Legislators talk issues at debate

By Cassandra Mickens (Contact) | Shelby County Reporter

Published Tuesday, October 14, 2008

MONTEVALLO — The University of Montevallo was host to its very own presidential debate Monday night.

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, and State Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, spoke on behalf of Senators Barack Obama and John McCain about Iraq, foreign policy and the economy at Comer Auditorium.

Natalie Davis, professor of political science and pre-law advisor at Birmingham-Southern College, served as moderator.

Both legislators began with an opening statement.

"If you are satisfied with the last seven years ... If you think George Bush's administration has been a success, you should vote for John McCain in all candor," said Davis, who seconded Obama's nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

"(Obama) is someone who just hasn't been a part of the same old arguments in Washington. I want to see us break that knot and begin a new conversation."

Ward, a McCain delegate at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., said McCain has the fortitude and experience to lead the country.

"On issues, (McCain) didn't tell me what I wanted to hear, he told me exactly what he thought and I have a lot of respect for that," Ward said.

On the economy, the $700 billion bailout package passed by Congress this month was the hot topic.

Though most Americans were opposed to the bailout, both Davis and Ward said Congress made the right decision under the circumstances.

Ward's wife works for a small business that depends on small loans. If it weren't for the bailout, Ward said his wife's job could be in jeopardy.

Davis likened the bailout to coronary bypass surgery, saying the economy without the bailout "would have caused the equivalent of a heart attack."

"The risk of doing nothing was too great," Davis said.

On foreign policy, the conversation turned to nuclear weapons in Iran. Davis and Ward agreed Obama and McCain should approach Iran with tough and direct presidential diplomacy. In other words, "if you ever use a nuclear weapon, we will destroy you," Davis said.

"(Obama) is not going to invite (Iranian President) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to tea at the White House," Davis said. "How do you deal with an adversary? You constantly engage them on a level of diplomacy."

On Iraq, Ward said pulling troops out of Iraq would be a hasty decision.

"We can leave tomorrow, but I can tell you this ... If we left tomorrow, we would leave behind a failed state and a powerhouse for new terrorists," Ward said. "Staying there getting the job done is correct."

Davis said Obama should be credited for opposing the Iraq war from the start, and backed Obama's 16-month troop draw-down plan. In addition, Davis agrees with Obama on shifting focus to Afghanistan in the battle against terrorism.

Monday's debate was sponsored by the Mu Psi Lambda and Nu Tau chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in conjunction with the Alabama Democratic Conference.

Cedric J. Burden, president of Alpha Phi Alpha's Mu Psi Lambda chapter, lauded Davis and Ward for their participation.

Burden said the fraternity seeks to educate voters about the issues because "there is a significant cost to pay without knowledge."

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