts of a businessman … who understands the meaning of fiscal discipline.”

Manion told the crowd that “our community” could play “a special role in history here.”

Concerning the presidential election between Obama and Sen. John McCain, Manion said: “The reality is we’re in a swing district in a swing state. And if we can win this district, Sen. McCain will win the state of Pennsylvania, and if he wins the state of Pennsylvania, he’s going to be the next president of the United States.

“And Tom Manion will be our next congressman,” someone shouted.

Said Tom Haldeman, who farms properties in Bedminster and Danboro, “We’ve got to get a Republican Congress … somebody’s got to start saying no.”

While Manion received the support of these Bucks County farmers Thursday, Murphy was getting the endorsement by the League of Conservation Voters, which works to turn environmental values into national priorities.

LCV President Gene Karpinski called Murphy “a true leader in moving our country toward a clean energy future. As a firm supporter of renewable energy, Murphy has worked tirelessly during his first term to end our nation’s dependence on oil and invest in clean energy alternatives.”

The group has given Murphy’s environmental voting record a 91 percent score.

In an e-mail, Murphy said “I will continue to fight for an environmentally sound energy policy that ends our dependence on foreign oil and creates jobs.”

Candidates pull in endorsements

By GARY WECKSELBLATT
The Intelligencer

The candidates for the 8th District congressional seat continue to pile up endorsements.

Republican challenger Tom Manion received the backing this week of Military Families United, which represents Gold Star and Blue Star families.

Manion is part of a Gold Star family as his son Travis was killed in Iraq last year.

“I am so honored to receive the endorsement,” Manion said. “My family and the other Blue and Gold Star military families from across our country have a bond; a shared sacrifice and deep love for our country.”

Incumbent Congressman Patrick Murphy, a Democrat, received support this week from a somewhat surprising source, three Upper Bucks Republicans.

Kathy Babb, chairwoman of the Haycock supervisors, Nockamixon Supervisor Bruce Keyser and former Riegelsville Mayor Todd Myers announced they’re backing of Murphy.

“I am always working to bring Democrats and Republicans together to get things done for the families I represent and I am honored to receive the support of these well-respected Republican officials,” Murphy said in a press release.

Murphy, a veteran of the Iraq war who last week was endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, was lauded this week by Myers.

“I can say without hesitation that Patrick always puts politics aside to do what’s right for his constituents,” Myers said.

Brian Wise, executive director of Military Families United, said Manion “truly understands the sacrifice our troops are making. We thank him for standing strongly in their support.”

In an e-mail, John Ellsworth, the group’s president, said, “Tom Manion knows better than most how important it is to keep America safe, support our troops and work tirelessly for victory.”

‘Tiger’ McCain growls in Lower Bucks

Reporting by Scott Kraus

Republican Presidential nominee John McCain stormed into Pennsylvania today to the tune of “Eye of the Tiger,” leading a rally at TC Millwork, in a Bensalem, Bucks County industrial park, before more than 1,000 enthusiastic spectators.

The crowd greeted McCain with chants of U-S-A, U-S-A.

He led off his speech by ripping Democrat Barack Obama for appearing on stage in Tampa, Fla. yesterday with players from the Phillies World Series opponents, the Tampa Bay Rays, after Obama pledged two weeks ago to root for the Phils.

“When he’s campaigning in Philadelphia, he roots for the Phillies, and when he’s campaigning in Tampa Bay, he shows love to the Rays,” McCain said. “It’s kind of like the way he campaigns on tax cuts, but then votes for tax increases after he’s elected.”

The Obama campaign has said the Democrat continues to root for the Phillies and was simply showing appreciation for Rays fans among his supporters yesterday.

McCain seized on recent remarks by Obama, that his tax plan would “spread the wealth around” and by vice presidential nominee Joe Biden that a newly elected President Obama would be tested with a world crisis within six months, to raise doubt about his Democratic opponent.

“We know Senator Obama won’t have the right response,” McCain said. “We’ve seen the wrong response from him over and over in this campaign.”

It was the first of three scheduled stops in the state for McCain today. The Arizona Senator was scheduled to hit a rally in Harrisburg at midday and finish his foray into Pennsylvania with a stop in Moon Township outside Pittsburgh.

Despite a double-digit deficit in most recent public polls of Pennsylvania voters, the McCain campaign has not given up on knocking the state’s 21 electoral votes into the Republican column. The state has gone for a Democrat in the last four presidential elections.

Eighth district Republican congressional candidate Tom Manion helped warm up the crowd, which waited in chilly temperatures outside the warehouse for a hour before being let in through metal detectors.

“What we must do in these last 14 days is convince a few of our friends and neighbors who have not made a final decision and don’t understand what is at stake…tell them that character and integrity matter,” Manion said.

Iraq and Foreign-Policy Issues Drive Debate at Bucks County Synagogue

October 16, 2008
Bryan Schwartzman, Staff Writer

While all signs are pointing to the economy as the decisive issue in the upcoming election, both locally and nationally, it was questions on foreign policy and Iraq that drew the most-forceful responses during a debate at a Bucks County synagogue between U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-District and Republican challenger Tom Manion.

“It’s time for the Iraqi government to stand up and take responsibility,” said Murphy, a 34-year-old Iraq war veteran who was elected two years ago on the platform of a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq. Murphy asserted that Iraq was draining the resources of the armed forces, as well as the economy.

Manion, 54, a Marine Corps veteran whose son Travis was killed in Iraq, countered that, “if we leave there without talking about the consequences, and seeing that place fall apart, it’s irresponsible.”

The Johnson & Johnson executive said directly to Murphy, “You may have served with General [David] Petraeus, but I’m sure he doesn’t need your advice as to how to proceed strategically.”

Several hundred people, many sporting Manion and Murphy buttons, packed into the sanctuary at Shir Ami-Bucks County Jewish Congregation for the Sunday-afternoon debate. The League of Women Voters and the synagogue’s men’s club sponsored the affair. Earlier in the day, the two candidates appeared jointly at Congregation Tifereth Israel of Lower Bucks County in Bensalem. On Sunday, Oct. 19, the candidates — including Independent Tom Lingenfelter — are slated to take questions at Temple Judea of Bucks County in Doylestown.

The candidates fielded questions on a wide range of issues. Perhaps the most-unexpected question from moderator Kelly Green, president of the League of Women Voters’ Philadelphia branch, came when she pressed the candidates on what advice they would have offered President George W. Bush if they had been able to speak with him on Sept. 12, 2001.

Manion said that he would have advised Bush against trying to rally the American people to “get back to normal” and, instead, try to inspire a sense of shared sacrifice. Murphy said he would have told Bush to scrap his plans to cut taxes, and to forget about invading Iraq and focus on Afghanistan and Al Qaeda.

But for members of the audience, the focus was the economy, unreservedly.

Len Dubas, a 60-year-old resident of Holland, said that he supports Manion because “he’s a businessman and he understands the economy.”

Francine Davis, a 68-year-old Yardley resident, supports Murphy. Her top concern?

“The economy. Absolutely. Everybody took a bloodbath last week,” said Davis. “We have to be taken care of. What I want to know is, how are we going to be made whole?”

Iraq sparks exchange between candidates

By JO CIAVAGLIA
Bucks County Courier Times

The focus of the 8th congressional debate Wednesday was domestic issues, but the Iraq war found its way into candidate answers including a heated exchange between two veterans.

In his closing statement freshman Democratic congressman Patrick Murphy responded to Republican challenger Tom Manion’s accusation he spent more time renaming post offices than addressing important issues.

Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, replied that among the post offices renamed was one in honor of a Falls soldier who died in Iraq.

Manion, a former Marine, whose son, Travis, also died fighting in Iraq, angrily interrupted leading to a loud back-and-forth exchange.

Throughout the 90-minute debate at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, the war was mentioned several times by Murphy, mostly to point out how the money funding the war could be used to fund domestic programs.

After Murphy suggested $3 trillion spent on the Iraq war could be used to shore up Social Security and Medicare programs, Manion replied, “I guess the answer is stop what is going on in Iraq and spend more money here.”

This elicited an explosion of cheers and applause in the audience of 200, mostly older adults and candidate foot soldiers.

“But I don’t think so,” Manion quickly added.

In response to a question asking if the candidates would stop taking earmarks, Manion said he would call for a moratorium until an oversight process is put into place. “Your tax dollars pay for earmarks throughout the country,” he said.

Murphy responded that he has cut $7 billion in earmarks, but that he is proud of the money he has secured for Bucks County. He again mentioned the $3 trillion cost of the Iraq war.

“Iraq is not an earmark,” Manion countered.

Throughout the debate, Murphy and Manion directed most of their responses at each other, barely acknowledging independent candidate Thomas Lingenfelter, a Doylestown dealer in historic documents and materials.

But the third-party candidate whose platform advocates eliminating the major political parties, garnered the biggest audience laughs with his blunt and pointed responses.

“Steal as much money as I can from other people and bring it back here,” Lingenfelter answered to the question what he would do for Bucks County if elected.

The debate was the first of two sponsored by the Bucks County Courier Times and its sister paper, The Intelligencer. The second, on international affairs, is scheduled for Oct. 29 at Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown.

Murphy represents the residents of Bucks County, some districts of Abington, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland in Montgomery County and two wards in Philadelphia.

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