YOUNGSTOWN Strickland and Halleck disagree over Iraq vote
The two congressional candidates have opposing views on giving the president authorization to use military force in Iraq.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland says he would have no regrets if his vote against giving President Bush authority to use military force against Iraq costs him the 6th Congressional District election.
Republican Mike Halleck of Salem, his opponent, said that could very well happen.
Strickland, a Lucasville Democrat, voted against a resolution authorizing the president to use military force in Iraq if needed. The resolution passed 296-133.
Strickland said he is convinced that President Bush sought passage of that resolution a few weeks before the general election for political reasons to distract voters from what is happening to the economy. He criticizes his party's leadership for not pointing that out.
"I'm not saying the president doesn't believe he needs to do this, but I question the timing," said Strickland during a meeting Monday with Vindicator writers. "I would hope the president would not engage us in a war for political reasons."
Not many complaints
Strickland said he has received only a few complaints from people about his decision to vote against the resolution.
Halleck, who strongly supports the resolution, said Strickland was wrong to vote against it.
"It was a very partisan vote on his behalf," Halleck said. "That vote has changed the minds of a lot of people about him."
Strickland is "a little angry" that Halleck is labeling him "Liberal Ted," among other things, but he tells himself to ignore the name-calling. He describes himself as a "progressive pragmatist" and believes some of his votes could be considered liberal, but others could be considered conservative.
Among Halleck's criticism of Strickland is the congressman's decision to vote twice against a Republican-sponsored prescription drug plan for seniors. Strickland said he is passionate about getting a prescription drug plan for seniors, and the Republican proposal fell far short of what he believes is the best proposal.
"It would do nothing to lower the cost of drugs," Strickland said of the Republican plan.
His plan
Strickland's plan, which calls for a 20 percent co-payment, a $25 a month premium and a $100 deductible, would cost about $800 billion over the next 10 years, or more than double the Republican plan. The Republican plan has a higher premium and deductible, and would cover people for only a portion of the year, Strickland said.
Congress should look at every option, including eliminating the president's tax cuts, to fund prescription drugs for seniors, Strickland said.
Halleck said Strickland should be happy with "half a loaf instead of no loaf at all" when it comes to prescription drugs.
Strickland said he is being careful not to be too forceful on his television commercials in the district's northern portion. He plans to spend at least $250,000 on TV ads, focusing on the Youngstown and Steubenville markets.
Strickland said he learned from the mistakes made by U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer in his TV commercials during his failed bid to win the Democratic primary in May for the 17th Congressional District seat.
Sawyer's commercials "could convey the thought that you ought to be glad to have me and I can do things for you," Strickland said. "We wanted people to have a sense of who I am. I wanted to be humble, rather than self-congratulatory."
Record on bills
Halleck says Strickland has been an ineffective congressman, who has never had a bill of any substance become law.
Strickland said Halleck is "technically accurate" with that statement, but the congressman has made changes to legislation that has had significant impact on the nation and is not concerned about having his name on a bill.
The Lucasville Democrat said he has spent much of his time in Columbiana County, sleeping in his Lisbon campaign headquarters' upstairs apartment about twice a week.
Halleck said area residents want someone local representing them in Congress. Halleck also said Strickland "is a little out of touch with the realities of this area."
skolnick@vindy.com