Susan Collins Crashes and Burns in Brutal Debate Performance
In the first of four televised debates aimed to help Mainers decide their next senator, Susan Collins revealed exactly why her constituents cannot afford another six years of her indifference to their struggles.
Facing intense criticism of her record on health care, reproductive rights, ICE funding, government corruption, and endless war in the Middle East, Collins collapsed in spectacular fashion.
While the Republican incumbent tried to brand herself as a concerned moderate able to deliver bipartisan results, Troy Jackson reminded the audience of her crucial role in advancing many of the most destructive aspects of Trump’s agenda.
A prime example is her deciding vote in 2018 to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, a far-right Trump appointment who battled sexual misconduct allegations and later became instrumental in repealing Roe v. Wade — striking down the national right to abortion.
To this day, on the eighth anniversary of that confirmation vote, Collins refuses to apologize for her rubber-stamping of the Trump-appointed conservative majority that continues to work against our most fundamental rights.
During the debate, Troy Jackson gave Collins another opportunity to come clean about that fateful vote, and of course, she refused.
With rumors that conservative Justice Alito might retire from the bench and present Trump with yet another Supreme Court nomination before the end of his term, we can’t afford another lapse in her judgment.
“Would you trust her to pick the next Supreme Court justice?” Jackson asked.
Moreover, her abysmal record on public health was further exposed by a shockingly entitled response to the pain being inflicted across the country by the GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” legislation she helped pass that’s closing hospitals and stripping health insurance from tens of millions of Americans — all on behalf of billionaires.
Supposedly, however, she understands the increasingly common struggle of living without insurance, because she survived without it once during her 1994 campaign for governor.
One year.
One year out of 73. Meanwhile, for the past 30 years, she has been treated to the highest quality of care thanks to her elected role as a government employee — care that every member of Congress receives without work requirements.
Sadly, not all of us are so fortunate.
Thankfully, Troy Jackson is looking to change that through passing Medicare for All into law, allowing American citizens from all walks of life to visit a doctor and receive medical care without risking bankruptcy.
“I support Medicare for All so that people I know across the state have health care.”
In another embarrassing attempt to deny claims of being a Trump puppet — stemming from reports the president had stepped in to shut down an investigation into her role in an illegal pay-to-play scheme involving a $150,000 check from a US defense contractor — Collins turned to tariffs to prove her independence.
According to her, during a time when the price of gas and groceries are exploding thanks to Trump’s forever war, saving Mainers from higher prices on road salt was her crowning act of defiance.
“Troy mocked it, but I was successful in getting concrete, pulp, and road salt removed from the tariff list,” Collins said.
“I didn’t mock the fact that she got road salt back,” Jackson replied. “I mocked the fact that, what about everything else?”
“We can’t eat road salt.”
Meanwhile, Susan Collins voted to extend Trump’s war against Iran five times during its earliest phases. As a result, Mainers are spending roughly $3,900 more for basic goods and services under this administration, including an extra $600 on gas.
Needless to say, Mainers deserve more than symbolic opposition from a five-term incumbent senator. They need a champion who will get to work on their behalf on day one, not another Trump sycophant in disguise whose strongly worded letters always end up getting lost in the mail.
“Susan Collins is like an arsonist who helped set the fire, and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,” Jackson characterized his opponent.
Although Maine’s US Senate candidates still have three more debates scheduled before Election Day, this one likely did more than enough to convince Mainers who to support. After three decades of disappointment, it’s time for voters to turn the page and elect a government that finally works for them.
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