Indy Republican’s View of last nights GOP Senate Primary Debate

After all the coverage we have devoted to the GOP Senate Primary. We all tuned into the Primary Debate between Congressmen Luke Messer, Todd Rokita and State Representative Mike Braun.

After the Moderator WIBC’s Tony Katz’s opening of the debate. The candidates proceeded with their opening remarks. Todd Rokita started out by welcoming Mike Braun to the Republican Party, and snidely saying welcome back to Indiana to Congressman Luke Messer. Rokita is referring to State Representative Braun’s past history of voting in the Democratic primaries reported on by fellow blogger Paul Ogden click here to read Paul’s post on Braun. As to his saying “Welcome Back to Indiana” to Luke Messer he is recycling the nonsense line that Messer is not an inhabitant of Indiana. Messer owns a house with his mother in Greensburg that he and his family stay at when he returns to Indiana from Washington, D.C. Unlike Senator Dick Lugar who sold his property in Indiana in 1977 and preceding to put the address of the house he sold on his tax returns, voter registration, and even his campaign paperwork he filed for his abortive 1996 Presidential Campaign. Click here and here to read Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden’s posts on Dick Lugar. 

In contrast Braun and Messer refrained from making condescending remarks about Rokita or each other. The two men also didn’t behave in a self righteous manner as Rokita did by bragging about how great he was and we should vote for him because he claims to sleep in his Washington office. Rokita may have opened himself up to attacks by bragging about his service as Indiana Secretary of State. As we have documented on this blog Rokita’s questionable past as Secretary of State here. 

On healthcare the candidates largely argued that Congress has done nothing to make healthcare better. Unlike some of our fellow conservatives and Luke Messer we are not in favor of eliminating the filibuster in the Senate. In fact we say extend the filibuster to the House to guard against majoritarian rule. 

Messer and Rokita both tried to tap dance around whether they would support President Trump’s Parental Leave proposal. State Rep. Braun was the only one of the candidates to say they did not support the Parental Leave program. Tony Katz did a good job as a moderator although he understandably seemed to get irritated at times with Todd Rokita. Totally understandable Todd is an extremely annoying person. Probably his being a control freak doesn’t help his case much. 

After watching the debate we would have to say it was a net loss for Rokita. His manner made him come off as just a self serving office seeker with an inflated ego. We rate the debate a draw between Mike Braun and Luke Messer if for no other reason than both men actually behaved as men and did not sink to Todd Rokita’s level.

If anyone wants to watch the debate. Click the video below: