Boxer And Fiorina Slug It Out In Debate

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Republican Senate nominee Carly Fiorina
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Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and her Republican opponent, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, met today for a heated debate (though Boxer phoned it in from DC), hosted by the radio station KPCC in Pasadena and the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinion. A major theme emerged from the discussion — that each one would often answer a question about their own position by attacking their opponent.

For example, when Fiorina was asked for comment about what federal regulations she would roll back, she referenced Endangered Species Act rules that cut off access to water resources in California’s rural areas — and how Barbara Boxer’s links to “extreme” environmental groups keep her from doing anything about it.

On job creation, Boxer said, “The fact is our nation needs to incentivize companies like yours to hire American workers. We need to see the words ‘made in America’ again.” And then she turned it right at Fiorina’s business record: “She laid off 30,000 workers, shipped their jobs to China, to India, to Malaysia. She’s said she’s proud of what she did. The fact is I’ve met some of these people who she’s laid off, I’ve heard some of their stories.”

On immigration, Fiorina said: “You know, I think no matter how much money is being spent, the facts are clear, the borders are not secure. And we see murders taking place south of our border, that is a security problem”

And indeed, she turned the issue against Boxer, blaming her for the defeat of a guest-worker program during the debates of 2006 and 2007 — and casting Boxer as the anti-immigrant candidate: “Her comment was that immigrants are source of cheap labor that threatens the American worker.”

Boxer’s response: “My response is very direct: the temporary workers program that my opponent supports, and I oppose, was so opposed that one of the newspapers said it was indentured service.”

On health care reform, Fiorina stated her strong opposition to the newly-passed health care reform law. But she also said that she does favor some kind of health are reform, does not favor denying people coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and she cited her own experience as a recent breast-cancer survivor: “I certainly don’t support that, I certainly don’t support that. But what we have done with this health care law, I think what we are learning about the health care law — when President Obama stepped forward and said our goal is that every American has access to affordable, quality health care, I cheered. But what we have with this bill now is that people are being thrown off their health care plans, premiums are rising.”

Boxer warned: “When someone says ‘repeal and replace,’ watch out. Because once it’s repealed, you’re not gonna see a very quick replacement,” also adding: “I don’t want to go back to the days when thousands of people died ever day because they had no insurance.”

And on abortion, the pro-life Fiorina strongly denied that she would take action to outlaw abortions, as Boxer has said. “She knows very well that this is not true. There are no circumstances under which a woman in California would be denied an abortion California,” said Fiorina. She also added that Boxer is trying to change the subject from her “extreme views” that “a baby does not have rights until it leaves the hospital.”

Boxer said that she respects everyone’s views, and respect the current law from the Hyde Amendment — which prevents federal funds from paying for abortions except in very limited circumstances — as a compromise that will not realistically be changed. And she also added: “Well, I really don’t understand what she’s talking about. I gave birth to two premature babies who are my beautiful kids who have since given me very beautiful grandkids.”

The TPM Poll Average gives Boxer a lead of 48.0%-44.3%

(ed. note: All quotes used here are rush transcriptions, and may be subject to future editing.)

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