Watching Alex Penelas plead for peace and harmony during last night's debate of Democratic Senate candidates, I was moved by a profound feeling of hope. It was hope that Betty Castor might saunter over and slug him.
I didn't want Peter to do it, because he had thrown enough punches already. Besides, I think Betty can take Alex.
What thrust Penelas into the peacemaker role was the continuing acrimony between Peter and Betty. Indeed, at one point, I thought the debate moderator was going to have to physically restrain Peter, possibly with a stun gun.
Seizing the opportunity, the Mayor of Miami-Dade implored his opponents to end their "bickering" and focus on the issues. "We only have one hour," he kept saying, taking up valuable time even after the bickering had ended.
Not that it ended quickly. It revolved primarily around what Betty did or didn't do about professor Sami al Arian, now charged with aiding terrorists, as president of USF. "There was evil there!" shouted Peter. Betty then accused Peter of "making a political charade of this whole thing." And asked him if he thought he could display a "congenial attitude" if elected to the Senate.
"I'm not running for U.S. Senate to win a Miss Congeniality contest," he responded. And a hush fell over the room as the audience struggled to absorb this surprising information.
Peter then challenged Betty on her somewhat selective support of abortion rights (the issue isn't mentioned on her campaign site -- or Alex's -- but she's against partial-birth abortion and for some parental notifications) and touted his own 100% rankings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood.
Penelas had something to say about his position on this, but I forget what it was.
Later, Peter accused Betty of advocating an "evenhanded" approach to the Israeli-Palestinean problem, forcing her to say she was a strong supporter of Israel. Alex quickly agreed, as did many audience members and the entire technical crew, apparently out of fear of being labeled anti-Semites.
And, interestingly, Betty co-opted one of Peter's signature issues, noting that Florida doesn't get its fair share of federal funding for homeland security.
All in all, it was a less-than-edifying evening of political discourse. I'd have to say that Peter made his points strongly but, as Mr. Uncongeniality, may not have picked up many new supporters. And at this stage of the campaign, it's only that second part that matters.
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Posted by: LadyinblackQ | January 10, 2008 at 02:51 PM