Candidates target differences in social issues

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- There should be no doubt that there are major differences between the two 6th Congressional District candidates after they squared off in a televised debate.
"This isn't about personalities; it's about different philosophies," said Republican Mike Halleck of Salem at a debate Thursday at the WYTV News Channel 33 studio.
Although neither raised their voices, Halleck and U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lucasville Democrat, attacked positions taken by the other.
"Our answers show major differences between the two of us," Strickland said.
Similarities
Both are solid gun advocates and supporters of the Second Amendment. Strickland has the National Rifle Association's endorsement, and Halleck supports a federal concealed-carry law.
Both support the president's steel tariffs to keep foreign illegal steel out of the country.
Both want to provide prescription-drug coverage to senior citizens. Halleck supports the Republican program, which Strickland voted against twice. Strickland said the Democratic plan, which would cost about $800 billion over 10 years, more than doubles the Republican proposal and is the best option.
Differences
On social issues, they are polar opposites.
For example, Halleck opposes same-sex couples adopting children and gays in the military.
"That's not part of America; it's not normal," Halleck said about adoption of children by homosexuals.
"I think my opponent's position is mean-spirited," Strickland said in response. The congressman supports the "don't ask, don't tell" gays in the military policy and does not oppose same-sex couples adopting children.
Halleck criticized Strickland for his recent vote against giving President Bush authority to use military force against Iraq if necessary.
Strickland said he would support declaring war on Iraq if all other options are first exhausted, and that hasn't happened.
Halleck said Strickland is an ineffective congressman who not only has never had a major bill passed into law but is not taken seriously because he votes against the president 75 percent of the time.
"He's probably not going to sneeze on this area," Halleck said of the president if Strickland is re-elected to the 6th District seat.
Halleck urged voters in the district, which includes Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County, to vote for him because he is one of them, and Strickland lives more than 300 miles away.
"It's more important where you stand on the issues and not where you live," Strickland responded.
The congressman added that if he is re-elected, he plans to move to the northern portion of the district, possibly to Lisbon.
Past defeats
The pair also highlighted their opponent's past political defeats.
In response to a question about Halleck's proposal to privatize Columbiana County's jail when he was a county commissioner -- an issue that many believe cost him his re-election bid in 1998 -- Strickland said, "After that happened, the people of Columbiana County voted my opponent out of office. That says something about their conclusions."
Halleck countered that when Strickland supported a national health-care plan in 1994, voters in the congressman's district ousted him.
skolnick@vindy.com