interesting Reilly-Healey debate on illegal immigrants ...

[welshTerrier2]

i just took a look at Healey's website to see what kind of campaign strategy they were employing ... one of the things i found was an audio file of a debate between Attorney General Reilly and Healey that apparently took place on a conservative talk show on WRKO radio ...

the topic primarily focussed on whether kids of illegal immigrants should be allowed to attend the public schools ... Reilly came across as both calm and compassionate ... Healey came across as tough and made some sharp arguments about simple adherence to the law ... While i agreed much more with Reilly's arguments and at times found Healey to be a bit "bullying" and "interrupting", it was clear that Healey will make a tough candidate and that Democrats better understand they are going to be in for a tough fight ... to view Healey as some kind of weak "Romney leftover" would be a huge mistake ...

we owe it to ourselves to carefully consider both Patrick and Reilly and pick the one who is genuinely both better on the issues and more effective on the campaign trail ... i'd be very interested to know who you think did better in the debate, Reilly or Healey ... the question isn't whose opinion you agree with more but who would have garnered more votes from the exchange ...

save yourself some time and "fast forward" to the 6:28 mark into the audio file ... the beginning of the audio was a combination of the talk show host and Healey beating up on Reilly before he joined the discussion ... starting at the 6:28 mark, the debate takes about 10 minutes ...

who did you think did a better job??

here's the link: http://eod.liquidviewer.com/wrko-od/healey-reilly.wma?MSWMExt=.asf

[merbex]

1. Thank you so much for posting this and for allowing me to speed it

up to the relevant part

She is tough. She stayed on message and was relentless in repeating the key phrases that her side salivates over;taxes,illegal immigrants

She wasn't afraid to interrupt whenever I think she thought he was effectively making his point in order to stop him

Will that be allowed in a formal debate? Probably not but she used some zingers on him " You need to get respect for the taxpapyers of this commonwealth" I think she said

He keep repeating compassion and contiually tried to frame the debate by focusing on the fact that they were children

She just kept interrupting him

She's tough- but this issue plays into her hands. We need to find an issue where she is on the defensive.

[janalfi]

2. Illegal immigration may be big issue

I couldn't access video clip of Reilly/Healy interchange but this could be a huge issue.

In my town, several labor union members I've spoken with are very much against allowing undocumented immigrants access to state funded services, including lower tuition for higher education. From what I can discern from their arguments, their resentment stems primarily from the practice of hiring of illegal immigrants to undermine unions. They claim they are not against immigrants per se, but against undocumented immigrants who do not play by the rules, who "cut in line" and still receive the benefits of citizenship. Democrats need labor to win. The compassion argument may be too simplistic. Fairness and security should also be part of the conversation.

Does anyone know Deval Patrick's stand on this issue?

[merbex]

3. Click on the link in the first post - it's a radio interview no video

speed it up to where the post suggested and you'll save 6-7 minutes of just listening to Healey being interviewed without Reilly

After listening to her I will not underestimate her in the general election

There is a Marie Antionette moment when she says "Let them go to private schools!"

He should have called her on that remark IMMEDIATELY,especially since I think it came after her "You need to respect the taxpayers of this state more than you do" crack

A simple "That remark was very Marie- Antoinette-ish of you Lt Gov." would have sufficed

[janalfi]

4. Just listened to clip . . . what a set up

That was horrifying!

It sounded as if Reilly was on the phone and Healey was in the studio. He didn't seem to even hear her when she was talking over him. And all this after Healey and the host had already taken turns trashing Reilly in the lead up to his call.

That said, Healey's arguments were right in line with what the union guys were telling me. She has been doing her homework. Reilly really needs to start listening to people besides the legislature and bad political advisors.

He went the warm fuzzy route and kept referring to college students as "children." The most nauseating part of his response, however, was his repetitive chant about how compassionate Bush is on the immigration issue. Gag me. It's not even true. Bush just wants cheap labor for his friends at Wal-Mart. Instead of that claptrap, Reilly should be talking about taking stricter enforcement measures against companies who hire illegal immigrants, making legal immigration less byzantine, and setting up transparent, reasonable rules about who is and is not eligible for reduced tuition to state colleges.

Democrats can't duck this issue. Who has the right frame for this issue? Anyone? Bueller?

I agree with Susan that Reilly should have, if he even heard it, said something about Healey's "Let them go to private colleges" comment immediately. He does not seem very quick on his feet. He should also have stopped talking when Healey interrupted and pointed out that it was rude and that she had had plenty of time to get her views out before he even came on the air.