Love that Country Pie! Barnes and Graves in St. Joseph

In the political business you don’t get these very often. Good bare knuckled debates like the one Republican incumbent Congressman Sam Graves had in St. Joseph Thursday night. His opponent is Democrat Kay Barnes, the former mayor of Kansas City.

The two insulted each other,  They ridiculed one another. They clearly don’t like one another.

The only thing that was wrong with the debate was it’s setting.  Please Western Missouri State U., don’t take offense. It’s a nice hall. Spratt Hall. I’m sure you and Jack are very proud of it.

But this should have been at a county fair. Preferably on a hot steamy Saturday afternoon with the smell of bad hot dogs and good roast beef dinners filling the air. The other alternative could have been a cramped American Legion hall.

Yeah, Sam and Kay standing by a couple of lecterns,just an arms length a way from each other. An uncomfortable arm’s length. The moderator and questioners would huddle down behind some flimsy card table with an egg timer to keep things straight. Oh, yeah, the bar should be open too. And no microphones.  Sam and Kay would  have to shout  over over the  regulars who are  hollering for a couple of beers for the duration of the debate. And the cash register ringing  constantly. Hell, it would be better than the night  Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes’ bus broke down outside of West Point. And they played here! $2 cover!.

But this wasn’t bad. Here’s the lead off from Kay: “Sam Graves has spent 8 years giving away the store to George Bush.”

Graves: “Why on earth would we send her to Congress!”  Followed by a quick hit on San Fransisco Values, Big City Liberal Mayor.

He told the audience he voted against the bailout bill. Said it was ‘horrible” 

Graves hit Barnes the hardest on her role on her advisory board for Fannie Mae.  He stated that she was  “on the board!” and “she fleeced us for millions of dollars” Graves added that when Barnes was confronted with membership she said  the advisory board only met  two or three times over almost two years. ‘that’s worse!” shouted Graves. She shirked her responsibility.!

Barnes counters by saying that Graves was in congress for the last 8 years when there was little Congressional oversight or regulation. And it was same period where the federal government went into trillions of dollars into debt. “And you’re going to lecture me about debt?! I don’t think so.”, she scolded.

 I can think of one time in the 8 years I covered Barnes as Mayor where I’ve seen her that upset. Controlled but definitely upset.

Lost in the  sharp back and forth was an interesting statement made by Graves on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says the military action there is planting the seeds of democracy;  and that the effort will have a “profound effect”.

Barnes says there is a profound effect, already. The four-thousand lives that have been lost and the $1 billion dollars she says the war has cost the 6th Congressional District.

But the war, and almost every topic that was brought up, was viewed thru the prism of Barnes role as mayor and Graves role in Congress.

When it was over, they did not shake hands.  Graves may have made a partial effort to shake Barnes’ hand, but she would have nothing to do with him.  They were close enough to do so at one point. The she strode off the stage to the right. Sam jumped down from stage left and was surrounded by friends and family. He seemed relieved this debate was over.

This was a country fight. Sam is used to them. Sometime he starts them with campaign opponents. He didn’t have to Thursday night in St. Joe.  Country Club Kay wanted to scrap as badly as he did.

The next one is Tuesday in KC North. I know they have fights up there. When Ihear those sirens, it reminds be of Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes.