GOP rivals throw verbal punches in nasty second debate

TAMPA -- Rick Scott ``ripped off taxpayers.'' Bill McCollum is a ``desperate career politician.''

The only live TV debate between the Republican candidates for governor was a bruising affair Thursday night, with each man repeatedly leveling hard verbal punches in a nasty confrontation that was largely an hour-long version of their 30-second TV ads.

Facing off in the Tampa studios of WTVT-Fox 13, each man tried mightily to put a positive spin on his biggest vulnerability: the $1.7 billion Medicare fraud that took place on Scott's watch at Columbia/HCA Corp. and McCollum's life as a career politician who voted to raise taxes and fees while serving in Congress.

Scott said he took ``responsibility'' for the fraud but stopped short of implicating himself.

``I've leveled with the voters from Day One,'' Scott said. ``We could have done things better. When you're in business you learn lessons. ... We should have had more verification. That's a lesson I've learned and it's a lesson I'll bring to the table.''

McCollum strongly defended his lengthy political career that has emerged as a liability in an election season when voters seem disenchanted with politics as usual.

``Bill McCollum's not a career politician. He's a career public servant,'' McCollum said, quoting an endorsement of his candidacy from the Naples Daily News, Scott's hometown newspaper.

McCollum said he was ``proud of my record of public service,'' and that voters aren't willing to turn the reins of government over to a novice: ``They know that this state needs leadership, somebody who understands Florida and gets things done,'' McCollum said.

Midway through the debate, moderator John Wilson of WTVT allowed each man to speak to each other, and the level of animosity escalated -- on taxes.

After McCollum seized the initiative early on, he was suddenly forced on the defensive by Scott, who said his opponent voted to raise taxes and fees 42 times during the two decades he served in Congress.

``The only time that I voted for a tax increase when I was in Congress was Ronald Reagan's economic plan,'' McCollum said ``It's the one vote I regret that I ever took.''

``You voted for fee increases,'' Scott said.

``Of course I voted for fee increases,'' McCollum said.

``Oh, gosh, that doesn't impact anybody? Scott said sarcastically, like police officers that need to get a job. They're struggling to get a job. You just raised their fees another $50.''

``The way you're acting tonight is not responsible. Occasionally, you have to vote for a user fee,'' McCollum said.

``That's a tax. That impacts people,'' Scott said.

The level of hostility reflected the high stakes with less than three weeks before Republicans choose a nominee in the Aug. 24 primary to take on Democrat Alex Sink and independent Lawton ``Bud'' Chiles in November.

McCollum repeatedly tried to attack Scott's credibility by citing Medicare fraud at Columbia/HCA.

``How could you have missed such an abuse?'' McCollum asked Scott.

``We could have done things better,'' Scott said, saying others were to blame and that he was never charged or fined. ``When you're in business, you learn lessons and the business lesson is: Trust but verify We should have had more verification.''

McCollum also repeatedly criticized Scott's lack of political experience and his lavishly-funded campaign for governor, unprecedented in Florida history.

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