Congressman Conor Lamb, GOP challenger Sean Parnell spar over ACA, civil unrest in WPXI debate
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"My opponent favors overturning that law that protects you," Lamb, 34, D-
Parnell responded that despite supporting the law's repeal, he would still aim to protect people being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.
"You're running an ad right now that is a bald-faced lie saying that I will kick you off your health care plan if you have a pre-existing condition," Parnell told Lamb.
Lamb looked not at Parnell but instead addressed viewers via the camera and said, "Look, if you want to see more of this in
"If you'd rather be protected by an executive order that
The televised debate, moderated by WPXI morning anchor
The candidates both pitched themselves as moderates who will put the people of
The district includes about half of
Parnell, 39, a
"
Each candidate touted his commitment to working across the aisle to get things done -- and then questioned the other's ability to do so.
Lamb said thousands of his constituents at town halls in the region since 2018 have lamented that "they're tired of the chaos, tired of the shutdowns, tired of the feeling nothing gets done. People want members of
"There are
Gesturing toward Parnell, Lamb said, "This isn't one of them.
"If you do me the honor of sending me back to
Parnell said his experience as a platoon leader in
"My job was bringing people together. And if I was able to do it in one of the most hostile regions on the planet, I'm sure as heck going to be able to do it right here in
The pair clashed over concerns over systemic racism and social injustice.
"You're out marching with 'Defund the Police' radicals, and as far as I'm concerned I find that reprehensible," Parnell told Lamb. He accused Lamb of not being vocal enough in denouncing social justice protests that have turned violent or led to looting.
"I put people in jail for more than 20 years for committing violence against each other," said Lamb, a former federal prosecutor. "But we can't be blind to the fact that we have a problem in a lot of these cities and there is police violence. The community doesn't trust the response in many of those places."
Parnell said he recognizes injustice, including the death of
"I hope and pray that
Lamb retorted, "I'll say it again because you didn't hear the first time: I don't believe anyone should commit violence. And I'm the one that's actually spent a good amount of my career prosecuting people that commit violence. You can say what you want, you can call the names that you want.
"I support funding for the police -- but I also support always trying to improve," Lamb said. "We all have a job to do to try to improve police in this country and the difference between the two of us is, I'm willing to do that job. I'm willing to work with
In Parnell's closing, he reiterated his appeal to a broad swath of voters. "We won't always agree," Parnell said, "but I reject the notion that we have to. I sit around the table with my big, American family -- and we don't agree on anything. So, why should our American family here, in our district, be expected to agree? For me, it doesn't matter what color your skin is. It doesn't matter who you love. It doesn't matter where you come from. If you believe that this country is exceptional and that freedom is worth defending, then stand with me."
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