ROLLING MEADOWS - Tuesday night in Rolling Meadows, Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) and challenger Tammy Duckworth debated the federal budget, Social Security, the Department of Education and Obamacare and showed a substantial difference between their political views.
Duckworth reprimanded Walsh on several occasions for being loud and yelling so much, and Walsh accused Duckworth of lying about a lawsuit recently filed by two employees while she was overseeing the Illinois Veterans Administration. And all the while the audience booed, cheered, clapped and on several occasions affected how moderator Paul Green guided the debate.
Duckworth, a former helicopter pilot who lost both legs in the War on Terror, said she would attack the deficit by cutting defense spending and refusing to relieve tax burden on millionaires. Walsh said he would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and reform entitlements.
Duckworth said Walsh supported dissolving Medicare and unplugging Social Security. Walsh insisted if there was no reform to Social Security that it would not be available for anyone.
Both Duckworth and Walsh repeated party line talking points, although Duckworth said it was time that the major parties worked together. She suggested there were Republicans with whom she could work in Congress, including a former congressional opponent, US Rep Peter Roskam (IL-6).
The two hour discussion between Duckworth and Walsh was active and animated throughout and poignantly demonstrated just how close the 8th CD race is.
