Pat Toomey Responds to Sestak’s Debate Letter

By TOOMEY FOR SENATE

Allentown, PA – U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey sent a letter in response to Rep. Joe Sestak’s invitation to debate. The letter is below.

Congressman Joe Sestak
428 E. Baltimore Ave.
Media, PA 19063

Dear Joe:

Thank you for your letter of February 18th inviting me to join you in a debate. I can certainly understand your frustration with Senator Arlen Specter’s refusal to engage in debates with you. Like many politicians who have spent decades in Washington, Sen. Specter maintains a sense of entitlement to his office and he is unwilling to put his record and ideas to the test of open and honest debate. Pennsylvanians deserve better than that from their U.S. Senator.

I share your view that our debate last September on the vital topic of health care was very constructive. Not only did it offer Pennsylvanians an opportunity to hear vastly different perspectives on health care policy, but it also showed that a liberal like you, and a conservative like me, can have a civil and productive dialogue even in the midst of a competitive campaign. That’s something that is all too rare in the political process today, and I commend you for your interest in pursuing it.

I am pleased to accept your invitation for another such joint forum. This time, I suggest we focus our debate on what is unquestionably the number one issue facing Pennsylvania and America, namely the state of our economy and our nation’s fiscal policies.

As you know, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is 8.9%. That is 1.4 points higher than at this time last year when you voted to spend $787 billion on a government spending “stimulus” plan that was sold as something that would reduce joblessness. In the ensuing year, while our economy has worsened, so too has our nation’s fiscal outlook, with a current year’s budget deficit larger than any in U.S. history.

These are topics that are very worthy of discussion, and I agree that Pennsylvania voters will benefit from a vigorous exchange of ideas. I will have my campaign staff contact yours to work on the details of date, location, and format.

I look forward to it; but this time, you’re buying the beer.

Sincerely,

Pat Toomey

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