Nelson channeled Ronald Reagan's classic "there you go again" line to respond to Mack's charges. The Democrat replied in his opening remarks that he would look forward to pointing out the truth "because everything the Congressman said is not true."
The $716 billion taken out of Medicare is one of the biggest issues that Republicans have used against Democrats this campaign season. But Sen. Nelson said the plan saves Medicare by paying hospitals less if they have too many re-admissions, as well as makes significant reductions to Medicare Advantage.
Mack's charge that Nelson was "gutting the military" refers to the bipartisan vote in 2011 for sequestration. Sequestration is a looming $1.2 trillion across-the-board budget cut (half will come out of defense) created by Congress to motivate the two parties to reach a consensus for reducing the deficit. If they don't make a decision by the end of the year, sequestration will occur. Nelson said sequestration won't happen (so did Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin at at meeting in Tampa on Wednesday).
Mack was prepared to combat Nelson's incoming assaults, like the one about his missing a slew of votes in the past year.
"Why don't you explain how you don't show up to work." Nelson said. "Why don't you explain that you had one of the worst voting records ... I missed one vote. You have missed 178, and when you do show up, it's even worse."
Mack said Nelson missed more votes, shocking Nelson with his audacity.
The Congressman's best retort was when Sen. Nelson talked about the billions of dollars of tax loopholes that he'd like to get rid of. Mack then hit Nelson about the incumbent's own tax loophole, which was recently reported on by the Tampa Bay Times. The article claimed that Nelson used a "farm facade" to dodge paying tens of thousands of dollars in taxes.
Sen. Nelson got in plenty of shots that left Mack vulnerable, like Mack's support of George W. Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security, as well as his "Penny Plan" that Nelson said would "absolutely eviscerate Medicare and Social Security."
ABC 28's Lissette Campos asked Mack if he supported reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. The Congressman answered by talking about his wife, mother and daughter, who were in the audience, before saying he supported it.
Nelson called out Mack for voting for redefining rape as "forcible rape." Mack did vote in support of the Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which in one version included the phrase forcible rape."
On immigration, Nelson said he supported a comprehensive bill that brings approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. He criticized Mack for voting against the Dream Act.
Wednesday night's candidates forum is the only scheduled debate in this Senate race. Mack said he wants more, which is ironic considering he refused to debate his Republican challengers in the primary earlier this year.
