Rutland Herald - Candidates meet in city


Candidates meet in city

Congressional hopefuls discuss North Korea, homeland security

It was the first question of the debate and perhaps the most pressing one on the minds of those in the packed Paramount Theatre in Rutland Thursday.

Who was to blame for allowing North Korea's climb up the nuclear ladder, and how should the United States respond to an apparently successful nuclear detonation carried out less than a week ago by the reclusive communist country?

Standing onstage before about 800 Vermonters, the four candidates vying for two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate offered different answers.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Independent Rep. Bernard Sanders, who is running against Tarrant for the Senate seat being vacated by James Jeffords, said convincing other countries to join the United States in pressuring North Korea would be difficult. The United States has used up its credibility and trust with many of its allies by pursuing an unpopular war in Iraq, he said.

Nonetheless, he said, building alliances and hosting one-on-one talks with North Korea should be pursued as ways to end the crisis.

"We shouldn't be ashamed of doing whatever works," Sanders said.

Questions and answers on the North Korean issue took up less than 10 minutes of the more than two-hour debate sponsored by the Black River Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Vermont and the Rutland Herald.

The atmosphere was explosive — onstage and in the audience — throughout the debate as the candidates wrestled over issues ranging from Iraq and homeland security to the national debt and taxes.

The exchanges were particularly pointed between Tarrant and Sanders, who stood shoulder to shoulder onstage but were miles apart on the issues.

Cheers and jeers from the audience interrupted the candidates at several points, prompting moderator Darren Allen, bureau chief of the Vermont Press Bureau, to issue frequent calls for order.

In addition to discussing North Korea's nuclear test, the candidates debated a number of other security issues, and their consequences on civil liberties.

Asked about the Patriot Act's effects on civil liberties, the candidates offered a range of responses. One section of the Act denies terror suspects the right to be brought before a court for release from unlawful restraint, something known as habeas corpus.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Sanders drew the biggest crowd response — some applause, some boos — with his answer.

"In my opinion, George Bush is the worst president we've had," he said, pausing several seconds to wait out the audience response.

When a heckler in the crowd further delayed his answer, Sanders seized the opportunity to make a point.

"Some people disagree with me," he said. "And thank you, sir, for making my point. One of the things we're talking about here is civil liberties and the right to discuss the issues."

http://bernie.org/?p=277

arrow_upward