Doheny,
Hoffman Throw Jabs at UNYTEA Debate in Plattsburgh
by Timothy W. Scee II
Special
to Newzjunky.com
Published September 2, 2010
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.
— The Westside Ballroom was
at a full capacity of 225 spectators Wednesday at 7 p.m.
as the crowd witnessed the first debate, sponsored by the
Upstate New York Tea Party (UNYTEA), between New York’s
23rd Republican congressional candidates, Douglas L.
Hoffman, Saranac Lake, and Matthew A. Doheny, Watertown.
Each candidate was asked four questions by each member of
a three-panel group of journalists: Pat Bradley, National
Public Radio, Joe LoTemplio, Plattsburgh Press Republican
and Jeremiah Papineau with Denton Publications.
The first question, asked by LoTemplio, went to Mr. Doheny.
“I want you to assess the stimulus plan. What’s
worked, what hasn’t worked and what needs to be done?”
“If I was in congress at the time when they voted on
this about a year and change ago, I would give an
unequivocal, flat out ‘no’ vote,” Doheny said.
“This was $787 billion of our money that has been
wasted.”
Doheny said by keeping the “Bush tax cuts,” eliminating
the death tax and easing the regulatory burden, the
stimulus problems could be solved.
“I agree with what Matt is saying,” Hoffman said. “I
agree even further that, last month, they passed a $34
billion supplemental stimulus package, even though they
didn’t call it that, to supplement what they said would
put teachers back to work and to help police and
firemen.”
The Saranac Lake Republican cited a school he visited,
which had used stimulus money to pave a parking lot for a
closed building.
“That’s the summary of the stimulus bill,” Hoffman
said. “What we need to do is cut taxes for small
businesses, we need to cut regulations and that’s how
we’re going to grow the 23rd District and America.”
Bradley asked the next question regarding the
candidates’ views on health care reform, with both
Hoffman and Doheny supporting the continuation of Medicare
and Mediciad.
“I can tell you there’s been plenty of progress made
in the last 10 years in New York State that has been
providing insurance to people that can’t afford it...
and that’s a great program that New York has,” Hoffman
said.
“I would not
eliminate Medicaid or Medicare,” Doheny replied. “The
difference is that I would go ahead and cut to the fraud.
There has been reports by the Congressional Budget Office
that almost 10 percent of every dollar that you put in the
system is fraudulent waste.
Doheny touted his visit to every hospital in the 23rd
District, saying cost of health care and choice of doctors
were there among the top two issues concerning
“people.”
It wasn’t long before Doheny’s BUIs were mentioned by
Ms. Bradley.
“Matt Doheny, in 2004 you were cited and arrested twice
for Boating While Intoxicated in the same month,” she
said. “In 2005, you were sued for rent evasion. Why
should we trust your judgement as a congressman, even
though those occurred several years ago?”
“I’m very embarrassed by that episode, I’m regretful
for it, I can assure it’s never happened since nor will
it happen in the future,” Doheny replied. “The rent
was merely a simple mistake, that I was traveling
extensively, and I can assure you I can pay my rent.”
He added, “The reality is, you need to judge people by
the overall character of what they bring as a totality of
experience.”
Things got heated when Papineau asked, “With the Bush
tax cuts that are set to expire, do you favor keeping them
in place or allowing them to expire and how would you say
your own personal tax liability enters into your decision
process?”
“The only way to continue to make sure we have growth is
to make sure the Bush tax cuts continue on the entire,
full amount, both for individuals, as well as corporate,
as well as capital gains tax,” Doheny said.
Hoffman responded, “As the only person that has created
businesses and jobs in this district, and worked with over
400 businesses on a daily basis in this district, I know
if the bush tax cuts go away, we are going to kill the
businesses in the North Country, in the 23rd district, and
that’s not going to help us create jobs. We need to
extend those.”
“I really do think that you need to stop
misrepresenting, and I’m using the kindest word possible
there, about my position. It’s not right,” Doheny said
of Hoffman. “He’s already actually trying to make
money from his campaign donors and actually taking
interest from them. He’s lined his pocket with other
donations, with other reimbursements from his own
businesses.”
To that, Hoffman answered, “You know, if you want to
start throwing stones, people that live in glass
boathouses shouldn’t be throwing stones. I was quiet on
the comment regarding the BWI, but the way you treated
those officers is just unacceptable.”
He added, “Being belligerent and rude was not
acceptable.”
The candidates agreed, however, that one thing needs to be
done: send a Republican back to the 23rd Congressional
District seat and defeat Rep. William L. Owens
(D-Plattsburgh).
“My objective, as is everybody’s objective, is to get
Bill Owens out of congress,” Hoffman said. “He’s on
the wrong side of the fence.”
Doheny , “Given the opportunity on Sept. 14, I’ll beat
bill Owens and send him back home Nov. 2.”
The Republican primary will take place Sept. 14th and the
general election on Nov. 2.
