Joe Donnelly in 2012 Indiana Senate Debates

On Abortion: God would never intend for rape to happen

Mourdock says when a woman is impregnated during a rape, "it's something God intended." Mourdock was asked Tuesday during the final minutes of a debate whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.

He replied: "I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that's something God intended to happen."

In response to Mourdock's comment, Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly said after the debate that he doesn't believe "my God, or any God, would intend that to happen."

Source: Associated Press on 2012 Indiana Senate debate Oct 23, 2012

On Corporations: Lower corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%

Mourdock predicted major tax reforms in Congress, but said he would not support a national sales tax to replace other taxes. He said he supports lower taxes and criticized Donnelly for opposing the elimination of the federal inheritance tax.

Donnelly said he wants to see corporate income tax rates lowered from 35 percent to 25 percent. He said he supports eliminating the inheritance tax, but only once the nation's fiscal picture is improved.

Source: Evansville Courier & Press on 2012 Indiana Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Corporations: Challenging auto bailout put 1000s of jobs at risk

To Donnelly, currently a member of Congress, Mourdock is "an unapologetic leader of the Tea party movement" who put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk when he challenged the Chrysler bankruptcy settlement.

To Mourdock, currently state treasurer, Donnelly is a supporter of President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who voted to make government bigger by supporting ObamaCare.

The debate's frequent focus on partisanship and principles has its roots in the Republican primary, when Mourdock defeated veteran Sen. Richard Lugar in large part by arguing that Lugar had compromised too often on too many issues and was no longer representing the conservative values of Hoosier voters.

Donnelly repeatedly made a pitch to those so-called "Lugar Republicans." He stressed his work with Lugar in the Senate, including both of them supporting the federal loans to Chrysler and General Motors, and cited a letter Mourdock wrote that accused Lugar of betraying conservatives.

Source: Indianapolis Star on 2012 Indiana Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Education: Pell Grants for low-income students, & lower interest rates

Mourdock favors abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and transferring its responsibilities to the state and local levels. "Instead of sending Hoosier money to Washington, I think we ought to be keeping that money and as always, letting schools be run at the local level and at the state level," he said.

Donnelly touted his support for funding Pell Grants for low-income students, as well as a measure that kept student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent rather than 6.8 percent. Donnelly opposed eliminating the Education Department. "Our ability to compete as a state, our ability to compete as a country, depends on our education level," he said.

Source: Evansville Courier & Press on 2012 Indiana Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Energy & Oil: I opposed cap-and-trade even though Dem leadership pushed it

Mourdock said Donnelly has too often bowed to pressure to line up with his own party. "Washington is that place where principles get crushed. They get compromised by partisanship," he said.

Donnelly answered that he had opposed the carbon cap-and-trade measure and supported a constitutional balanced budget amendment--two moves that were out of step with most congressional Democrats.

Source: Evansville Courier & Press on 2012 Indiana Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Civil Rights: Opposes same sex marriage

The President's support of same sex marriage is forcing Indiana politicians to make their feelings known on the issue and it's a problem for some Indiana Democrats. Same sex marriage is not a winning issue in Indiana.

Republican opposition to same sex marriage is shared by Democrat Joe Donnelly. Nevertheless, look for Democratic candidates to reach out to gay voters with calls for a new hate crime laws and other positions that are less polarizing than the support of same sex marriage.

Source: Jim Shella, WISH-TV-8, on 2012 Indiana Senate debates Apr 11, 2012

The above quotations are from 2012 Indiana Senate Debate. Click here for other excerpts from 2012 Indiana Senate Debate. Click here for other excerpts by Joe Donnelly. Click here for a profile of Joe Donnelly.
*Joe Donnelly on other issues:*
Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade	Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018