Posted on 10/06/2002 8:17:31 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Levin, Raczkowski debate in Grand Rapids
By DEE-ANN DURBIN
The Associated Press
10/6/02 8:34 PM
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- The major party candidates for the U.S. Senate highlighted their differences on Iraq, the economy and other issues during an hour-long debate Sunday.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and Republican state Rep. Andrew Rocky Raczkowski met for their only televised debate at Grand Valley State University. The taped debate aired on public television stations later Sunday.
Levin stressed his experience during a 24-year career in the Senate, often mentioning legislation he had written or sponsored.
"I believe my record has shown that I have fashioned bipartisan solutions to many of the issues we talked about," Levin said.
Raczkowski stressed the length of Levin's tenure, saying Michigan "needs new blood in Washington."
"What has he done in 24 years? We need a new approach," Raczkowski said.
The candidates were asked questions by a group of randomly selected voters from around the state. The questions focused briefly on Iraq before moving to the economy, health care, agriculture and education.
On Iraq, Levin said he favors using U.S troops against Saddam Hussein only as part of a United Nations coalition. He has authored a resolution that will soon be up for Senate debate.
"Going it alone has very significant risks, the risks of unraveling a coalition against terrorism, the risks of much higher casualties, the risks of (Saddam) unleashing the very weapons on a solo U.S. attack on him which we're trying to prevent him from using," said Levin, who is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Raczkowski, a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve from Farmington Hills, said the U.S. can't afford to wait for U.N. approval.
"I disagree from the perspective that we should just let the United Nations take control of our military," Raczkowski said. "If we continue the possibility of going together with the United Nations, we lose an opportunity."
The candidates also had sharp differences on the economy. Raczkowski chided Levin for voting against an economic stimulus package earlier this year, saying it cut taxes and improved unemployment benefits. Raczkowski said lower taxes and fair trade policies would stimulate the economy, which he said has been hurt by the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Levin responded that the economic stimulus package hasn't worked, because it favored the rich and put the country further in debt. He said it is critical to get the country back out of debt, invest in infrastructure and extend unemployment benefits by several weeks. He agreed that NAFTA has devastated Michigan.
Levin and Raczkowski agreed on several education issues. Both oppose publicly funded vouchers for private schools and both said new federal legislation puts too much emphasis on testing. Raczkowski said education must be controlled by the states and not the federal government, which is now requiring testing each year from third through eighth grade.
"This is an unfunded mandate. I would fight against unfunded mandates," Raczkowski said.
The candidates threw some barbs. Raczkowski accused Levin of favoring reparations for slavery, something Levin said he has never supported. When Raczkowski implied Lake Champlain had been named a Great Lake, Levin pointed out that it hadn't because of a Senate bill be sponsored.
Several voters exiting the debate said they were impressed by both candidates, but that Levin's experience won them over.
"Every question, he could speak to legislation he's worked on," said Arie Knoester, a teacher from Grand Rapids who described himself as an independent. "I wonder why the Republicans bother with these forums. It seems no one in Michigan thinks Levin can lose.
Raczkowski, 33, who is widely considered an underdog in the race, said afterward that the debate was critical to his campaign, which lags behind Levin in fund-raising.
Levin, 68, said Raczkowski was "pleasant" and that the debate addressed issues important to voters.
Levin and Raczkowski have one other debate scheduled for noon Monday at the Detroit Economic Club. That debate will be broadcast Monday evening by WWJ and the Michigan Radio Network.
Also running for Levin's seat are Natural Law Party candidate Doug Dern of Hartland; Green Party candidate Eric Borregard of Farmington Hills; and Reform Party candidate John Mangopoulos of Okemos.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.