8th District Debate

The only scheduled debate between Indiana`s 8th District Congressional candidates took place Wednesday night. Republican incumbant John Hostettler squared off with Democratic challenger Brad Ellsworth. They debated for an hour at Vincennes University which was broadcast live on WTWO. The issues they disagreed on were the minimum wage increase, which Ellsworth supports because of cost of living increases, but Hostettler oposses because of inflation concerns. They also disagreed on how much the government should provide in healthcare. The Republican Hostetler thinks we should start withdrawing troops from Iraq now, but the Democrat Ellsworth thinks we should not set a deadline, and only withdraw when we`re ready. But both Hostetler and Ellsworth agreed on a number of issues, including building a fence along the Mexican border, reducing dependence on foreign oil, and also limiting wiretapping and presidential power. "Why, you may ask, are Liberals from all over the country sending money to a challenger who talks like the incumbent votes. Well, the answer is simple, because Liberals from all over the country want Brad Ellsworth and the United States House of Representatives for one vote and one vote only, and that is for the Speaker of the House," says Hostettler. "When drug companies and insurance companies are writing our health insurance bills--you saw what that`s done to our price of medicine. I think it`s time to change the way Washington works. I think it`s time to put a new Congressman in the 8th District--an ambassador, someone who`s going to lead, who`s going to listen and go to Washington to lead Indiana forward," says Ellsworth. When asked about their top priorities for the 8th District, Ellsworth said listening to the voters, improving the economy and increasing jobs. Hostettler`s priorities are limiting immigration, working more with the Crane Navel Base, and building Interstate 69.