GOP battle: Chuck Purgason seeks deficit answers from Roy Blunt
Purgason
JEFFERSON CITY — There wasn’t much news at state Sen. Chuck Purgason’s news conference this morning.
Purgason, R-Caulfield, had promised a “major announcement,” prompting the capital press corps to wonder if he was dropping his long-shot bid for the U.S. Senate.
He isn’t. He’s just trying to get Rep. Roy Blunt’s attention.
Purgason and Blunt are competing in next year’s GOP primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by veteran Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond.
While Blunt has been stockpiling money in Washington and lining up Republican leaders’ endorsements, Purgason has been running a homespun campaign.
In the Capitol Rotunda today, he was supposed to have an easel to display his version of a powerpoint: a hand-lettered poster showing how federal deficits soared when Blunt was among the congressional leaders in 2003 through 2006.
Lacking an easel, Purgason had to prop up the poster on a chair with a flagstand.
But he didn’t lack passion for his subject: a federal deficit that his numbers showed grew nearly twenty-fold under GOP control. Purgason said the Republican Party’s platform calls for a balanced budget but fellow Republicans “didn’t stand on their principles.”
“The first thing I want to ask my opponent is, ‘What happened, Roy?’”
Purgason didn’t offer specific spending cuts, but he pointed to his record in the Statehouse as proof that he knows how to say “no” to costly programs. Purgason was a leading supporter of the 2005 Medicaid cuts. Last session, he objected to floating a bond issue to finance state buildings.
So far, Blunt’s strategy has been to ignore Purgason and spend his ammunition on Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, the likely Democratic nominee. We’ll update later if Blunt’s campaign responds to today’s blast.
Roy cannot even see Chuck from where he stands. But if Sarah Palin can win, anybody can.
Purgason could make farting noises at Blunt while Blunt blows cigarette smoke from his Big Tobacco lobbyist second wife back at Purgason.
Then both candidates will declare the are the “values” candidate from the GOP!
I appreciate a person like Chuck Purgason, not simply because he is an overwhelming underdog, but because he has a good point. Pn the other hand, I can’t help but wonder: could that possibly be his real hair?
Hey-hey we’re the Monkees….!
Chuck, I like what you stand for. I do not like what happened with Republicans after the Republicans canned Tom DeLay. I would love to see you tell us what you stand for, versus, how you dislike what Roy did. It is much more important to all of us to not allow Carnahan get the seat, than it is to butcher a fellow Republican. Get your word out through the media the best you can, but do it by telling us what you won’t do to increase our cost of living, and what you will do with others to turn back the onerous legislation passed by the last three congresses. Tell us your record, and philosophies, and what you will do if elected. Lay off the character bashing. I am not a Blunt supporter, but you could make me one.
What did Sarah win? She couldn’t win her fat butt with both hands, a flashlight and a mirror.
Skippy: I’m not voting for some slick-haired RINO like Roy Blunt. I’d much rather vote for a true fiscal conservative like Chuck Purgason. I’ve known Chuck for many years as he served as both my state representative and senator. Chuck always means what he says and says what he means. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Roy Blunt has far too much Washington stink on him to suit me. Check out the deposition by Sibel Edmonds (ex-CIA employee) where he(Roy Blunt)is implicated in selling intelligence and nuclear secrets to Turkey. I really don’t want a RINO traitor serving as my next Senator in Washington.