Accusations fly in 10th Congressional ABC 7 debate
The first question in a debate Saturday between 10th Congressional District candidates Bob Dold and Brad Schneider: Given the tone of the national political debate this fall, can the lack of civility in politics be fixed?
And while both professed the ability to work with members of the other party, it wasn't long before accusations of putting party first, and lying, were flying.
Rep. Bob Dold, Republican, and Brad Schneider, Democrat, talked about immigration reform, changes in Social Security, support for mental health and drug-abuse programs and more in the 30-minute debate streamed live from the ABC 7 Chicago studio Saturday afternoon.
Dold repeated his contentions that Schneider has "flip-flopped" in his position on the Iran nuclear-weapons deal; that Schneider, when he was in Congress, voted mostly in ways that hurt the interests of owners of small businesses; and that Schneider has refused to release his "household" income tax returns. "I don't know what he is hiding in regard to that," Dold said of the tax returns.
"Bob, you have been distorting and lying about my positions this entire election," Scheider replied.
He said he both he and Dold had opposed the Iran nuclear deal, but now that it is in place, he disagrees with calls to dismantle it.
"You politicize these issues, and take these reckless positions," Schneider said. Abandoning the agreement would leave Iran "on the threshold of a nuclear weapon."
After Dold said he would be casting a write-in vote for president because he could not support Republican nominee Donald Trump, Schneider pointed out that Dold had campaigned at the "Beat Hillary at the Distillery" Lake County Republican Party fundraiser in September.
And, Schneider said, he has posted his income-tax returns on his website.
Schneider and his wife file separate returns, and hers are not posted.
When discussing immigration reform, both agreed more is needed. But, Schneider said, Republican House leadership has stalled votes on measures, and he called on Dold to ask the Speaker of the next Congress to pledge to allow votes.
"I think that what we are finding, what we are seeing, is that my opponent will take a partisan tack on everything," replied Dold. "And frankly, this is not how we solve problems."
The debate was recorded Saturday afternoon. It will be broadcast at 4:30 p.m. today on Channel 7.
It will also be available on-demand at abc7chicago.com and on the ABC 7 Chicago News app. It was conducted in conjunction with Univision and the League of Women Voters of Illinois.