WASHINGTON – As the second debate between Republican John James and Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow wound down Monday, James had some instructions for the voters in the crowd at the Detroit Economic Club luncheon.
"Vote person, not party," he said. "Don't judge me by the R next to my name."
With Republicans facing headwinds going into the Nov. 6 midterm election, James sought to distance himself from both President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
"I’ll work with the president when it benefits Michigan and against him when it goes against Michigan," said James, whose endorsement by Trump helped propel him to victory in the August primary..
Stabenow, who is seeking a fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate, reminded the crowd of that endorsement, James' statement that he supported the president 2000 percent and his September visit to the White House where he posed with Trump in the Oval Oval office.
"I've been able to get things done every day working across the aisle. What we don't need is inexperience right now in very difficult times," she said.
Appearing before the Detroit Economic Club Monday afternoon, the debate was the second in two days for the candidates, following a contentious meeting Sunday in Grand Rapids that aired on WGVU-TV.
They addressed many of the same issues in the second debate, ranging from trade, health care, infrastructure needs in the state and immigration.
Here’s a look at a few of the arguments made by each and what's true:
James on pre-existing conditions: Stabenow suggested James supported legislation that would have gutted pre-existing conditions. James noted, correctly, that he has said that health care reform must include coverage for pre-existing conditions. What is not clear is whether by saying that he is voicing support for a Republican plan advanced in 2017. Many experts agreed that plan would have increased the costs of covering pre-existing conditions to a point where it could have effectively denied that coverage to some families, though there was also a separate fund that may have helped defray some of those costs. Trump supported the bill.
Stabenow's effectiveness: James said Stabenow had passed only five bills into law. According to Congress.gov, that number is six, in terms of pieces of legislation for which she was the prime sponsor. That doesn’t include more than 90, however, in which she was a co-sponsor, nor, more significantly, measures that she helped write that were included in larger pieces of legislation but which did not carry her name as prime sponsor. Two examples of that – which Stabenow was unquestionably key in passing – were some $100 million in funding to help Flint respond to its lead contamination crisis and the $922-million authorization for a new Soo lock in northern Michigan.
About the Soo Lock: James criticized Stabenow for taking too long in getting authorization for a new super-sized navigation lock in northern Michigan, suggesting that he – or some other politician – could have forced the issue far more quickly. But that is not true. Stabenow as well as the rest of Michigan’s congressional delegation – Republican and Democrat alike – have been working for decades to either secure funding for a new lock or to get the Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider an earlier decision (for an authorization that dates back to the 1980s) that questioned the worth of such a project. That reconsideration finally began under President Obama and was completed under Trump.
Stabenow's longevity: James, 37, made this point several times about the 68-year-old Stabenow, noting she has been in elected office for 43 years. Her first job was as an Ingham County commissioner in 1975 and she has held offices in the state Legislature and Congress since 1979. But it ignores the fact that many politicians running for office – Democrat and Republican alike – have long tenures. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette, for example, has held an elected or appointed office for most of the time since 1985 – which is 33 years.
Other subjects that came up Monday included the contentious confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Stabenow said she carefully looked at Kavanaugh's record as a judge on the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., and decided his positions on issues ranging from presidential powers to the clean water act and health care were too far out of the mainstream to be able to support his confirmation.
"In my judgment, he was the wrong person for the Court," she said.
James said he would have voted to confirm Kavanaugh had he been in the Senate.
"He has the capability to be impartial. Four out of four of his clerks are women...I believe he will be a fair jurist." he said.
They also addressed the ballot proposal that would legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. Stabenow said she supports the measure, but wants law enforcement involved to make sure the rules are administered correctly.
James said he can't support the proposal but acknowledged that there are benefits for medical marijuana and that the war on drugs, including marijuana, has disproportionately affected African Americans.
"There are so many people in jail for non-violent drug offenses that we also need to make sure we engage in criminal justice reform," he said.
Stabenow is ranking Democratic leader on the Senate Agriculture Committee. James, a 3Farmington Hills resident and combat veteran, runs his family’s logistics and warehousing business in Detroit.
Recent polls have shown Stabenow with commanding leads over James, ranging from 9 to 23 percentage points. But he also reported an impressive third quarter, raising $3.6 million to $1.8 million for Stabenow. But she has already booked more than $3.2 million in advertising for the final weeks of the campaign and still has $3 million in cash on hand to $2.7 million for James.
Contact Todd Spangler at 703-854-8947 or at tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tsspangler.
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