our medical order karen handel, a republican who served as georgia's secretary of state, previously held a congressional district 6 seat. lucy mcbeth served as representative of congressional district 6 since 2018. before that she spent 30 years working for delta airlines. let's meet the panelists. stanley dunlop, a reporter with the georgia recorder and george estevez, an anchor with wsb tv. candidates have 67 second and 37 seconds to respond. and they have 10 seconds remaining. please visit atlantapressclub.org. the start of the debate will include each candidate being asked two questions. >> welcome. the affordable care act, and there are coverage that are considered low income. if the supreme court upholds the ruling coming their way, that responsibility moves to the state to fund low-income families. how do you pre-pose the state of georgia owns that program? >> i have -- the last thing i was concerned about, in washington, the cost of prescription drugs, treatment and care for people with preexisting conditions but my opponent's record on healthcare is dismal. karen handel supported ways to cause health care and treatment and prescription drugs for people with preexisting conditions. we have 45,000 children under 17. -- provided by planned parenthood. i am thankful, to fight to make sure it is acceptable to everyone. that is your right as an american. >> would you like a rebuttal please? >> ms. mcmath in the past two years in this campaign blatantly lying about my record. i always supported protections for people with preexisting conditions. i have legislation i cosponsored in congress to do that. it is important to listen to what lucy said, not listen to what she said and look at what she does because this is the fact. she has had an opportunity for two years to pass legislation for preexisting condition that she hasn't because democrats don't want to solve the problem. they want the political talking point. >> thank you. thank you. stanley dunlap, you may ask your question to mishandled. >> we've seen the supreme court nominee amy barrett this week. you have come out in support of her becoming justice but this happening, the hearings taking place so close to an election and you think the confirmation should take precedence over getting covid-19 stimulus package passed? >> a president is elected for four years, not 3 and a half years or three years and 9 months. even justice ginsburg -- it is the president, any president's constitutional right and obligation to move forward with a nomination and the senate process. it was a democrat the changed the rules when they couldn't get their way. the real issue is things move forward is where is she going to be on packing the courts. i oppose it. changing the rules to move forward with politics. >> do you have a rebuttal? >> i honestly have to say the only one trying to pack the courts is mitch mcconnell and donald trump. what i will say as i'm concerned about the policy agenda of wanting to dismantle the affordable care act as millions of americans are depending on and her stance on choice. i'm concerned she might take away the choice of a woman to do what is best with her body and i will champion in washington to make sure people have access to affordable healthcare especially those with preexisting conditions and always make sure a woman has an ability to choose. >>moderator: please ask your next question to lucy mcbath. >> 3000 votes, at this time as well. many voters stand in line for hours on end and we have leader battles about the security of voting machines, paper ballots and claims donald trump and absentee ballots, what should be done when voters don't become discouraged and do you have confidence the outcome of your election this november will be accurate? >>mcbath: i sponsored comprehensive legislation to protect our elections, and funding for election security, thousands were prevented from exercising the right to vote in a timely way as they stood in long lines until midnight and calling stations. we need to make sure voting is fair and we continue to do so. karen handel obstructs people's ability to vote. when she was secretary of state, to actually have violated the voting rights act, suppressed thousands of people's ability to vote, to exercise the right to vote. that is not just a privilege about a right that every american should have. people thought and guide to exercise their right to vote. >>moderator: do you have a rebuttal? >> handel: i do. with respect, lucy mcbath has no idea what she's talking about. i oversaw the 2008 presidential election with president obama on the ballot and it was successful and effective with photo id. the most people ever voted in that election with historic turnout especially among minorities. what lucy mcbath is failing to tell you is the legislation she supports would give her $5 million of your taxpayer money to run her campaign. >>moderator: you get the final question for karen handel. >>moderator: the next round of stimulus, we could see the next round next year democrats want to push a multi-trillion dollar bill for city and county governments. they rely on stimulus money, revenue has run out. florida, one of those programs. how will you approach the reality of americans needing more help in this pandemic, then where should that go? >> handel: families and small businesses across the money, it is an absolute shame, democrats like lucy mcbath are playing political games with the package. at the very least what should happen is republicans and democrats should come together to reappropriate the $1 billion that haven't been spent your give states like the ability to spend those dollars in other areas to best meet the needs in the sixth district across georgia and across the country. we need to get the economy going again and that is not going to happen with the $4 trillion tax hike by the vice presidential -- vice president biden. we need to keep taxes low. that is the tax plan lucy mcbath call the tax sham that fueled the greatest economy everyone on this call has seen in their lifetime, lifting millions of people up and out of poverty. thank you for that great question. >>moderator: do you have a rebuttal to that? >>mcbath: yes. every day i talk to people in the district that are still reeling and hurting from covid-19 and long before this pandemic hit our american shores i lived across the aisle to introduce a bill that would modernize the public health data system by which the cdc would be able to respond to the public health crisis and in the overall package, spending, to respond to covid-19. covid-19 began impacting our country, numerous townhall's, the resources and information for people in this district to respond and come through it. >>moderator: that concludes the first portion of the debate. the candidates will take turns acting each other a question. 60 seconds to respond and 30 seconds for a rebuttal. karen handel may ask the first question. >> handel: since we are in the middle of the supreme court hearing today and the rest of this week, do you support packing the court? because remember while the nomination process goes through the senate any legislation that would expand the number of supreme court justices would come through the us house of representatives specifically judiciary committee, would you support legislation to expand the supreme court? >> only individuals willing to pack the court are mitch mcconnell and donald trump. is a 2-time cancer survivor i am concerned about the record on healthcare as i said before, because she supports decisions that would actually take away the affordable care act for millions of people and taken away from women, their ability to choose what is best for their bodies. only people willing to pack the supreme court, mitch mcconnell and donald trump. frankly i am disillusioned with the overall mismanagement of covid-19. that's where we should focus our time and energy, making sure people have the resources they need, the funding to get through this pandemic. people are still reeling all over the united states. >>moderator: do you have a rebuttal. >> handel: representative mcbath doesn't understand, yes or no, do you support legislation to expand the us supreme court has senator schumer has proposed and nancy pelosi said she wants to do and let's be honest with the people watching today and will watch later. nothing preventing democrats like you and nancy pelosi, on the coded relief package, you don't want to pass it, you will packet full. you could get it done. >>moderator: your turn to ask a question of karen handel. >>mcbath: you listed your source of income as coming from gla, georgia life alliance, which denied choice to women who are victims of rape and incest and has been found to be pushing dangerous medical procedures on women. did you list this group by the initials to hide from voters your role in such a radical group? >> handel: that is ridiculous. the organization goes by gla in the state of georgia. i don't appreciate the insinuation you are making. the issue of life is no secret i am pro-life. i helped that organization with business strategy. that is an emotional issue for everyone with different opinions. i would submit to the people of the sixth district, you have voted multiple times to deny life-saving medical care to a baby born alive. it is disgraceful and inhumane. i would like to think we can all agree that would be something we could support. >>moderator: miss mcbath. >>mcbath: voters cannot trust you to stand up for a woman's right to choose. in congress you voted to jail doctors who perform abortions and even defend of the most extreme abortion ban in the entire country which would impose life in prison or the death penalty. you tried to hide your involvement in this radical organization if you can't be trusted to fight for women in our community. i will continue to oppose any ability you might put forth that would prevent a woman from being able to exercise her right to choose what is best for her body. >>moderator: that concludes the second round. for those just joining us this is the debate between candidates for congressional district 6. we will go back to the to ask questions until we run out of time. i will determine when rebuttal is appropriate but candidates may raise their hand if they feel they should get a rebuttal. george, you get the first question in this round. >> let's talk about medicaid expansion, a topic georgia has to deal with and other states. asking for waivers in decline, the affordable care act turned 10, then it will start to wean the state off of medicaid expansion. countless georgians are underinsured or not insured at all. house in congress proceed? should they suspend it, amend it or follow it? >> the question will go to the next person would be lucy mcbath. >>mcbath: as a breast cancer survivor facing my own mortality the last thing on my mind with my hospital bills. i cosponsored legislation passed through the house to lower the cost of prescription drugs and treatment and care for people like me with preexisting conditions and we need to be making sure we are protecting our seniors in the country. i sponsored legislation that would protect seniors, i sponsored legislation that would work with social security administration right here in the district to make sure we are protecting those benefits for our seniors. they shouldn't be worried how they are going to pay their bills or make sure they are keeping from their homes being foreclosed on and to make sure we will continue to expand those benefits for medicare. making sure everyone has coverage because that is what people deserve. >>moderator: stanley, your turn to ask a question. >> the response by donald trump to the pandemic has been heavily criticized. many medical experts, the president has taken the matter seriously balancing economic concerns. in georgia, people follow cdc guidelines, mask mandates and reopening the state. how do you rate the president and kemp's response during the pandemic? that is for lucy mcbath. >>mcbath: i will tell you i have talked to constituents still reeling from covid-19 but i'm proud of the work we've done in washington, bipartisan legislation, my colleagues and i proposed $250 billion that would go to small businesses but we have lowered taxes for those most adversely affected by this pandemic, and expanded tax credit for hard-working families during the pandemic, but no one -- more needs to be done. as i said i talk to people all the time, small business leaders, frontline workers still without the resources and tools they need. we need to appropriate more funding for testing and tracing and treatment and a vaccine and we need to follow the science and research to substantiate the need for us to make sure we are social distancing, wearing masks and making sure we are washing our hands doing what we can. there is more work that needs to be done. i am proud the house is still trying to work with the senate. we've not left the table trying to appropriate the resources america needs. >>moderator: go ahead, miss handel. >> handel: covid-19 continues to take a tremendous toll on lives and livelihoods but you are listening to help them find experts they are now saying there's reason to be encouraged. this has been an unprecedented crisis for our nation across multiple fronts. mental health, addiction. young people in abusive homes who can't get to school. rather than trying to grade people, the american people deserve better than this. democrats need to get to the table and work this out for the american people. >>moderator: your turn for a question. >> i like to ask miss handel is in question i asked mcbath about medicaid expansion, waiver simply declined, the formal care act turned 10. the medicaid expansion money, countless georgians underinsured or not insured at all. house of congress proceed? should they suspend it, amend it or follow it? >>mcbath: the last i have seen, those waivers are coming for the state. secondly when it comes specifically to medicaid which i think my opponent didn't understand the difference between medicaid and medicare. when it comes to medicaid, having block grant would be very helpful for states like georgia, so they can understand and build a healthcare system that best meets the needs of georgians. what we need to do, we need the standalone legislation for preexisting conditions. i will be a champion for that again like i was when i was in congress and we are going to get it done. we need more choices. on the exchanges there are only two plans remaining for people in the sixth district to choose from. i was proud to support community health centers. >>moderator: stanley, your turn for a question of the candidates. for miss mcbath. >>moderator: i support expansion of healthcare, always have. my opponent is trying to hide her vote to cut up to $1 billion from the cdc's ability to fight infectious diseases and she chose to ignore the warnings of all the researchers, scientists and healthcare advocates and cut funding just before the pandemic hit america. this is the reckless mistake she has made, the reason people rejected her in 2018, and will reject her in 2020. >>moderator: that is all the time we have for questions. >>mcbath: i would like to respond to that. chloroquine introduced a new topic. it is absolutely not true that i voted to cut cdc funding. i don't know where miss mcbath got that from the truth in advertising is missing. in her and she actually sites memos and legislation before i was in congress. i voted to increase the funding at the cdc and for an important realignment and reorganization to better prioritize pandemic responses. i know you want to lie about my record in the interests of being able to hide your own 97% vote record with nancy pelosi. >>moderator: do you have a rebuttal to that? >>mcbath: you have said over and over you have outlined yourself 98% of the time with donald trump and his policies and once again your record on healthcare is absolutely dismal. you have supported bills that would drive up the cost of healthcare for people with preexisting conditions, and only treatment but care and prescription drugs. you cut funding for cancer screenings provided by planned parenthood and don't want anyone to know this but you have failed over and over again. and you have continued to lie and discredit -- that is the reason they voted you out. >>moderator: that is all we have time for. each candidate will now have 60 seconds for closing statement. lucy mcbath, you get the first closing statement. >>mcbath: i never expected to be in, then after the murder of my son i realize their leadership wasn't doing enough to keep our communities healthy and safe. i decided to run for office myself. in congress i hope the first in person townhall the district has seen in decades. i worked tirelessly to ensure my constituents have had access to vital information and resources they needed during this pandemic and i have written bipartisan legislation the president has signed into law to protect our veterans, secured emergency funding for the cdc, to protect our seniors and people with preexisting conditions. there is a lot of negativity and partisanship in america right now. that is exactly what i am running against. it has been my honor to serve you these last two years and i hope ironed the privilege to continue the good work we have begun in this district for your vote november 3rd. >>moderator: karen handel, you have a final closing statement. >> handel: it is not about what lucy mcbath says. it is about what she does. and she votes 97% of the time with nancy pelosi. she increase taxes, gives benefits to illegal immigrants, slashed funding for local law enforcement and released violent felons. she is the one issue activists who will not speak up or stand up for you. she will go along with nancy pelosi for $4 trillion tax icon the government run healthcare, taking away employer-provided health insurance, defunding the police and taking away local zoning controls. the people of this district, you know me, you know i work hard to get the job done because that is what i have done. cutting taxes, fighting the opioid crisis, more funding for community health centers, mental health and our veterans. i am asking for your vote so that together we can defeat covid-19, rebuild our economy, actually fix the gaps in healthcare and keep our neighborhoods safe. thank you. >>moderator: that concludes our debate. election day is tuesday november 3rd. don't forget to turn in your absentee ballot if you requested one and early in-person voting began yesterday and continues through october 30th. thank you to the candidates and panel for participating in this debate. i would like to thank the atlanta press club for arranging today's debate. for the full schedule of debates please visit atlantapressclub.org. this will be available to viewers watching on demand on our facebook page in georgia public broadcasting's website ppp.org. i'm patricia murphy, thank you for joining us at the atlanta press club loudermilk press club debate series. ♪ >> today donald trump on the campaign rally in greenville, north carolina. live coverage begins at 1:00 pm eastern on c-span2. live to capitol hill where kevin mccarthy is holding a news conference, live coverage on c-span 2. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [silence] [silence] [silence] >> waiting for house minority leader kevin mccarthy to start his news conference on capitol hill. live coverage on c-span2. >> we are joined by sean spicer, former white house press secretary and author of his latest book leading america, donald trump's commitment to people, and capitalism. welcome to washington journal. >> guest: good to be with you. >> host: tell us what your book is about and why did you write it? >> guest: it is about a couple things, couldn't be more timely considering the news yesterday about a new york post story, hunter biden, big tech, media censorship of it. i talk about big tech. i talk about journalism and the head wents conservatives facing both areas and also corporate america, academia and the direction society is moving in a the leftward bend of major institutions in america and why i think donald trump's policies are having an impact, and people who care about free-speech, why cancel culture is destroying the country and give an account of my time in hollywood through my little adventure with dancing with the stars. a really good look at where we are, the direction we are heading in and i tried to make a case especially in light of the next 20 days why this election is important. >> host: are you now involved in the campaign and in two years since you left the press secretary office, those things you articulated have gotten worse in your view. >> guest: i have a show every night at 6:00, no affiliation with the campaign. i am obviously a supporter and make no bones about that but i am a host and have no role in the campaign or any other entity officially supporting the president especially my own personal one. there is no question about it. those entities have gotten worse. this idea of cancel culture, virtue signaling, trying to decide what you can or can't say has gotten worse. it was interesting, former senator russ feingold. he came to washington to create solutions to big problems. mccain feingold was one of his big issues and his rhetoric, stealing a supreme court seat when there is a vacancy, just like president obama it is a point to discuss whether politics involved, welcome to washington, to suggest someone is stealing a seat when there is a vacancy in the constitution calls for the president to make a nomination and the senate consent on that and vote on it is hardly stealing but that is the process we have. it is why i wrote this book, we are using things like that to describe the process that would be normal several years back. >> host: on the capitalism piece the title of your book, the subtitle of your book you write this. it is not only capitalism that is at stake. it is our constitution. as long as i can remember i was taught the guiding principles, based on allowing free expression, exchange of ideas. i might not agree with what someone said. i would fight for their rights to express no matter how much i disagree with it. this understanding is fading quickly. we have dealt into a mob mentality, you need to be canceled and pushed to the margins of society. >> guest: 100% right. when i grew up there was an issue of flagburning, i spent 21 years in the military. my view was i don't think it is appropriate but at the end of the day the first amendment gives people the ability to express themselves. i don't have to agree with it. i can express my displeasure but the beauty of the constitution, the beauty of the country as you can do it and we see it through support -- supreme court hearing for judge barrett made a comment about the word sexual preference and liberals were going nuts saying she's unfit for office. because you are not using the words they deem appropriate and expressing it your way, somehow now you are unfit and should be canceled out but the interesting thing about this bill and i go further in the book to talk about it. it is not deemed appropriate they get protested. it is understood, no problem, no foul and there is a big problem in america, you say the same thing but depends who says it what the reaction is. >> host: the book leading america:donald trump's commitment to people, patriotism and capitalism. the author is former white house press secretary sean spicer joining us, 202-748-8001 if you support donald from, 202-748-8000 if you support joe biden and kamala harris, all of his 202-748-8002. you brought it up at the start. let's go to dancing with the stars, chapter 2, you set it up in the beginning by saying you and your wife didn't get through your wedding dance. talk about the trepidation of going into and tie it into the political fallout that came after. >> guest: we took one dance lesson in dc, let's do a couple turns, cut the cake, she got better than i am but i turned down an opportunity to be on the show, in the white house for a variety of reasons, not a good dancer but there are a couple others. they don't ask that many more times. i thought it would last a couple weeks. >> all out working. less than three weeks, many americans are eager to learn about the candidates. it is imperative our information channels are open and americans can access stories by the press and their own social circles. congress believed in the power of information so much they created special liability protections for information platforms, technology companies like facebook, twitter and google. it is called section 230.

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