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Ellmore Challenges Moran On Economic Downturn
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"We are a nation of immigrants. We desperately need people who are willing to work hard for less money -- and have their children study hard with fewer scholarship opportunities, with no scholarship opportunities," Moran said. "Those are the kind of people who made America great."
The two also diverge on earmarks, targeted spending measures that some have described as wasteful. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has made opposition to earmarks a refrain in his presidential campaign, one that Ellmore has echoed.
"Taxpayers are tired of the cloak-of-darkness earmark spending," Ellmore said.
He also said that Moran is "speaking from both sides of his mouth" because he's antiwar yet earmarks millions for defense-related organizations.
"Look at where his contributions come from. They come from the defense industry," Ellmore said.
The Center for Responsive Politics tracks the top congressional recipients of contributions in categories such as "miscellaneous defense" and "defense electronics." Moran ranked second and third in those, respectively.
Moran said earmarks go toward funding worthy initiatives in and out of the military, including treatment for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorders and funding to extend Metro through Tysons Corner and on to Dulles. He also said he is proud of his record on defense.
"I'm not anti-defense or anti-military. I'm just opposed to going into wars we don't need to fight," Moran said. "I think it's wholly consistent. My position [on Iraq] was the same as Colin Powell's and [those of] most of the uniformed officers."
Ellmore said he would look to U.S. military leaders in Iraq to tell Washington when it is safe to pull troops out.
"They've got the fingers on the pulse. Jim Moran does not," Ellmore said.
Also in the race is Independent Green candidate J. Ron Fisher, who advocates impeaching President Bush and cutting off funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to U.S. detention operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"Jim Moran is on the appropriations committee, and he's been appropriating money for this illegal war," Fisher said.
