{news} Journal Inquirer covers Deshefy in Enfield debate

[David Bedell]

Notice CPTV will show the debate Sunday at 1 PM (channels 24, 49, 53, I think).
 
http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/10/22/news/doc48ff51b371e36619240158.txt
 
Debate separates 2nd Congressional candidates on issues

By Stacey A. Silliman
Journal Inquirer
Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 12:23 PM EDT

ENFIELD — A panel of four Fermi High School students pressed the three candidates for the 2nd Congressional District for 90 minutes Tuesday night on a host of issues from sex education to the war in Iraq.
 
The four students — Rachael Barillari, Ashley Orifice, Michelle Polek. and Meghan Ruff — pressured U.S. Rep. Joseph D. Courtney, D-2nd District, on his voting record, challenged Republican Sean Sullivan on his party’s positions, and asked Green Party candidate G. Scott Deshefy to explain his party’s goals.

The debate began with domestic policy issues such as the state children’s health program expansion that was vetoed by President Bush, stem-cell research, and home heating prices.
 
While Sullivan was responding to a question about stem-cell research — he said he favors adult stem-cell research, but not embryonic because of moral objections — a member of the audience in a motorized wheelchair cried out that stem-cell research could help him if it’s expanded.
 
In contrast to Sullivan, both Courtney and Deshefy said they supported embryonic stem-cell research.
 
“The president has hobbled research and other parts of the world are going at Mach speed on this,” Courtney said. “We’re holding back our country and science.”
 
The candidates broke sharply on energy policy with Deshefy calling for a price cap on home heating fuels and the creation of a Green Corps, similar to the Peace Corps for the environment.
 
Courtney said there needs to be both long-term and short-term solutions, and spoke of the need to reform the commodities market as well as providing funds to help low-income homeowners afford heat and the implementation of a tax credit to allow homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes.
 
Sullivan spoke of the need to increase supply, and said he was supportive of both offshore drilling and Alaskan drilling.
 
When asked about the economy, Courtney spoke of his vote against the recent $700 billion bailout measure and his work to secure funding for employers in the district to add jobs.
 
Sullivan fired back that the economy’s problems were left to fester until a bailout was required, and he said part of the problem was Courtney’s record of voting with his party. Deshefy said the problem grew over the course of many Congresses and the Green Party was not for sale to corporate interests.
 
On foreign policy, Courtney said he agreed with his party’s presidential candidate Illinois Sen. Barack Obama about the need to remove troops from Iraq in 16 months and refocus on Afghanistan.
 
Sullivan, a former commander of the Groton Submarine Base and Navy veteran, spoke of the need to think about an endgame strategy to the two wars rather than chase terrorists from one country to another.
 
Deshefy said the country needs to stop trying to remake the world in our image and support the people of Afghanistan with aid.
 
The candidates were offered two minutes to make closing remarks to the audience of approximately 100 people.
 
Sullivan said the district needs “leadership, confidence, and courage,” to resolve problems that aren’t being solved because of partisanship.
 
Deshefy told the audience that the Green Party represents the only real change in the election and its vision for America could be summed up with four Es — economy, ethics, ecology, and energy.
 
Courtney asked voters to re-elect him so he could “finish the job” he started in 2006, and reminded voters that he has stood up to the Bush agenda during his tenure.
 
The debate will be broadcast on E-TV, channel 16, today at 7 p.m., Thursday at 2 p.m., Friday at 11 p.m., and Saturday at 7 p.m. CPTV will also show the debate on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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