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In a steamy American Legion Hall, McGlowan of Oxford accused Nunnelee supporters of perpetrating a smear campaign against her, and Ross of Eupora repeated urged voters to reject "career politicians," with Nunnelee the only one who's held lengthy public office.
"I was told by some elected officials not to run - that it was Alan Nunnelee's turn," said McGlowan, a black former Fox News commentator. "They're saying I want to take guns away from white people. But here I stand and here I'll stay."
Nunnelee, a 16-year state senator from Tupelo, ignored her remarks. Later in the evening he said he'd not support term limits for Congress, saying he trusted the people of Mississippi, who twice soundly defeated term-limits amendments during the 1990s.
The primary winner will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Booneville, on the Nov. 2 general election ballot with seven other independent and non-mainstream political party nominees for the 1st District seat.
Ross, a former mayor and George W. Bush administration worker, praised the event's Tupelo Tea Party sponsors, saying, "We've lost freedom all over this country." He vowed to be a conservative fighter in Congress to bring those freedoms back.
Nunnelee, a businessman generally regarded as the race's front-runner, showed little reaction and voiced no response to McGlowan's other accusations that he repeatedly raised taxes as a legislator, breaking his promise not to do so.
The fast-paced question-and-answer session touched on topics important to the Tea Party crowd, fed up with big government and liberal policymaking - health care reform, private-industry bailouts, gun rights, taxation, opposition to abortion, immigration, America's global military presence, support for Israel, energy policy and offshore drilling, and the environment.
Eighty-year-old Bob Taylor, a stump-grinder from Plantersville, termed the trio "three peas out of the same pod" after the 90-minute event.
But, he said he thought McGlowan and Ross "are ahead of Nunnelee" on the issues.
"He's a politician," Taylor said. "We need people who aren't schooled in politics."
Taylor and the candidates agreed about something: They believe liberal Supreme Court justices should be impeached if they legislate from the bench.
Throughout the debate, the candidates made predictably conservative answers to the questions. They stood up for gun rights, said they'd repeal the new health care law and swore to cut taxes, support the unborn, reject the welfare system, fight illegal immigration, keep drilling for oil and be rationally concerned about the environment.
In a rapid-fire one-minute Qamp&A, they were asked:
- What constitutional amendment would you add, if you could? McGlowan - people to respect each other. Nunnelee - life defined to begin at conception. Ross - marriage defined as between one man and one woman.
- Do you support term limits? McGlowan and Nunnelee - no. Ross - yes.
- Will you read every bill before voting for it? All - yes.
- When is it appropriate for government to take over an industry? All - never.
- What if Israel goes to war with Iran, over U.S. objections? All - support Israel.
n Who is your role model or mentor? McGlowan - her father. Nunnelee - Jesus Christ. Ross - Ronald Reagan.
- Do you agree that the federal government can take private land through imminent domain proceedings? All - no.
- What federal department would you abolish, if you could? McGlowan - Education, Commerce and Energy. Nunnelee - Use the Yellow Pages. If a service is offered there, the government ought not to be doing it. Ross - Energy, Education.
- Should the U.S. continue to support the United Nations? McGlowan, Ross - no. Nunnelee - doesn't think it's ever wrong to talk about differences, would make other countries pay their share.
- Will you give straight answers, if elected? All - yes.
Contact Patsy R. Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.
You must be one of those blind sheep that works out there at NMMC. The powers that be there had everyone convinced that the sky would fall if a new hospital came to Tupelo. The administration at NMMC keeps the troops in line there with brainwashing from Nazi like propaganda, just like they did on the competing hospital issue. The truth does not matter.
A new hospital in Tupelo would have meant better care for everyone, lower health care prices, and more and higher paying health care jobs.
If the local market would not support two hospitals, one would fail and the stronger would survive. That is how capitalism works.
Unfortunately, Nunnelee does not believe in capitalism, or NMMC bought him off, and we will now likely never have another hospital here.
Watch Nunnelee's campaign contribution list and see how many ties there are to NMMC. Then tell me who our Senator works for.
If a community has more hospital beds than it can fill, that is a waste of both human and technical (and monetary) resources. It would only serve to drive UP prices. This is why the government controls whether or not you can build a hospital.
The problem with the cost of health care is NOT competition. There is already a SHORTAGE of Doctors, and every forecast I have read says it's going to get worse. I don't claim to know all the answers; like Cpl. Klinger on M*A*S*H once said, if I had all the answers, I'd run for God. The system we have had didn't work; Obamacare may not work; name me one country's that does.
Please remember that your good Senator Nunnelee, the man who says government should not interfere with the free market economy, single handedly killed a bill that would have allowed a competing hospital in Tupelo. So much for the free market in health care in Tupelo and North Mississippi.
Haley Barbour may sound like he has a mouth full of @#$% when he talks. However, Nunnelee really is full of @#$%.
Ask him to explain the hospital deal the next time he spouts off about too much government involvement in business. Think about that the next time that you and your family have no choice but to go to NMMC for treatment. Seems like Nunelee helped to perpetuate a monopoly here.
thanks for reinforcing my point. Nunnellee can't stand up to McCoy now. How will he do against the big boy democrats in washington who also have a majority?? Nunnellee is a known for one thing-----nothing.
It's funny how all Repubikan fundies talk about how bad it is that Washington controls peoples' lives, then they turn around and control you on the most basic issues of your life: marriage and child-bearing. Republicans are hypocrites automatically: as soon as you say you are Republican, you're a hypocrite. I'll never be a Republican until they get the religious fundies out of the party.
The comments about the Supreme Court shows just how idiotic and out of touch with the Constitution these candidates are. Impeach SC justices over decisions you don't like? "Legislating from the bench"? And then they wonder why people from other parts of the country laugh at us.
When a judge makes a decision we like, he's "on solid Constitutional grounds." When they make a decision we DON'T like, he's "legislating from the bench." Political simpletons forget that the courts serve as a "check" on the other two branches of government. This was deliberately built into the Constitution.
The current opinions about judges and courts is the result of dropping Civics and History classes from our schools. We've raised a bunch of dunderheads who have never read the Constitution and have no idea what it really says. They rely on people who have agendas to push to define it for us, and of course they lie to you. We are reaping what we have sown.
Looks like Trav will be headed back to Washington.
Patsy is Too Soon Old and Too Late Smart. LOL
BuzzSaw is missing a few teeth!!! I guess Nunnelee beat him in little league ball when he was a kid. McCoy has a majority, that is the reason he out negotiates.
As with most of the daily commentators on articles, you have once again shown the true mindless babble that is perpetuated on this forum.
Just once it would be nice to read constructive content from someone other than from an illiterate "havin a beer with the boys" vocabulary toten yahoo. In fact it is ridiculous for the DJ to continue this free forum if all we get is garbage spewed such as you are apparently capable.
Grow up and have a nice day.