Raskin-Ruben Debate Draws Hundreds

With an overflow audience packed in Takoma Park's sweaty City Council chambers, Democrat Jamie Raskin and Sen. Ida Ruben engaged in a two-hour debate last night in Montgomery County's most hotly-contested race. While the incumbent continued to tick off major and minor budget items she has voted on in office, Jamie set forth a bold progressive agenda for universal health care, universal pre-k, affordable college tuition, and revitalized democracy in Maryland--what he called "the politics of tomorrow."

Moderated by Eric Bond of the Takoma Voice, the evening's format called for debate between candidates before opening up the floor to audience questions. Bond received more than 70 questions in advance through email from citizens of District 20.

Jamie opened the debate by saluting the work of Ruben as well as her predecessors Stewart Bainum and Victor Crawford in the Senate but proclaimed that "the politics of yesterday don’t meet the challenges of tomorrow." He said that his purpose in running was to "become the best State Senator District 20 has ever had--the most creative legislator, the most responsive and detail-oriented constituent servant and the most passionate and energetic champion of the common good we have ever had."

Jamie said he would accomplish this high goal by mobilizing and drawing on the expertise, talents and energy of the people of District 20. "We have the most brilliant doctors, environmental scientists, social workers, teachers, public interest attorneys, community organizers, writers, artists, union organizers, epidemiologists, transportation experts and engineers in the country living right here," he said. "They are not engaged or involved in our electoral politics, which has been dominated by a little machine that primarily serves its own interests. I will be the Senator that brings the people in."

In one of the more interesting contrasts of the evening, Jamie said that his first bill in office would be to move Maryland to 100% voter registration and 0% corporate financing of our elections. He explained that he does not accept contributions from corporations because "corporations are not citizens and cannot vote or run for office so why should they be able to give money in our campaigns?" He joked that he had "a plan to save Maryland's big businesses tens of millions of dollars a year--by banning corporate contributions in our elections." Senator Ruben answered that she did not know what she thought about the idea and would have to study it further.

Such clashes were many as it became progressively clear that the voters of District 20 face a dramatic choice on Tuesday, September 12 between business-as-usual machine politics and an ambitious agenda of sweeping change and reform powered by grassroots politics.

At one point the incumbent accused Jamie of "crying to the newspapers" about her campaign tactics, such as her now-infamous attempt to stifle the Blair High School journalists at the award-winning Silver Chips Newspaper. Jamie said that the students did the right thing by "standing up for their First Amendment rights" against official intimidation and that he "would never use my office in the State Senate to bully or intimidate my constituents." Raskin said that he would "always be the champion of the common good and the rights of the people."

After the debate, Jamie issued a statement thanking Eric Bond of the Takoma Park and Silver Spring Voice, "my amazing volunteers and supporters and Democracy Summer interns," and Senator Ruben.

"This was a spirited and lively exchange of views, even if a bit negative for my taste," Jamie said, "but I particularly want to thank our sponsors and so many of our fellow District 20 Democrats who came to participate in this session. We've got all kinds of momentum heading into the final weeks now and I look forward to continuing my door-to-door campaign through Silver Spring and Takoma Park to find all the Democrats looking for positive change in Maryland."