In Missouri, we have an incumbant moderate, sometimes conservative, Democrat Senator running against one of the most extreme right-wing candidates in the nation. I've made no secret of my criticisms over the last six years of Claire McCaskill, but she is pro-choice, she is not anti-union, she voted for Obamacare, and she has never joined a Republican filibuster. I'll be voting for Claire McCaskill this November.
Senator McCaskill has a new website up today, The Truth About Todd Akin
Here's a few things that Missourians will be learning about Akin:
Akin's policy positions in his words:
Akin compared federal student loan program to stage III cancer.
During a debate hosted by the Missouri College Republicans in April 2012, Akin was asked whether or not he would support legislation that would prevent student loan interest rates from doubling for 7.4 million college students. Akin responded that the federal government should get out of the student loan business altogether, and compared the government's support for student loans to stage III cancer. "America has got the equivalent of the Stage III cancer of socialism because the federal government is tampering in all kinds of stuff it has no business tampering in," said Akin. "The government needs to get its nose out of the education business."
Akin would turn Medicare into a voucher program.
During a debate hosted by the Missouri College Republicans in April 2012, Akin was asked whether or not he would support turning Medicare into a voucher program. "The idea is good," responded Akin. "We get rid of all of that government price structure and we allow a whole series of people to compete for the business, and there you get more of a free market system going. So this is a good idea. I voted for it. And either version of this, whether you want to do voucher or premium support. They're both good ideas, and I'd support either."
Akin would privatize Social Security.
On CSPAN In March 2011, Akin said he doesn't like Social Security: "Now, Social Security through the years, for many, many people, has been a terrible investment. It's really a tax, that's all it is. Social Security is a tax. The government has taken the tax. There's been more money coming in than going out. And we spend it. That's not been responsible. I don't like it. I didn't design Social Security. It actually came from Bismarck, FDR put it in place."
Akin is opposed to the federal minimum wage
During a debate on KMOX, Akin said, "Yeah my belief on this is just another example of a wrong thing that the government does. I don't think the government should be setting the prices or wages on different things. I don't think that's the function of the government."
Akin wants to preserve taxpayer subsidies on big oil and gas companies.
During a debate hosted by the Missouri College Republicans in April 2012, Akin said "I voted for the Ryan Budget and I think it's the right way to go" in response to a question about block granting Medicaid to the states. The Ryan Budget would preserve $40 billion in taxpayer subsidies for big oil and gas companies.
There's more at
The Truth About Todd Akin
Karl Rove has already run 1000s of ads tying McCaskill to Obama and "Obamacare." Missouri is not a battleground state this year. In 2008, Obama lost by about 3000 votes out of millions of votes. It likely will not be that close this year, although I suspect Obama will be within 3 to 5% of Romney. But regardless of the presidential race, Akin is far too extreme for Missouri.
McCaskill will never be described by me as a "Better Democrat," and she has one of the most conservative voting records of Dem Senators (I think she is ranked in the 50s). But she is less conservative than any Republican senator.
And she's light years better than Extreme Todd Akin.
St. Louis and KC still are Dem. Claire has to win some rural voters, and she just might on medicare and social security.
This will be an entertaining election. Before it is over, everyone in Missouri will know The Truth About Todd Akin.