CR Democratic Senate Debate

Two of three Democrats hoping to take on U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in the fall met for a forum last night sponsored by IowaPolitics.com and The Gazette. Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin and Tom Fiegen, an attorney from Clarence, showed. Bob Krause's flight in Little Rock was delayed so he couldn't make it.

Fiegen went into the debate promising to roll out more "good stuff" against Conlin, the front-runner. At the last debate, he criticized federal tax credits received by her husband for low and middle-income housing projects.

I guess what passed for this good stuff came when Fiegen assailed Conlin's chummy relationship with Des Moines attorney and longtime political power-broker Jerry Crawford. He's a Monsanto lobbyist, among his many hats, and Fiegen talked bout a picture of Conlin and Crawford, whom he called her "BFF," together at her announcement event. Fiegen mentioned that Conlin was standing closer to Crawford than her husband.

"I hope you're not suggesting anything," Conlin said to snickers from the audience at Kirkwood's Ballantyne Auditorium.

"I'm suggesting that you are of the old school, the insider, where you will, your BFF and you will not even have to talk and Monsanto will not have their hand slapped," Fiegen said.

One snag in this line of attack is that Conlin is suing Monsanto in what she called a "nationwide, class-action" lawsuit over anti-trust allegations. And show me a prominent Democrat who doesn't have a picture showing them close to Jerry Crawford. Conlin said they've been friends for decades. Likely true.

So I think the attack fell flat, although it does show again that Conlin's going to have trouble running at Grassley as an outsider when she is, in fact, an insider herself. Fiegen could have made that point without the "BFF" stuff.

It was also sort of bad form for Fiegen to launch his salvo in response to a question about flood protection. In Cedar Rapids. I understand candidates use any chance they get to go on the offensive, but the timing in this case was somewhat questionable.

BTW, both candidates think Cedar Rapids should get federal funding for the flood protection system it wants, regardless of what the Army Corps of Engineers thinks. Good to know.

Fiegen and Conlin both had decent command of the issues. The difference was their theatrical approach.

The first thing Fiegen did was to stand up (he has back problems and says sitting is an issue. He stood to answer most questions) and dramatically take off his jacket and roll up his sleeves as evidence he will "work for us."

I understand his reasons, but by standing, he, at times, appeared to be looming over Conlin. And that made some of his other jabs seem condescending. On a campaign finance issue, he chided Conlin for not considering the Buckley v. Valeo decision on money as speech that he learned about in law school, which he said must have been "after you went." That drew a few groans from an audience with many older women in attendance.

Conlin called the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision allowing corporate political giving a case of right-wing "judicial activism." I think there's danger in adopting and legitimizing the right's misleading "activist" label on this stuff, but Conlin evidently doesn't think so.

Fiegen thinks expanded disclosure could be the ruling's "silver lining."

Fiegen also asked Conlin, twice, if she knew the weight and moisture content of a bushel of corn. Guess what? Fiegen does know. (56 pounds in a bushel, btw) Conlin shot back that knowing that stuff isn't much help to farmers in forming federal ag policy. Fiegen also tweaked her at one point for using note cards.

On other issues, there was some disagreement.

Both seemed to be in favor of the Demoratic immigration reform proposal (Secure the border, path to citizenship with back taxes, English and back of the line etc.) But Fiegen said he'd also send 10,000 to 20,000 U.S. troops to the border to patrol. Conlin said trained immigration officers would be better suited to handle it.

Both said that terror suspects apprehended on American soil should be read Miranda rights and tried in civilian courts. The want the federal defense of marriage act repealed and support the end of don't ask, don't tell.

Conlin said she thinks President Obama should be much more visible in leading the Gulf oil spill response, to the point of "moving his office to New Orleans." Fiegen said he thinks criticism of Obama has been unfair and that the president's presence isn't necessary.

Fiegen clearly is a smart guy, and I think he'd come across better if he dropped some of the theatrics. Conlin also knows what she's talking about, but I wonder if she's a candidate who can get people fired up enough to throw out Grassley. She's competent, but Democrats need compelling if they hope to make voters their BFFs.

The whole trio is set to appear on Iowa Press this weekend. It will be taped today at 11 a.m.