The debate took place on Sept. 9, 2010 on the Houston Baptist University (HBU) campus. Although no answer time limit was enforced by the debate moderator, neither Hewitt or Dean monopolized the time while expounding their viewpoints and launching the occasional zinger across the stage.
Hewitt is a conservative national talk show host, a professor of law at Chapman University Law School, an owning partner in a California law firm, and has authored numerous books. Dean has been the governor of Vermont, is a medical doctor, and until recently served as chairman of the Democratic Nation Committee (DNC).
Maintain the Tax Cuts for All or Just the Middle Class
Hewitt, as a small business owner, pointed out that raising the tax on the top wage earners is a bad idea during this economic recession. His law practice wants to hire associates but has put that action on hold. Business owners won't hire if the new tax is imposed, and are currently in a holding pattern because the administration is waffling on this issue, leading to uncertainty.
Dean, on the other hand, advocated not only raising taxes on job-creators that make over $200,000, but imposing across the board cuts on government spending, specifically education, medicare, and social security.
Do we Need Yet Another Economic Stimulus Bill that Obama is Seeking?
Dean was of the opinion that since the last stimulus package worked, why not go for another one? Hewitt countered, asking where it worked. Dean pointed out several areas, including keeping teachers and police on the job across the country and infrastructure projects such as rebuilding highways and bridges. When Hewitt pressed him for specific projects, at first Dean couldn't name one, but then remembered the Jonesville Bridge in Vermont.
What Does It Mean when Obama Says the Economic Recovery is Taking Longer than Anticipated?
Dean took the curious tact of blaming the personality of the American people for a slow recovery rather than put any responsibility on the administration. He said citizens in our generation just, “refinance our homes and spend it on boats and cars.” He also pointed out that these same citizens, over the past twenty years, have a “zero percent” saving rate. He added, “That is a fact.”
Hewitt countered saying, “Americans save; it's the government that doesn't save.” He named as two examples Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs and social security.
Should the Ground Zero Mosque be Built?
Both Dean and Hewitt agreed that the Muslims have a constitutional right to build a mosque wherever the local building codes and zoning laws allow, but Hewitt was of the opinion that it will never be built. The growing groundswell of tradesmen and construction workers that are identifying the action as radical Islamists sticking their finger in our eye and are refusing to participate in building it might put the kibosh on the whole project.
Hewitt likened the situation to when Disney tried to put an amusement park at the Manassas battlefield and when developers wanted to build a casino at Gettysburg.
The opinions at this debate showed just how polarized the current conservative and liberal views are in America today. The upcoming November elections will either green light the centralized big government model or return to a more constitutional states rights model.
Kelly Smith - Kelly has over 30 years experience as a journeyman carpenter and 20 as a freelance writer and photographer.
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