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| Tue, Nov. 24 - - Mobile - RSS | |
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No clear winner in Senate debate
Sen. George Allen, challenger Jim Webb debate issues yesterday at Bar Association meeting in Hot Springs.Date published: 7/23/2006 HOT SPRINGS--Sen. George Allen and challenger Jim Webb crossed swords over Iraq, economic policy and their own political affiliations in their first debate, held at The Homestead during the Virginia Bar Association's annual meeting. Allen, a one-term incumbent and former Virginia governor, made frequent mention of his own long legislative record and sought to paint Webb as a flip-flopper. Webb is an author, Vietnam veteran and former secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan who has switched to the Democratic Party. He said it is time for "fresh eyes" on the country's problems, and he has worked to portray Allen as more tied to President Bush than to the average voter's needs. The debate is the first in this year's campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by Allen; the election is in November. It was largely civil, with no outbursts and no huge gaffes by either man. Several questions focused on foreign policy, particularly the United States' involvement in Iraq. Allen's position is that removing troops from Iraq is tantamount to surrender, while Webb wants to see a plan for ending American involvement there. "It's good to write novels. In the real world, we got hit on 9/11," Allen said, referring to Webb's authorship of several novels. "We can't back down, Jim. We need a strategy for success, rather than a strategy to back down. We should not be tucking tail and running. There is progress being made, but it is tough. It is hard to stand up a government there." Webb said Iraq and other Middle Eastern nations need strong governments in place and more cooperation among those governments. But he suggested that American involvement contributes to instability in that region. "The situation in the Middle East would be a lot different if we had not invaded Iraq," Webb said. "There will never be full stability in that region until American forces leave." While such foreign policy issues cropped up several times, domestic issues such as the minimum wage, affirmative action and stem-cell research also came up. Webb supports stem-cell research, saying, "If I were sitting in a wheelchair somewhere with Parkinson's disease, I know I would support it." Allen opposes government funding of embryonic stem-cell research, although he said he supports research into other, non-embryonic stem cells.
Date published: 7/23/2006
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