Democratic incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse and his Republican challenger, Robert Flanders sparred over an array of foreign policies and such domestic issues as immigration, energy, single-payer health care, the Kavanaugh Supreme Court hearings and the Trump Administration tax cuts in a mostly civil debate held Saturday night at the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus.
The contrasts between the candidates were sharper on domestic policies than on foreign affairs at the joust sponsored by The Public’s Radio, the Providence and URI. Flanders and Whitehouse took questions from a panel of journalists that included Ian Donnis, political reporter for The Public’s Radio, which broadcast the event.
Both candidates said that sanctions against Saudi Arabia should be considered in the aftermath of the death of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Flanders said he would “crack down” on the Saudis and Whitehouse suggested that a cutoff of arms sales to the Middle Eastern oil kingdom ought to be considered.
“This is something the world should not tolerate,” said Whitehouse.
Whitehouse criticized President Donald Trump for being “soft” on the Saudis and said the president’s disdain for the nation’s NATO and western allies is hurting U.S. relations with traditional European allies.
Flanders countered with support for some of Trump’s initiatives, including the president’s negotiations to forge trade deals that are more favorable to the U.S., and attempts by the Trump administration to get allies to pay a bigger share of NATO’s bills. Flanders did say he would like the president to tamp down some of his rhetoric and tweeting.
It was on national and local issues that the two Ivy League-educated lawyers diverged. Flanders said he believes the scientists on climate change, but said Whitehouse has focused too much of his time and energy giving more than 200 speeches to a virtually “empty” Senate chamber on climate issues. And he labeled the Democrat “a hypocrite” for failing to take a position on the controversial fossil fuel power plant proposed for Burrillville.
Whitehouse countered, saying he hasn’t taken a position on the Burrillville proposal because it is in final hearings before the state Energy Facility Siting Board, which the senator described as a “judicial process” That should be allowed to go forward without interference from elected officials.
On renewable energy, Flanders said he supports tax incentives to help develop alternative sources of energy, but cautioned that fossil fuels will likely continue to have a role so the switch to renewables doesn’t cause an economic downturn.
“We can’t cashier all reliance on fossil fuels prematurely. We have to be prudent, we don’t want to put ourselves at a terrible disadvantage both regionally, nationally, let alone internationally,” said Flanders.
The big oil and fossil fuel companies receive federal subsidies worth about $700 billion annually, countered Whitehouse, who added that these companies have stepped up Washington, D.C. lobbying since the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision removed campaign finance limits.
“The problem is Washington politics,” said Whitehouse, who asserted that fossil fuel company donors have outsized influence among congressional Republicans.
On immigration, Flanders criticized Democrats and, in particular, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, for restricting city police from cooperating with federal immigration agents. The Republican asserted Rhode Island’s capital is a “sanctuary city’ and that reelecting Whitehouse, who is seeking a third term, would lead to “open borders.”
Flanders said federal laws are paramount in immigration and that state and city officials should not be standing in the way of ICE in prosecuting illegal immigration. He said the nation must be careful about the impact of admitting too many immigrants on government welfare and public schools.
Whitehouse said the immigration problem is largely one of Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration refusing to work in a bi-partisan manner to deal effectively with the issue. And he said he supports the Elorza policies, because they are backed by the city’s police chief, Col. Hugh Clements. “I’m inclined to accept (Clements) judgments,” he said.
Flanders repeated his charges that Whitehouse sponsored legislation that has made it difficult to combat opioid abuse using law-enforcement strategies. He said the Whitehouse-backed measure has made it harder for the federal Drug Enforcement Agency to go after opioid “pill mill” pharmacies and doctors who overprescribe narcotics.
But Whitehouse pointed to his efforts to secure federal money to help Rhode Islanders addicted to drugs get treatment. And he said he has the support of the state’s recovery community.
At the start of the debate, Flanders wished Whitehouse a happy 63rd birthday, but in his closing statement labeled him a “career politician.”
The Republican also tried to draw a contrast with his working class background to that of the wealthy and pedigreed Democrat. Flanders, a 69-year old former Rhode Island Supreme Court justice, said Whitehouse was a man of “wealth and privilege.”
As is the case with most Rhode Islanders, Flanders said, he knows what it is like to live “paycheck to paycheck.” He recalled working at menial jobs, including trash collector and dishwasher, to pay for some of his education at Brown University, and running a law firm, which he said was a “small business.”
Flanders once again criticized Whitehouse’s sharp questioning of Brett Kavanaugh during the divisive Senate Judiciary Committee hearings that ended with his confirmation. Whitehouse defended his questioning of Kavanaugh, saying he has received support from Rhode Island women who have been victims of sexual assault.
While Flanders jabbed Whitehouse for his tough questioning of Kavanaugh, calling it “political flatulence,” the Democrat said he was disturbed at how Kavanaugh’s accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford was treated by Judiciary Committee’s Republican senators.
The two traded barbs over the Trump tax cuts, which Flanders defended, saying they have helped the economy. Whitehouse charged they were far too skewed to the rich and wealthy Republican political donors.
Whitehouse said Trump should release his tax returns, while Flanders said he would support legislation to require future presidents to release their returns, but said such legislation should not be “retroactive.”
Some of the sharpest differences emerged over the growing federal government deficit, taxes and federal spending. Flanders stuck with his party’s talking points, asserting that the budget red ink is caused by overspending, not the tax cuts.
Whitehouse disagreed, saying the deficits are already prompting Republicans in congress to consider cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Flanders asserted that Whitehouse and Democrats of his ilk are engaged in an irresponsible campaign.
“This is just a scare tactic to go after seniors and others in the hope that they’ll vote for (Whitehouse) again and elect Democrats,” said Flanders.
Flanders added he would never agree to slice those programs without bi-partisan agreement.
But Whitehouse cited recent comments by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a measure approved by House Republicans that would trim Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act as evidence that Republicans will try to curb the deficit by cutting those programs.
Flanders slammed Whitehouse for working with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to usher in a single-payer national health care system similar to Canada. Such a system would cost trillions, lead to big tax increases and evolve into “socialized medicine,” Flanders asserted.
Whitehouse said he wouldn’t support such a plan unless it protected labor union and employer-provided health insurance, and Veterans Administration health services.
