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.

Manion Calls on Murphy to Explain his Support for ACORN

Murphy supported congressionally-mandated funding of liberal groups with ties to extensive voter fraud as recently as July 2008

(Oct. 15, 2008) * Doylestown, PA. (Manion for Congress)

Republican Candidate Tom Manion (PA-08) today issued the following statement regarding Congressman Patrick Murphy’s support of Barney Frank’s proposal to tax Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This tax created a slush fund for left-wing activist groups like ACORN.

“This past July – as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spread a financial tsunami of risky loans throughout our banking system – Patrick Murphy supported his party leadership’s plan to mandate a permanent tax on these entities to create a slush fund for radical liberal groups like ACORN.

“Rather than seeing the enormous risk posed by Fannie and Freddie for what it was, Murphy supported an out-of-touch tax on them to fund a permanent entitlement for radical liberal activist groups.

“The press continues to report on state investigations linking ACORN and other shadowy ‘community organizations’ that would have benefited from Murphy’s poor judgment in supporting this bill to shady partisan political activities, such as attempts to register duplicate and fraudulent voter applications.

“Underhanded activities perpetrated by groups like ACORN and underwritten by Murphy undermine voters’ confidence in elections,” said Tom Manion. “At a time when voters in Pennsylvania’s 8th District are already cynical about the political games being played in Washington, it is decisions like this that further decrease their confidence in our Congress’ ability to address the real challenges facing American families.”

“Although Murphy doesn’t seem to realize it, the time for playing partisan games and passing laws to line the pockets of political allies is over. I look forward to helping change the focus in Washington to solving the real problems facing Pennsylvania, like bringing down energy costs for families and businesses and creating new jobs in the Delaware Valley.”

Sources:
HR 3221, Roll call vote 519
Wall St. Journal, Obama and ACORN, 10/14/2008