Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie and Peter Shumlin held their last debate on WCAX on Saturday night.
What follows is a three-minute transcript of their comments regarding personal probity, which are were made about 20 minutes after the debate started.
Tim McQuisten, editor of Vermont Business Magazine: There’s been much discussion in this race about integrity. Do you think your opponent is ethically challenged?
Shumlin: I do not believe either of us are ethically challenged. We both care deeply about Vermont. We want to do the best we can for Vermont.
Why we continue to talk about ethical challenges when we both know we’re honest, why we continue to talk about everything but the issues should be the question Vermonters are asking. I think the reason is, that I have bold plans to make change that will grow jobs. Get the middle class back to work make a real difference for this state. I don’t think Brian has a plan.
That’s why they’re running an out of state Karl Rovian campaign to distract us from the issues that really matter to Vermonters. Let’s talk about the issues. Brian’s honest; I’m honest. We’re both good Vermonters. We have very different views on how to get Vermonters back to work. Often you go through campaigns and you go ah, there’s really not much difference between the candidates. Brian and I disagree on the major challenges of our times. Let’s talk about that. We owe it to Vermonters.
Brian Dubie: You know senator when I challenge you on the Senate floor and I ask you are you trying to shut down Vermont Yankee and you tell me you’re not and then a week later you run a charge to shut down Vermont Yankee.
When I talk to people. You say Vermonters are overtaxed one day and in the same week you raise the charge to override the governor’s veto you know these are the questions, these are the facts that lead people to question what is it. When you campaign …
WCAX host to Dubie: Do you think he is dishonest?
Dubie: All I can say is when my opponent in his jobs plan (says he is going) to release 780 nonviolent offenders and at the end of August, it says we’re going to empty the prisons to save $50 million to fund pre-K and then when I challenge him and he meets with the VSEA (Vermont State Employees Association) and he says we’re not going to get any savings, these are fair questions you have to ask.
WCAX host to Dubie:So is that a yes, is he ethically challenged?
Dubie: Well, his peers voted him ethically challenged in Seven Days. That’s what happened in the Seven Days survey.
WCAX host: Do you agree with that?
Dubie: I think the record speaks for itself. This campaign is about records were both accountable for our records.
Shumlin: I can’t keep up with the stories Brian tells about me, so I’m not going to try. This campaign isn’t about me. I believe it’s about you. I believe it’s about Vermonters. I believe it’s about the middle class that’s gotten kicked in the teeth and wants to get back to work and is getting killed by health care costs, can’t send their kids to college, can’t pay their mortgages. Let’s talk about that Brian. You know you’re ethical and I’m ethical. You know we have very different visions about where we’re going to take the state if we’re elected.
