Ellmers, Aiken Swap Rhetorical Jabs At Pinehurst Debate | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Barry Smith, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

2^nd District debate highlighted disagreement over experience, independence

    PINEHURST — Both 2nd Congressional District candidates wasted no time leveling zingers at each other Monday during a made-for-TV debate.

    On a number of occasions, incumbent GOP Rep. Renee Ellmers referred to her opponent, Democrat Clay Aiken, as "an entertainer," questioning his credentials to assume the office she currently holds. Aiken was runner-up in 2003 on the second season of the Fox Network show "American Idol."

    Not to be outdone, Aiken charged Ellmers with taking orders from House leadership rather than her constituents. During a question asking whether the United States should send ground troops to Iraq to battle the Islamic State, Aiken said Ellmers — who originally opposed sending ground forces — changed her mind after House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, backed their use. "Congresswoman Ellmers went on the record not too long ago saying John Boehner was her boss," Aiken said.

    "The people of District 2 are my boss," Ellmers responded. "This is one of the things that maybe as an entertainer you're not aware of. These things are fluid, and when the president asked for our support, he asked for it in a certain way. And we gave him that support."

    Aiken said the U.S. should not put ground troops into harm's way unless there was a direct threat on U.S. soil. Ellmers said the beheading of Americans gave sufficient justification to call for military action against ISIS.

    The debate, at the Pinehurst Resort, was sponsored by the N.C. Bankers Association and moderated by WRAL News' David Crabtree. It was scheduled to air on WRAL-TV at 7 p.m., WRAZ-TV at 11 p.m., and the WRAL website until the Nov. 4 general election.

    The two continued trading barbs as the focus of the debate shifted to problems at Veterans Administration hospitals, a key issue in a district that includes military bases.

    "It's almost as if, as an entertainer, you believe that you can go in with a song and dance" and change things, Ellmers said. "That isn't the way it works."

    Aiken said that it was obvious Ellmers had practiced calling him an entertainer. "But the most embarrassing reality show right now in the country is Congress," Aiken said.

    On immigration and border security, Ellmers said laws in place now, along with technological know-how, could secure the border. She said she supports a process allowing people in the country illegally to earn legal status, but not full citizenship. "That would not be amnesty," Ellmers said.

    When Crabtree asked if those immigrants never could become citizens, Ellmers said, "I don't believe never is the appropriate word. Basically, if they are here, they have admitted wrong-doing, they have paid a fine, they have worked toward that goal ... in time, why not go through the naturalization process?"

    Aiken said immigration is a complicated issue and he did not know whether citizenship was appropriate or not. "Sending people back is not the answer," he said.

    Ellmers attempted to tie her opponent to President Obama's economic policies. "This Obama-Aiken economy is just killing us," Ellmers said.

    Aiken suggested that Ellmers get new writers. "Calling it the Obama-Aiken economy is just preposterous," Aiken said. He went on to differentiate himself from Obama on a few other issues. "I support the Second Amendment," Aiken said. "I support fiscal responsibility. I support securing the border. I'm not quite sure which one of those is liberal."

    Aiken said that Obama and congressional Democrats' unwillingness to listen to those who disagree with them was part of what is wrong with the country.

    Ellmers said she had worked with Democrats on numerous occasions, and noted that 400 bills have passed the House with bipartisan support and yet have not seen the light of day in the Democratically controlled Senate.