Blog of the Amit Singh/Mark Ellmore Debate
Hello College Republicans!
As my last post said, Virginia Congressional Candidates Amit Singh and Mark Ellmore came to George Mason University for a Debate this past Tuesday. Both campaigns have been working extremely hard for the June 10th primary, and for the general election against Jim Moran.
Now I am still somewhat neutral as to who I should vote for to be the GOP candidate, but let me say, after that debate, Amit Singh emerged as the clear winner of that debate. Even though I may have agreed with more of what Mr. Ellmore was saying, Amit Singh came off as a very determined candidate that has the potential to be one of the GOP’s rising stars. Mark Ellmore gave off a crazy vibe of “Ron-Paulness,” even admitting to being a Ron Paul Republican. (I’ve never heard any politician say that they are a Ron Paul Republican before).
On many of the issues, they were the same. They were both in favor of NAFTA, both believe that the border needs to be secure, and are against universal healthcare. However, Amit Singh is a huge critic of the war. (At times he has called Iraq “Operation Baby-Sitter”) Mark Ellmore says that we should listen to what General Petreaus and Ambassador Crocker suggest. Amit Singh was also better informed in economic issues, and really seems to have “done his homework.”
For more on Ellmore’s campaign,click here.
For more on Singh’s campaign, click here.
This post was written by Not Jim Moran on April 17th, 2008.
Comments: 7
Comments
Comment from Jason
Time: April 18, 2008, 8:19 am
Thank you for posting this. I would have to agree with some of the points listed below. I don’t agree 100% with either candidate, but I see this mainly as a race for who can pose the best challenge to Jim Moran in November. There is no question that Amit Singh’s straightforward message appeals to Republicans and Independents and perhaps even some Conservative democrats.
I’m especially interested in Amit Singh’s strong stance on National Security as he works with the soldiers on a daily basis and helps develop technology to help them spot IED’s in Iraq.
Comment from Frank
Time: April 18, 2008, 9:12 am
You can watch the entire debate at http://www.Viddler.com/VoteAmit08 Feel free to add comments within the video
Comment from Archimedes
Time: April 18, 2008, 9:44 am
Thank’s for posting, but what did the candidates actually say? What were some of the questions asked and how did each candidate respond? If they were generally the same, why was Ellmore crazy and Amit not? Also, Having looked at both their positions, it would seem the Amit is more the Ron Paul-type than Ellmore, is this a typo? Just some questions.
Comment from Bert
Time: April 18, 2008, 1:36 pm
Perhaps they are both Ron Paul Republicans. If so, all the better for the party. I knew Amit was a Ron Paul guy but I wasn’t aware Ellmore was. Thanks for reporting on the debate. Go Amit!
Comment from The Truth
Time: April 18, 2008, 2:02 pm
Ellmore is not a Ron Paul guy. He sounds like a Neo-Con and in the debate he made a reference to him being a Ron-Paul republican at which point everyone in the audience laughed at him for being so far from it.
Comment from Archimedes
Time: April 18, 2008, 3:45 pm
Ok, having watched the video of the debate, I am definitely going to have to disagree with your characterization of Ellmore as crazy and Amit as passionate. I thought both of them came off as respectable, knowledgeable, and dedicated Republicans. Amit didn’t give off a Ron Paul vibe either, even though he seems like he would have more in common w/ Paul than Elmore would.
Ellmore pretty much owned Amit on the financial and economic problems, laying out in detail why the financial industry is in trouble, while all Amit could muster was a lame, “shame on the industry.” However, Amit displayed fairly detailed knowledge of health insurance and how employer-purchased insurance works. Ellmore also had, IMO, a much better response to the immigration question. Amit’s right about professional visas, but it’s the poor, illiterate illegal immigrants who are a drain on society, not college students and professionals. Ellmore seemed to understand that better than Amit.
I personally thought that Ellmore had more to say about the 8th district and its needs than Amit did. Amit talked about being a true republican and a conservative, which is all nice stuff, but he should focus on his knowledge of his district and its problems. I know Ellmore has literally lived there all his life, so he has a distinct advantage in knowing the area, but Amit should focus more on representing the 8th District, which I assume is what he’s tryinng to do, rather than on being an ideological standard-bearer.
Comment from Drew
Time: April 20, 2008, 11:56 am
After watching the debate as neutral, I have come out of it leaning more towards Amit. Ellmore seems to be a little bit of a hothead, and appeared rather condescending to Amit at times (the whole 4th quarter basketball thing made him sound like he feels entitled to the nomination). Amit showed his strength on national defense and the economy. Ellmore showed strength with his knowledge of the banking industry, but at times didn’t come of as a total free-market conservative.
Also, let me tell you that Mark Ellmore is so far from a Ron Paul Republican it is not even funny. It seemed to me that he was just trying to appeal to some of Amit’s base.
Even though it is clear that Amit won the debate, I also think that he has the best chance of beating Moran in the general. I think he can appeal to moderates and independents, and a lot of the demographics in the area.
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