JONESBORO — Republican Rick Crawford and Democrat Chad Causey returned to issues of Social Security and character in their latest debate Thursday night.
Causey said the election would be about trust, while Crawford stressed his Christianity, military service and business background.
Recent polls show Crawford in the lead, but by narrower margins than earlier polls.
The two Jonesboro residents who are vying for the 1st Congressional District seat tussled again over Social Security privatization and a national sales tax.
Causey said Crawford favored privatizing Social Security, which Crawford denied.
Crawford cited an endorsement by the 60 Plus Association, a Washington, D.C.-based organization of conservative senior citizens, as evidence that he would oppose privatization.
“If they had any reservations at all about me privatizing Social Security, I’m certain that they would not have given that endorsement. So statements to the contrary are false,” Crawford said during the debate at Arkansas State University.
However, on the 60 Plus website, a 2005 news release from the organization praises President George W. Bush for his leadership during a period when Bush was advancing a plan to privatize Social Security, and cites surveys showing support from older Americans for privatization.
After the debate, Crawford spokesman Ted Prill said, “To be honest with you, I don’t know what [60 Plus’] bent is on that particular issue.”
In March, Crawford told Lonoke Republicans on videotape that he supported private retirement accounts for people his age and younger. Crawford is 44.
Causey said Crawford supported a 23-percent national sales tax. In the same Lonoke event, Crawford said a “flat tax” was a “good idea,” provided that the income tax was eliminated.
“Imagine a farmer trying to run a farm that’s got to pay a 23 percent tax on a $350,000 combine,” Causey said Thursday. “That’s no small business expense. That’s a fundamental difference.”
Crawford said his endorsement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations is evidence that such charges are “laughable. It’s flat-out false.”
Green Party candidate Ken Adler of Batesville said he would close military bases overseas to help pay for universal health care and advocated a $100,000 cap on spending in congressional races to even the playing field for third-party candidates.
Adler also received the biggest laugh of the night.
Crawford said Causey, a former chief of staff for retiring U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, is a Washington insider.
“If you want a fresh apple, go to the tree, don’t go back to the barrel,” Crawford said.
“As long as it’s a green apple,” Adler quipped.
The issue of who has deeper roots in Arkansas, which surfaced previously in the campaign, came up again Thursday.
Causey, his closing statement punctuated by the loud whistle of a passing train, said he grew up in the district.
“I’m one of you,” he said.
Crawford said he grew up in a military family but moved to Jonesboro to attend ASU.
“I’m not here by chance. I’m here by choice,” Crawford said.
Causey said the election “is about trust, about who you would want to represent you.”
In recent days, Causey’s campaign has said Crawford’s Federal Election Commission filing contained discrepancies and some information was missing. The Causey campaign has sought to link Crawford’s management of his campaign finances with his 1994 bankruptcy.
Crawford said any criticism of his campaign finances were “off the charts.”
Crawford, an Army veteran and owner of a farm-news network, opened and closed his remarks by telling voters he was a “Christian, an American, a veteran, a small-business owner, a husband and a father.”
Voters in the 26-county district that covers parts of the Delta and the Ozarks will make a selection Nov. 2.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 10/22/2010