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Opponents criticize Bucshon for not taking part in debate

Democratic 8th Congressional District candidate Trent Van Haaften called a news conference prior to Tuesday night’s debate at Ivy Tech to sharply criticize his Republican opponent for not participating.
“Just last week, Larry Bucshon ducked out of the debate,” Van Haaften said a few minutes before the 60-minute forum. Bucshon is “hiding from the voters of the Wabash Valley.”
Libertarian 8th District candidate John Cunningham, who also took part in the debate, was also critical of Bucshon. Cunningham accused Bucshon of keeping him out of an upcoming League of Women Voters debate in Evansville.
“I’ll be protesting in Evansville,” Cunningham said before his debate with Van Haaften began. “I think [my campaign] has got Larry Bucshon scared.”
Bucshon answered the criticism from his opponents in an e-mail sent to the Tribune-Star on Tuesday night.
“I have made appearances with my opponent and unfortunately couldn’t accommodate all requests,” the statement said. “I have never agreed to a debate in Terre Haute with my opponent.”
Bucshon also stated in the e-mail that he “accepted the recommendation of my staff” that negotiations concerning the debate in Terre Haute be ended after “key questions” about the event could not be answered.
“Those questions included the length of the debate and “roster of participants,” according to the written statement.
“I have an active campaign office in Terre Haute and enjoy meeting voters throughout the district. I am very pleased to be debating [Van Haaften] one-on-one in the near future,” the Bucshon statement said.
Matthew Bergbower, a political scientist at Indiana State University, said political candidates generally avoid debates if they feel they are comfortably in the lead in the polls. Such candidates, normally incumbents, feel they have little to gain and much to lose by participating in such forums, he said.
A Bucshon campaign official at Tuesday evening’s debate said a recent Republican Party public poll taken at the end of September found Bucshon has a 2-to-1 over lead over Van Haaften.

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October 20, 2010

8th District candidates debate election issues

Dem, Libertarian largely differ on nation’s agenda

Arthur Foulkes The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Two of the three candidates hoping to capture Indiana’s 8th Congressional District seat discussed trade, farm policy, taxes, Social Security and the role of government among other topics at a candidates debate Tuesday night in Terre Haute.

Democratic candidate Trent Van Haaften and Libertarian candidate John Cunningham answered questions in the forum, which took place at Ivy Tech Community College on U.S. 41 South. Republican candidate Larry Bucshon did not participate but was invited, organizers said.

“I believe America is at a crossroads,” Van Haaften said at the start of the forum. “I will hold Congress accountable” if elected. Van Haaften said he would work to close “tax loopholes” that encourage companies to move jobs out of the country.

He also said he favors “fair trade” with foreign countries and tax incentives for small business as a way of creating new jobs.

Cunningham, meanwhile, emphasized his opposition to U.S. trade agreements, such as NAFTA and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

He also spoke of securing U.S. borders, auditing the Federal Reserve, returning to a gold standard and ending U.S. military involvement overseas.

“We don’t go around looking for dragons to slay,” Cunningham said. But, in the case of a foreign attack, the U.S. should be “ready to respond,” he said.

Perhaps in a nod to what some believe will be a strong showing for Republican candidates in the Nov. 2 election, Van Haaften, a member of the Indiana General Assembly and former county prosecutor, emphasized his ability to work in a bipartisan manner.

“We need a change in leadership on both sides of the aisle in Washington,” Van Haaften said, adding he also favors preserving the tax cuts passed early in the presidency of George W. Bush. “We should extend [the tax cuts] for some period of time,” Van Haaften said.

Cunningham, meanwhile, said he would support U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, as House Speaker. He also urged an end to U.S. foreign aid.

Both Van Haaften and Cunningham said they are “pro-life” on the abortion issue. And both spoke against ending Social Security.

On other topics, Cunningham said he would work to repeal the new federal health care legislation that passed earlier this year. Van Haaften said he favors many aspects of the legislation, such as guaranteed health insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. But he also said he is “greatly concerned” about the cost of the legislation.

About 80 people attended the debate, which featured an empty chair and an untouched bottle of water for Republican Bucshon.

The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Vigo County, the Tribune-Star, WTHI TV and Ivy Tech.



Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.

 

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