Instead of echoing the negative tone of their campaign ads, Monday night Republican candidates in the 8th Congressional District tried to show they’re the most conservative. The three appeared at a forum in Dickson – the last before the August 5th primary.
Stephen Fincher, George Flinn and Ron Kirkland agree on repealing President Obama’s health care overhaul, cutting capital gains taxes and running illegal immigrants out of the country. But Kirkland, a physician from Jackson, says he even wants to rethink the principle of citizenship as a birthright.
“If you bring your families illegally and you have a child here – currently called an anchor baby. That baby is not a U.S. citizen and is not entitled to the protection we have as U.S. citizens. This sounds harsh, but this is the way it should be.”
Ads have called out Ron Kirkland for contributing to Democrats and lobbying for a slice of the recently passed healthcare bill. George Flinn has been hit for owning a radio station that plays rap music. The fact that Stephen Fincher’s cotton farm has been subsidized by the federal government and that he’s voted in Democratic primaries has all been fodder for negative ads.
The three leading Republican candidates have raised more than a million dollars each to fund their bids for the nomination in what is the state’s most expensive congressional primary. However, the candidates say they will support each other in the General Election. One will face the all-but-certain Democratic nominee, State Senator Roy Herron. Fincher says despite the acrimony, he’ll help his primary opponents if need be.
“I have learned not to take this personal. My wife, she gets it a little emotional, but Stephen does not take it personal. And I will put my feelings aside for the betterment of the country. And Roy Herron winning will not be the best for the district.”
The 8th District seat is being vacated by retiring Democrat John Tanner, who has held the position more than two decades.
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