3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT English cancels scheduled debates

A book written 13 years ago by the Democratic challenger has sparked debate.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-3rd, has canceled two scheduled debates with his Democratic challenger, saying, "I will have nothing to do with a man who wants to debate the so-called merits of state-sponsored sterilization programs."
English said Thursday that the two debates with Dr. Steven Porter, one at Grove City College on Oct. 15 and the other at Allegheny College on Oct. 4, will be put on hold until Porter renounces "his outrageous views."
English said he won't appear on any stage with Porter until that happens.
The congressman's comments were in response to Porter's call for a three-hour debate over the philosophies found in his book.
Porter said he penned the 1991 book, "The Ethics of a Democracy," as a philosophical treatise designed to spark collegiate-level debate on what is ethical and what isn't in a democracy.
The arguments in the book are based on hypothetical cases and only suggest sterilization for some mental patients, welfare recipients, alcoholics and parents of diseased or deformed children as a starting point for that debate, according to Porter.
The contents of the book were first reported by The Associated Press in an article earlier this week.
Response to English
He has refused to repudiate his writings and has accused English of "spreading his irrelevancies" and that such "hot button" issues only distract from more important issues such as jobs, health care and Iraq.
English's performance on these issues during his five terms has been abysmal, Porter charged.
"Mr. Porter has yet to say he opposes such an outrageous philosophy but is now dancing around the issue claiming his book was written in hypotheticals and that his writing was taken out of context by The Associated Press," said Brad Moore, English's campaign manager.