Cantwell affords best hope for bipartisan progress
There are numerous reasons to support the re-election of Sen. Maria Cantwell, Democrat, to a fourth six-year term representing Washington state.
But as the nation now must confront growing divides along party, cultural and economic fault lines, there’s a significant reason why Cantwell’s Republican opponent, Susan Hutchison, should not receive the votes of state residents who desire a Congress that is responsive and dedicated to finding bipartisan solutions to the country’s looming crises.
We fully expect opposing candidates to outline and defend their positions on issues. But Hutchison — a veteran TV reporter and anchor and more recently the chairwoman of the state Republican Party — during her interview with the editorial board, in debates and elsewhere on the campaign trail, has relied unnecessarily on personal and partisan attacks on Cantwell and Democrats that have provided little illumination on the issues.
Two years ago, when other prominent Republicans were properly condemning statements made by then presidential candidate Donald Trump in the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which he boasted of sexually assaulting women, Hutchison called the remarks “repulsive,” but then took it a step further by excusing Trump’s behavior: “He was a Democrat at the time and was channeling Bill Clinton.”
Two years later, Hutchison, in running to represent all of Washington state’s residents, has been no less partisan.
During the Oct. 8 debate at Pacific Lutheran University, the candidates were asked how they and their parties would help work toward restoring civility. Hutchison made no commitment to the standard promise to “work across the aisle.” Instead, she used her minute to continue the attack: “It’s a very scary time. … If you disagree with a Democrat on anything their mob will come after you.”
Cantwell, in contrast, talked about her record of working with Republican senators on issues of common interest and getting all stakeholders to the table to find solutions based on fact and science. In the last two years, of the 40 pieces of legislation that Cantwell has introduced on the Senate floor, 19 had bipartisan support and four were joined solely by Republicans.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-cantwell-affords-best-hope-for-bipartisan-progress/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=587ee686f1-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-587ee686f1-228635337
