Candidates tackle foreign policy issues

By JENNA PORTNOY
The Intelligencer

Congressional candidates explained their foreign policy stances on foreign wars, immigration and energy independence during a debate Wednesday night at Central Bucks West High School.

Incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy, Republican challenger Tom Manion and independent Tom Lingenfelter answered 13 questions from panelists, readers and audience members. The Intelligencer-sponsored debate marked the last time the candidates will officially meet face to face before the election.

Candidates’ positions on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq set up a stark contrast.

Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, said he wants to bring home 120,000 troops within 16 months. He would refocus 7,000 troops on al-Qaida in Afghanistan — what he called the “number one threat to America’s security” — and keep 20,000 soldiers in remote areas of Iraq or Kuwait for training and strategic cover.

Manion, a retired Marine, said the country needs to support Gen. Petraeus and “stay in Iraq until we stabilize that country.”

“Iraqis are stepping up to lead the convoys,” he said, evoking his son’s memory. “I know that first hand, I heard that from my son.”

Turning to Iran, Manion called for a “multilateral” approach to keeping the country from securing nuclear weapons. If sanctions and “stranglehold” policies don’t work: “We have no choice but to defend ourselves and if that calls for a pre-emptive strike I would support that.”

Murphy said during his 22 months representing the 8th District he voted for sanctions against Iran and he blamed the Bush administration for failing to talk to the radical regime. There’s “nothing weak” about diplomats sitting down to discussions, he said.

Lingenfelter said the United States’ military might should be enough to prevent Iran from attacking.

“We should wipe them off the face of the earth — send a message,” he said. “Some people you can’t talk to. You just shoot them between the eyes and move on.”

When the discussion turned to energy independence, Manion and Murphy both talked of green-collar jobs and alternative energy options, including solar and wind power. Devoting big dollars to clean energy technology is hard to do “when you spend three trillion dollars in Iraq on direct and indirect costs,” Murphy said.

Manion, who pinned the cost of war at $860 billion, said the country’s infrastructure is built on oil and pushed for a “transition plan” that would tap domestic oil supplies.

Murphy said he broke with his party to support domestic drilling.

“We need to act with urgency because it is a national security issue when 70 percent of our oil comes from foreign sources,” he said.

On immigration, Manion said seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks Washington lawmakers have failed to pass comprehensive reform, including a “robust work visa program.” He slammed Murphy for sitting on a bill he co-sponsored, instead of pushing it to a floor vote.

Murphy responded that hearings are needed on the bill and touted his support for securing U.S. borders and stepping up enforcement and prosecution. Both said amnesty is not the answer.

In his closing, Murphy said he supported the creation of a local veterans cemetery, pay raises for troops, an increase in veterans benefits and funding education for troops.

But Manion said Murphy promised to bring troops home in March and maintained that “Washington leadership is broken.”

“We sent our representative down there to lead the change and that hasn’t happened,” he said. “The reality is 22 months is enough.”

Lingenfelter got by far the most audience reaction of the evening, starting with his opening statement when he dropped a stack of campaign literature on the floor. The papers remained throughout the hour and a half-long debate.

Lingenfelter stuck to his message of mistrust for the two major political parties, which he called puppets of moneyed special interests.

“The Republicans will tell you the Democrats are at fault,” he said. “The Democrats will tell you the Republicans are at fault. I agree with both of them.”