JOPLIN, Mo. —
Republicans and Democrats traded barbs during stops last week in Joplin.
The goal of getting a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, including replacing Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., with challenger Todd Akin, was mentioned frequently when GOP candidates and officeholders came to Joplin as part of a “Victory Tour” on Wednesday.
A stop on the tour attracted a large crowd to GOP headquarters at 2727 E. 32nd St. The group heard brief speeches from most GOP candidates on the state ticket, along with U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Tom Schweich, state auditor, who said he would be working on behalf of the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney.
Several speakers criticized McCaskill’s support of programs favored by President Barack Obama, particularly federal health care reform, which Blunt said would cut $700 billion from Medicare.
“The only person cutting Medicare is Barack Obama,” Blunt said.
During a stop Friday in Joplin, McCaskill pointed out that she has disagreed with Obama on several issues, including the proposed Keystone oil pipeline.
And she said Medicare cuts referred to by Republicans target payments to insurance companies and not payments to Medicare beneficiaries.
“What they (Republicans ) want to do is privatize Social Security and Medicare and eliminate federal student loans, then use that money to give bigger tax breaks to millionaires,” McCaskill said.
During a meeting with farmers at the Glenn Wilson farm southeast of Joplin, she also called for the House of Representatives to pass the farm bill, which contains help for farmers hard hit by higher feed and water costs because of the drought. The measure has passed the Senate but has not been considered in the House.
“Agriculture is Missouri’s largest industry, and every member of Congress from Missouri and Kansas — Democrat and Republican — signed a letter calling for action on the farm bill, except for Todd Akin,” she said. “If they could get it to the floor, it would pass and you’d be getting help right now.”
She said she and Akin “had a pleasant exchange” at the Missouri State Fair, adding, “He is a pleasant man, and very sincere, but what he wants to do would not be pleasant for the people.”
She also noted that Akin serves on the House Budget Committee headed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who has been selected as Romney’s running mate. Akin voted for the Ryan budget, McCaskill said, and Ryan’s selection “emphasizes the differences between the two parties.”
Blunt and U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., were among those on the “Victory Tour” praising the Ryan pick. Long also led a “Unity Tour” to Joplin on Saturday.
Long said he believes the Ryan choice will help Republicans win in Missouri — including the U.S. Senate seat — because “he will energize the party’s base, and get the tea party and the conservatives involved” in the campaign. Blunt said the selection was “a bold choice that establishes us as the party of ideas.”
Akin was not on the tour, but the local party faithful did hear from gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence; Peter Kinder, seeking re-election as lieutenant governor; Shane Schoeller, running for secretary of state; and Cole McNary, candidate for state treasurer.
Spence said he would use his experience in private business to reverse Missouri job losses and bring more business to the state.
Kinder emphasized his work on a private challenge to the implementation of federal health care reforms in Missouri.
Schoeller said he would, if elected, appoint a bipartisan commission to ensure that initiatives that go on the ballot are fairly presented.
McNary noted that he chaired the Downsizing Government Committee in the Missouri House, adding, “We need a conservative holding on to the state’s checkbook.”
Susan Redden is a staff writer for the Globe. She can be reached at sredden@joplinglobe.com or 417-623-3480, ext. 7258. Follow her on Twitter @Susan_Redden.
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