Thread by @karenkasler

#OHSen debate between Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican JD Vance is underway in Cleveland. It will be divided into topics with five minutes of discussion - that was proposed by Ryan and agreed to by Vance.

First question to Vance: you've said the economy is already in a recession. Do you think some stimulus money is well spent?
Vance: Some is, but some is putting fuel on the fire of problems. I believe we've gone in a fundamentally bad direction, Ryan has voted 100% of w Dems.

Ryan: the federal infrastructure bill, which was supported by R Sen. Rob Portman, is opposed by Vance. CHIPS Act also a good bipartisan thing. We also need to increase production of natural gas. Vance has invested in Chinese companies, where supply chains have gone.

Q: You've labeled China as the enemy. Can you say where it's happening in Ohio?
Vance: China has taken lots of jobs because energy is expensive. Ryan just told a big fib that he supports Ohio energy but he supported banning fracking. I've also supported tariffs, which he opposed.

Q: You've said Biden shouldn't run again. Is Biden to blame for energy crisis?
Ryan: I've supported a tax cut for working people. Vance didn't answer the Q about China and how he is invested there. I supported Trump's position on China and tariffs. I'm trying to fight these guys.

Q: Do you want Biden to run in 2024?
Ryan: No, I've been very clear. I'd like to see a generational change, Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump.

Q: What limits, if any, do you support on abortion?
Ryan: I support going back to Roe v Wade, established law for 50 years. We've heard stories of women who've had to go to other states. That's not good enough for Vance, who wants women to have to go to Canada.

Q: Support national 15 week abortion ban?
Vance: I am pro-life and have always been. I saw a lot of young women had abortions because they felt they didn't have options. We need to fix that. I recognize a lot are pro-choice, like my grandmother, but Ryan's view goes too far.

Vance, still on abortion and 15 week ban: Some minimum national standard is fine with me.

Q: You were "pro life" - why the change?
Ryan: I had personal conversations with women who need to have abortions, and I came to realize government has no place in this and it needs to be left to the woman and her doctor. We can't ignore the extremism from Vance.

Vance, on abortion: I have a 9 yr old girl at home. I've said the 10 yr old Ohio girl should get an abortion if she needs it. But let's look at why she was raped - by an illegal alien who shouldn't have been here. If Ryan had done his job, he wouldn't have been here.

Q: Ryan calls you a "vulture capitalist" who left Ohio.
Vance: I was born in Ohio and left to enlist in the Marines. Raised my kids here. Ridiculous accusation by Ryan, who has been in Congress for 20 years and never had a business. Ryan's district has lost 50k jobs.

Ryan, responding to that: JD, guys like you make money off investing in China. There are businesses in Ohio that hire foreign workers. You don't understand what's going on in Ohio. You want to parachute into Ohio and buy a Senate seat.

Q: You've suggested Biden has intentionally allowed fentanyl in the country to intentionally kill people.
Vance: I didn't say intentionally, I said his rhetoric is beyond the pale. End result of policies/rhetoric is that we hate each other, and fentanyl is worse than 2 yrs ago

Q: Biden said we're close to nuclear armageddon with Putin.
Ryan: we need a swift and significant response. We can't have a butcher like Putin rolling into Ukraine killing people. Vance has said he doesn't care about what's happening in Ukraine and he's weak on this.

Vance, responding on Ukraine and nuclear weapons: Nobody knows how we should respond. What Putin did was disgusting and wrong and we should admire the Ukrainians. What does a "strong response" mean? I want to put our citizens first. Biden admin is sleepwalking into a nuclear war.

Q: Should US defend Taiwan?
Ryan: I think we should. I have always supported investments into defense budget, including Trump's investment in Space Force and others. China is no joke and is investing heavily in their military.

Vance, on Taiwan: This is a totally different situation than Ukraine. We need to get into a position where we don't have to rely on the Chinese in the first place. CHIPS Act is a great piece of legislation and we need to go further.

Q: Support marriage equality act?
Vance: I've come out against this because it's not about gay marriage. The bill that's being proposed would make it easier for govt and private parties to unleash a wave of lawsuits against religious groups.

Ryan: I supported marriage equality act in the House. Only JD Vance can say the bill that codifies same-sex marriage can say it's not about same-sex marriage. Vance is extreme on these issues - he's going right down the line with guys who want to ban books.

Vance: I answered the question and identified problems with the legislation. Ryan just pretended they didn't exist.

Q: Senate confirms SupCo justices. Will same-sex marriage come into play for you?
Vance: I don't like any litmus test, I just want good justices.
Ryan: I will have a litmus test on Roe v Wade, same sex marriage, birth control. We can't go down this road of taking away rights.

Q: You've called for more construction of border wall but called it a Trump "vanity project" before. What changed?
Ryan: If you can put a barrier to keep people coming over it, I'm all for it. I've always supported more $ for border patrol and to figure out who's in the country.

Q: Only allow in immigrants who contribute "something meaningful". How do you define that?
Vance: Skills, know the English language. I support Sen. Tom Cotton's bill on this. But we have to have a strong border to stop fentanyl and Ryan has done nothing - it's gotten worse.

Q: Is southern border secure, as VP Harris has said?
Ryan: Harris is wrong. We have more work to do. I have a resolution that designates fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. But I didn't start a fake non-profit that didn't spend money to help people w addiction.

The candidates are now sparring over this report on JD Vance's nonprofit:

nytimes.com/2022/10/08/us/…

Vance has now brought up this report about Ryan taking $27k in donations from drug distributors, which the piece notes "represents a fraction of the $50 million he has collected over the course of his career" washingtonpost.com/politics/drug-…

Q: You said 5 yrs ago there are legitimate concerns that Black people have about police treatment. Still feel that way?
Vance: Of course. But we do have to increase funding for police and protect police so they can attract the right people. 99% of cops are good people.

Q: What's the solution to this problem?
Ryan: We need more cops and better paid cops and get rid of bad cops. I brought back $500 m for law enforcement in Ohio in American Rescue Plan, which Gov. Mike DeWine is using and I'm fine with that.

Ryan: Cops were under threat on Jan 6, and Vance is raising money for the insurrectionists.
Vance: At the height of BLM riots, Ryan threw police under the bus as the new Jim Crow. Tim, if you did what you said, it wouldn't be so bad, but 20 yrs in politics is bad.

Ryan: Vance is all in with election deniers and w people who want to ban books and be in our bedrooms. I've run against Pelosi, stood up to Biden and agreed with Trump on China and national defense. Vance can't stand up to anyone, like Trump when he said Vance is kissing his ass.

Ryan: Trump took Vance's dignity. He was called an ass-kisser by the former president.
Vance: I'm not going to take lectures from a guy on video kissing up to Chuck Schumer and begging for a promotion. Ryan says he stands up to his own party but he voted with the Ds 100%.

Vance disputes "election denier" term (he has campaigned w Trump, including last month in Youngstown), but says the problem in 2020 was "big tech" and that its power benefits the Democrats.

Vance: I have seen nothing that suggests Trump should be thrown in prison. Merrick Garland is one of the most political AGs in history and that's a problem.

Ryan: Those people who stormed the US Capitol are a threat to democracy. People who deny the results of the 2020 election are a threat to democracy. This is not some throwaway line. And this is the crowd Vance runs around with.

Do you pledge to accept the results of this election?
Both Ryan and Vance say yes.

Q: Support the decriminalization of marijuana?
Ryan: Yes, we should legalize it and tax it.
Vance: It's a states issue, and I don't want anyone going to prison for smoking a joint but we have to be careful about being soft on crime with people did more than just that.

Q; Who should be the Senate Majority Leader?
Vance: Whoever runs - presumably McConnell, but not Schumer
Ryan: I'll vote for whoever gives the best deal to Ohio. I've been a pain in the rear end to Pelosi and I'll do the same in Ohio. Ohio needs an ass kicker, not an ass kisser.

Ryan: My family has done nothing but serve their whole lives. I'm not going to apologize for serving my district for 20 years while you were drinking wine and eating cheese in California.

Now closing statements: Ryan first, saying we have to rebuild the middle class and Ohio has always led the way. Electric vehicles, chips, batteries - we have the manufacturing powerhouse of the world, the arsenal of energy. Building movement of the exhausted majority.

Now closing from Vance: Ryan has failed at his basic job for 20 years - the record isn't there. Ohioans deserve to go to the grocery store and afford food, streets that you can walk down safely, a country that deserves a border. I'll never forget where I came from.

And that's it for the #OHSenDebate from Cleveland with Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Ryan. I'll post a link to a replay of the debate if there is one. Final debate is Monday in Youngstown.

Voter registration deadline is tomorrow and early voting starts Wednesday.