Scott Carmichael and Melba Clark, chairpersons for the Lauderdale County Republican and Democratic Executive Committees, respectively, engaged in a sort of debate Thursday at Meridian Community College's Dulaney Room.
Carmichael and Clark were asked to debate as part of the Lifetime Quest annual meeting. Lifetime Quest is a Meridian Community College sponsored "learning in retirement center."
"This isn't a debate in the true sense of the word," said moderator John Johnson, of WTOK-TV, "but a discussion of the issues."
Clark and Carmichael spoke about their parties and their candidates.
Clark said the Democratic Party is about the middle class and giving everybody the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
"If you're willing to work," she said, "the Democratic party stands for giving you the opportunity to work your way up."
Carmichael said his party is about small government and fiscal responsibility. "People know what's best for them, the government doesn't," he said.
He added that "the Republican Party is about free enterprise, building jobs, building a better life for everybody."
Clark said the Democratic Party is also supportive of free enterprise, but that they want to make it more accessible for everyone. "We are for making it possible for anybody to go into business to be able to get a loan and be able to go into business."
They discussed government programs, with Carmichael saying that many programs have strayed from their intended purpose. Clark cited several government programs created by Democrats that have worked well, including the FDIC, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Both agreed that the battles in the Jackson and Washington Legislatures have become too personal and too political.
"Everybody needs to work together," Carmichael said. "They've got to put the rhetoric, the fluff behind us, and go back to their business, which is representing us."
Clark said that lobbyists were often to blame for problems with politics in Washington. "The people that we elect ought to be able to listen to us more than the lobbyists," she said.
Carmichael and Clark both praised their candidates in the senate and presidential races.
Of U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, who is up for election Nov. 4, Carmichael said that his experience as a congressman is key.
"From a standpoint of representing Mississippi, knowing the system well," Carmichael said, "having somebody who knows that system, can work that system, is extremely valuable."
Clark said former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, who is running against Wicker, is a great candidate because of his dedication to improving education and his fiscal ideas.
"He is in favor of balancing the budget," she said. "He did it when he was governor and he will do it again."
Both talked about their presidential candidates as well. Carmichael said that he believes McCain will bring about great change. "Change is coming in November," he said. "You can't say it'll be eight more years of the Bush White House because he's gone."
Clark said Obama will change the economy by helping bring more jobs to the country. "With the constant transfer of jobs from America," she said, "we're going to lose our middle class."
She said Obama plans to help the job market by increasing investments in infrastructure, energy research and development, and education, by modernizing and simplifying the tax code, and by exporting more American goods.
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