New Jersey Herald - "House Candidates Trade Barbs on Iraq"

News Article

New Jersey Herald - "House Candidates Trade Barbs on Iraq"

Five Democratic candidates for the 5th and 11th Congressional Districts for the most part agreed Tuesday that troops need to be brought home from Iraq, that a national health-care system should be established and that alternative fuel sources should be explored.

Where they differed was on how those things should be done.

A debate Tuesday evening sponsored by the New Jersey Herald and the League of Women Voters allowed the candidates to present their opinions on such national issues that have become key to the June 3 primary elections.

Running for the Fifth Congressional District — which covers parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties and all of Warren County — are Camille Abate, Roger Bacon and Dennis Shulman, all of whom were present Tuesday.

Also present were Ellen Greenberg and Tom Wyka, two of the three Democratic candidates for the 11th Congressional District, which includes the Sussex County municipalities of Byram, Hopatcong, Sparta and Stanhope, as well as portions of Essex, Passaic and Somerset counties and all of Morris County. Candidate Gary "Harry" Hager did not attend.

One of the most significant disagreements of the evening was the war in Iraq.

"End it now. Bring the troops home now," said Abate, a civil rights attorney from Glen Rock, Bergen County, and the district candidate endorsed by the Sussex County Democratic Committee.

Shulman, a rabbi and psychologist from Demarest in Bergen County, said he also opposed the war and wants to see a troop withdrawal, but done in a measured way.

"I want there to be time to repair as much damage as we can," he said, "so we can leave in a responsible way, not a sudden, abrupt way."

Bacon, a mechanic for a packaging company in Washington Township and a U.S. Navy veteran, agreed that the troops should withdraw, because "Iraq is not a military threat to us."

"Only Congress has the power to declare war, and that didn't happen," the Phillipsburg resident said.

Also on the issue of Iraq, Greenberg, who received an endorsement from the county Democrats, said "The American people need to look beyond what they're told" and "follow the money" to see where the benefits of the war are going.

Wyka agreed, and said, "that is something we need to check ourselves on as a society, because we are turning into (ancient) Rome." Wyka also said the Iraqi government must be held accountable "for its action or inaction."

Shulman and Abate also disagreed on how to implement a national health-care system. Shulman said he would encourage bipartisan discussion to establish such a program, but Abate said she would not "because there has been too much talk already," inciting applause from the audience.

Bacon said more health care could be supplied through businesses that would return to the county if the North American Free Trade Agreement were eliminated, which could also help problems of high food prices and illegal immigration.

Greenberg said she wants to see insurance companies removed from the health-care process and leave it to government control.

Wyka, however, said insurance should be regulated.

In response to a question about food prices, many of the candidates agreed that the recent push for corn-based ethanol as an alternative fuel source has had an effect and may not be the best replacement for foreign oil.

Only Greenberg said she is "not sure the book is closed on ethanol," and she said the fuel may not be being currently to its full potential.

To help food prices, both Abate and Wyka agreed that local farming should be encouraged, and Wyka said Sussex County farmers should consider selling their produce to more populated areas like Bergen County.

Through much of the debate, Shulman attacked the policies of U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, the Republican from Wantage who represents the Fifth district. Garrett is unchallenged in the June primary and did not participate in the debate.

The 11th district is represented by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, also a Republican. Frelinghuysen is being challenged in June by Republican candidate Kate Erber, but said he could not attend the debate Tuesday because he was in Washington, D.C., for a House voting session.

Erber presented a brief statement at Tuesday's debate, in which she said she will bring "a positive, creative approach" to Congress and consider the effects of legislation on the area before considering the party line, as well as call for an end to the Iraq war and promote pro-life legislation.

A written statement submitted by Frelinghuysen was read, where he pledged to work across party lines but still oppose tax increases.

He also said he would promote math and science education to allow future competition in the global market.

Candidates in the race for New Jersey's Senate seat were also invited, but only three submitted written statements.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat, said in his statement that he has and will continue to oppose the war in Iraq and votes against many of President George W. Bush's financial policies.

Republican candidate Murray Sabrin, a business professor at Ramapo College, said he wants to see significant spending cuts, and said he opposes "big government" plans.

Democratic candidate and New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews, D-1, directed area voters to an online video message, which can be found at the Web site www.YouTube.com by searching "Rob Andrews League."

Democratic Senate candidate Donald Cresitello, and Republican candidates Dick Zimmer and Joseph "Jersey Joe" Pennacchio did not submit responses.

Source