We looked at presentation, too: Duckworth, who’s been senator six years and was in Congress two terms before that, focused on her experience. Salvi was in challenger mode, mostly on the attack, calling the senator a “radical extremist” on abortion rights and a “rubber stamp” to President Joe Biden.
Here’s the video of the forum, which was moderated by WTTW’s Paris Schutz and Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles. WBEZ also was a sponsor.
Zinger of the night: Salvi tried to pin crime problems in Chicago on Duckworth, who pushed back, saying: “I think she’s running for mayor of Chicago in the municipal elections next year, not for Senate. We’re here to talk about November.”
It was testy. But … Duckworth and Salvi found one area of agreement. They both support the Bears moving from Chicago to the suburbs.
Duckworth: “I do think they should go to Arlington Heights with a new stadium because more people will get to it, and I think there’s a greater chance of having greater growth out there.”
Salvi: “I’d love to see the Chicago Bears in the Arlington Heights area, too, but don’t you love Soldier Field? It’s an iconic place, a lot of history.”
With the nation’s ongoing gun violence epidemic, the sitting senator said “we need to pass an assault weapons ban and a high-capacity magazine ban that will get those guns off the streets.”
Duckworth went after Salvi for her “A” rating from the National Rifle Association.
“She’s never going to vote for an assault weapons ban,” Duckworth said of Salvi, who said the emphasis should be on treating mental illness rather than restricting firearms.
Asked if they own guns, both candidates said no. Salvi said some of her adult children own firearms with concealed carry licenses, for “target practice and for protection.”
Duckworth defended Biden’s one-time student-loan forgiveness program, which has been put on hold by a judge, from Salvi’s criticism by noting that the Mundelein lawyer took a $200,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic — and then took advantage of a provision allowing it to be forgiven.
“I do think it is hypocritical to ask for loan forgiveness for yourself and your law firm but not for students,” Duckworth said.
Salvi did not answer a number of questions, including whether she would support a proposal to ban assault weapons; vote to support the bill proposed by Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham from South Carolina that would ban abortions after 15 weeks or vote to allow participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program permanent. DACA prevents the deportation of immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children.
Salvi also did not answer what her first piece of legislation would be if elected, and did not name a living Republican on the national stage she admires. After naming Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant and Ronald Regan, Salvi when pressed mentioned the two U.S. senators from Iowa “to our east” but did not name them. Iowa is west of Illinois.
Why did Senator Duckworth dodge the question about rights to a 9 month old unborn child? The answer is “Yes”…so say that. Now people will question her position. Don’t give a 30 second answer to a question with an obvious and popular “Yes” answer.
Duckworth’s worthy quip about municipals had me headspun. For a second, I thought she was slamming Mendoza. Can you imagine if Susana’s prematurely leaked ad for Chicago mayor had come out before the 2018 debate?
- levivotedforjudy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:52 am:
I was surprised, but glad, that Duckworth went where JB would not, pointing out how the crime issue they get attacked on should be directed to my mayor. Lightfoot is a drag on the D-party.
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 12:06 pm:
Salvi did answer the PPP loan question. Duckworth tossed it in at the end of her answer, and Salvi went out of her way to answer it over the objections of the moderators by stating that her law firm used the PPD loan to make payroll during Covid-19, while Duckworth voted against going after prisoners who illegally collected PPP loans by claiming they were employers.
=== by stating that her law firm used the PPD loan to make payroll during Covid-19===
Nothing wrong with that of course. What’s hypocritical is asking for loan forgiveness after that.(Which is also legal) It’s forgiveness for me but not for thee.
=== while Duckworth voted against going after prisoners who illegally collected PPP loans by claiming they were employers.=== What are you talking about? It is already against the law to defraud the government with PPP loans. There already exhaust preexisting statues against lying on an application to the Small Business Administration, bank fraud, wire fraud etc. These laws have been around before Duckworth was born.
People are going to prison for doing that.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 10:20 am:
Senator Duckworth knows the difference between the two.
The paycheck protection law was passed by Congress
Biden’s loan forgiveness was not.
It is being challenged in Court because the power of the purse belongs to the legislature not the executive
- Demoralized - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 10:35 am:
LP. Noted constitutional scholar. lol.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 10:36 am:
Candidate Salvi knows the difference between current national Republican leaders, and deceased national Republican leaders.
Why is she so afraid to name a living Republican leader?
- Mr. Middle Man - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 10:38 am:
Why did Senator Duckworth dodge the question about rights to a 9 month old unborn child? The answer is “Yes”…so say that. Now people will question her position. Don’t give a 30 second answer to a question with an obvious and popular “Yes” answer.
- Steve Rogers - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 10:40 am:
Salvi had a very Sarah Palin-esque “what newspapers do you read” response.
If she can’t answer a pretty simple, softball question, how is she going to be an effective senator. This was not a gotcha question.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 10:41 am:
===Why did Senator Duckworth dodge the question…===
Salvi is opposed to a woman’s right to choose.
Vote accordingly
- Chicago LP Blue - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:17 am:
Salvi was not ready for primetime. And it’s scary that she’d be up 10 in any other Midwestern state except MN.
- Jerry - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:34 am:
Adding on to “OW” at 1041. Salvi is Anti-Freedom and believes that the Guv’mint should be making your intimate decisions for you.
- Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:39 am:
A “radical extremist” who lost both legs serving this country in uniform.
B***h, please.
- Bad Goya Vitch - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:45 am:
Duckworth’s worthy quip about municipals had me headspun. For a second, I thought she was slamming Mendoza. Can you imagine if Susana’s prematurely leaked ad for Chicago mayor had come out before the 2018 debate?
- levivotedforjudy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:52 am:
I was surprised, but glad, that Duckworth went where JB would not, pointing out how the crime issue they get attacked on should be directed to my mayor. Lightfoot is a drag on the D-party.
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 12:06 pm:
Salvi did answer the PPP loan question. Duckworth tossed it in at the end of her answer, and Salvi went out of her way to answer it over the objections of the moderators by stating that her law firm used the PPD loan to make payroll during Covid-19, while Duckworth voted against going after prisoners who illegally collected PPP loans by claiming they were employers.
- Betty Draper’s cigarette - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 12:40 pm:
=== by stating that her law firm used the PPD loan to make payroll during Covid-19===
Nothing wrong with that of course. What’s hypocritical is asking for loan forgiveness after that.(Which is also legal) It’s forgiveness for me but not for thee.
=== while Duckworth voted against going after prisoners who illegally collected PPP loans by claiming they were employers.=== What are you talking about? It is already against the law to defraud the government with PPP loans. There already exhaust preexisting statues against lying on an application to the Small Business Administration, bank fraud, wire fraud etc. These laws have been around before Duckworth was born.
People are going to prison for doing that.
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 2:26 pm:
=== What are you talking about? It is already against the law to defraud the government with PPP loans.===
I’m just repeating what was said during the forum.