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Debate Info

13
13

Elizabeth Anne Barth (D)


Shelley Moore Capito (R)

Debate Score:26
Arguments:14
Total Votes:27
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Elizabeth Anne Barth (D)
(7)
 
 
Shelley Moore Capito (R)
(7)

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Who should I vote for in the 2008 West Virginia 2nd District House Race?


Elizabeth Anne Barth (D)

Side Score: 13
VS.


Shelley Moore Capito (R)

Side Score: 13
3 points

Republican Incumbent Shelly Moore Capito faces a challenge in her bid for reelection to West Virginia's 2nd District's Congressional seat. That trouble comes in the form of Blogger Rich Muny, member of the Poker Players Alliance.

Muny has launched an online attack against Capito in her support for the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. She has been added to the infamous “Leach List,” singling her out as one of 30 lawmakers who's anti-gambling stance has drawn criticism from the online poker community.

Whether Muny's attacks will be enough to affect Capito's reelection is yet to be seen, however, her name is now uttered with contempt by many online gamblers.

Supporting Evidence: The Leach List (theengineer.pokerplayersalliance.org)
Side: Online Poker Spells Trouble for Capito
2 points

As Senator Robert Byrd’s State Director in Washington since 1992, Anne Barth(D) has a clear understanding of the needs and concerns of the people of the Second District, and is uniquely skilled in how to get results for West Virginians.

Challenging Shelly Moore Capito(R) for the 2nd Congressional District's seat in the House, Barth will make strong use of her association with Senator Byrd and his statewide support, his fingerprint is on almost every democratic bill of the past 50 years and his present position as President pro tempore to the Senate makes him one of the most powerful men in Washington.

Byrd represented most of the territory of the 2nd from 1953 until his election to the Senate in 1959, aiding Barth in her knowledge of the electorate. Having a mentor like Robert Byrd will be a strong motivating factor in voter's minds as they enter the polling booth in November to choose between Barth and Capito.

Anne Barth for Congress
Side: Barth's Old Boss an Asset
2 points

According to the CBO, the annual budget deficit more than doubled from 2007 to 2008 to $407 billion dollars and the damage will remain until the fiscal year 2018. Barth cites Bush's policies as the root of our budgetary dilemmas and blames Capito for supporting them and instilling negative spending in West Virginia.

Barth's campaign manager: “In her eight years in office, Mrs. Capito has voted five times for five budgets that have produced the five worst deficits in the history of the nation. That kind of record forfeits any claim to fiscal responsibility.”

Barth wants to stop padding the pockets of lawmakers on the hill by giving more tax credits to the middle class and using the taxpayers money to fix bridges, roads and the educational system.

Supporting Evidence: Barth addresses Capito's bad policies (www.annebarthforcongress.com)
Side: Elizabeth Anne Barth
2 points

Senator Robert Byrd, the longest serving lawmaker in the Senate, has made a rousing endorsement of Anne Barth for West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District's House seat. Calling on her proven leadership working on bipartisan issues and claiming she is ready for the job on day one, he spoke off the cuff to reporters about her experience. After years of working on Byrd's staff, Barth points out the knowledge she's gained about the district from a man who used to represent it.

Byrd is one of the most prolific Democratic Senators in U.S. history and his influence in West Virginia is widely known.

Anne Barth is Strong
Side: Byrd on Barth
2 points

Focusing on jobs, education, healthcare, and keeping America safe, Democratic Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District has made the case that Anne Barth will be a great addition to the Congressional Delegation from his state.

He believes Barth's experience and dedication to the people of West Virginia's 2nd District will benefit not only the voters, but the House of Representatives as a whole, helping to drive attention to those issue that the left has championed for years.

Her rival, Republican Representative Shelly Moore Capito is presently the only member of her party serving in Washington.

Anne Barth Will Complete the Team
Side: Nick Rahall Gives Barth His Support
1 point

At a rally in West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, Democratic candidate Anne Barth addressed the concerns of the mining industry in the 21st Century. Speaking about safety, compensation, and the aging infrastructure and workforce, Barth rallied with the United Mining Workers Association to illustrate her support for West Virginia's prime industry.

Employing thousands of workers and producing 15% of the nation's coal, mining is a way of life for many West Virginians. The industry has been uprooted since the Sago Mining Accident of 2005 and new regulations have put restrictions on employers which has filtered down to the 2nd's constituency. In addition, an aging workforce has been impacted by attrition—as older workers retire, fewer and fewer young people step up to take their positions.

Democratic candidate Anne Barth for Congress UMWA WV Rally for Veterans
Side: Barth Supports Mining Industry
1 point

“Change” has been a major catchphrase of this election cycle from the Presidential candidates on down to local elections. Democratic candidate Anne Barth took the opportunity at a rally on September 12 to put focus on her own bid for change in America.

She feels that Washington has been struck by a hotbed of corruption over the past 8 years and despite the Democratic takeover of 2006, a Republican administration and narrow majority still reel from the effects of Republican mismanagement.

Barth believes the message of change won't just impact the electorate on a national scale, but also into individual congressional districts like West Virginia's 2nd. She feels that if the constituency desires the real change she and so many other Democrats are pushing, she will win the day handedly in November.

Anne Barth talks about how Democrats provide the change we need
Side: Barth Calls for Change
3 points

In a democratic year, incumbent Shelly Moore Capito(R) faces a hard reelection bid against challenger Anne Barth(D), however her moderate views may aid her in retaining her congressional seat. Capito's right leaning voting record has been more bipartisan than other Republicans, her strong stances on education and environmentalism put her at odds with much of her party.

She is a member of the pro-stem cell research group, Republican Main Street Partnership, and the pro-choice group, The Wish List. Organized labor has supported Capito in the past, garnering her support from the working class constituents in her district.

On the issues, Barth tows the Democratic party line, however, Capito's record may make those traditional arguments a moot point.

Supporting Evidence: Voting Record (www.votesmart.org)
Side: Centrist Views Aid Capito
3 points

Shelly Moore Capito won election to the House of Representatives in 2000 supported heavily by her father's legacy, a congressman from 1957 to 1969. No Republican had been elected to Congress in West Virginia since 1983, and Capito narrowly pulled out a victory. She also staked the claim of being the first woman to represent West Virginia ever and successfully retained her seat in 2002 and 2004 by large margins. Capito has done what other Republicans have failed to do in recent West Virginia history, secure a seat in Congress and retain it for more than one election cycle.

Supporting Evidence: History of the West Virginia Republican Party (www.wvgop.org)
Side: Capito Succeeds Where Others Failed
2 points

Congresswomen Shelley Moore Capito is an incumbent representative known for her frequent appeals for bipartisanship. About energy solutions, she said on July 24, 2008, "Whether it’s Republican solutions or Democratic solutions, most West Virginians simply want to see real action." On August 15, 2008, Congresswoman Capito gave a radio address in her home state of West Virginia telling her constituents that she will work towards clean coal, more American oil, and conservation. She added, "There is no single solution to these challenges. Only through an all-of-the-above energy policy can we hope to decrease our dependence on foreign energy." West Virginians in the 2nd District should vote for Congresswoman Capito because she has an open mind to the energy crisis facing our nation; she just wants us to explore all the possibilities instead of insisting on a single idea.

Side: Shelley Moore Capito
2 points

On September 11, Capito joined a bipartisan majority in the House to pass HR 6532 which provides for the immediate transfer of $8 billion from the US Treasury's General Fund to help restore highway infrastructure and support maintenance. As a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Capito visited the site of the recent bridge collapse on I-35 in Minnesota to analyze the damage and discuss necessities to maintain highway security.

Capito: “At a time when we have significant needs and infrastructure challenges, we must ensure that we allocate the appropriate resources to update and improve our roads, highways and bridges.”

Side: Shelley Moore Capito
1 point

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the roll out of a new mobile health care clinic that will serve veterans in rural West Virginia. Republican incumbent Shelly Moore Capito, Congresswoman of West Virginia's 2nd District, has long supported the project as one of her solutions to help veterans in her state. For years, rural veterans would have to travel to Richmond, VA for medical care, this new project should relieve some of that inconvenience.

Capito has also introduced legislation to expand treatment for rural veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.

“Our veterans served admirably and it’s imperative that we develop the best practices for how we can ensure they’re cared for – regardless of where they live.”

Supporting Evidence: Capito Applauds Roll Out of New Mobile Veterans Health Units (capito.house.gov)
Side: Capito Supports Veterans
1 point

Capito Votes No On Bailout

The incumbent has listened to the many calls from constituents expressing concern over the bailout. She states, “As a steward of West Virginia tax dollars, I couldn’t in good conscience support something that would have amounted to the largest bailout in history, nor was I willing to turn my back on my constituents who were adamantly opposed to this proposal." It remains to be seen what her next proposal will be to solve the lending crisis.

Supporting Evidence: Vote: No (capito.house.gov)
Side: Bailout
0 points

President Bush announced the reduction of troops to pre-surge levels by next February, giving proponents of the controversial military strategy reason to be excited. Republican incumbent Shelly Moore Capito, Congresswoman of West Virginia's 2nd District, supported the Surge and is running on a platform of staying in Iraq until the job is finished. With the Bush Administration touting the success of the Surge and signing a joint U.S.-Iraqi Time Horizon for pullout, Capito can continue to push against a pullout.

Supporting Evidence: Iraq (capito.house.gov)
Side: Capito and The Surge