Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 23, 1994 TAG: 9405230087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SPRINGFIELD LENGTH: Medium
In his opening statement, Goode referred to reports that Robb attended parties in Virginia Beach where cocaine was used and to Robb's admission that he socialized in situations "inappropriate for a married man" while governor of Virginia in the mid-1980s.
"Fellow Virginians," Goode said, "I ask you to ask what I ask myself: Do we want a senator whose judgment is so flawed that, despite warnings, he continued to hang out with cocaine users and drug-doers?
"Do we want a senator who has his staff investigating rumors . . . about personal sexual activities?
"Senator Robb, I ask you this question: Have you exhibited the character, the judgment and the lawful conduct that Virginians deserve from the elected officials?"
Robb refused to take the bait.
"To answer your question, Virgil: Yes," Robb said, and then changed the subject to his agenda of "civil rights, human rights, equal rights and reproductive rights."
After the 60-minute debate in Fairfax County, which was televised in some areas of Virginia, Robb said that voters want the candidates to focus on issues that make a difference in their lives.
"I think the voters are capable of keeping this [the character issue] in perspective," he said.
Robb has denied knowing that cocaine was used at parties he attended while he was governor from 1982 to 1986.
Goode, from Rocky Mount, cautioned that his comments were "cream-puff" compared to attacks on Robb that Republicans would dish up in the general election this fall.
The GOP will select either Oliver North or former Reagan administration budget director Jim Miller at a June 4 convention in Richmond.
Democrats will choose their party's nominee in a four-way June 14 primary.
Goode said that Democrats would be "sticking their heads in the sand" if they thought the character issue would go away.
A third candidate, Richmond lawyer Sylvia Clute, also sounded a warning to her party.
"A vote for Chuck Robb, unfortunately, is a vote for a scandal-ridden campaign full of vicious attacks from the Republicans that will be hard for the Democrats to recover from," she said.
Clute cast herself as the best alternative to Robb.
"A vote for Virgil Goode," she said, "is a vote for an ultra-conservative legislator, one who has often voted against progressive legislation that would protect our people."
The fourth candidate was Nancy Spannaus, a follower of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche.
Aside from personal accusations, the debate featured a degree of delineation on the issues:
On abortion, Clute and Robb said they supported a woman's right to choose whether to carry a pregnancy to term. Goode, who has supported certain restrictions on abortion in the General Assembly, said he also supported the right to abortion, but that he opposed government funding for the procedure. Spannaus opposes abortion.
On tobacco taxes, Robb warned about using such revenues as the chief source of funding for universal health coverage. Goode said he would fight efforts to "tax tobacco out of existence." Clute said some tobacco tax revenue should go to help farmers develop alternative crops. Spannaus said reports about the health risks of smoking were "overblown."
On gun control, Robb and Clute said they supported the Brady bill, which placed a waiting period on handgun purchases. Goode and Spannaus said they opposed the law.
On President Clinton, Clute and Robb said they would welcome his support in Virginia. Goode said his "first obligation" was to support "what Virginians want and need."
All four said they hoped that former Gov. Douglas Wilder, who is collecting signatures for a possible independent bid, would not bolt the party. Wilder said last week that he may wait until the day of the Democratic primary to announce his intentions.
Supporters of former Republican state Attorney General Marshall Coleman, who made two unsuccessful runs for governor in the 1980s, also are circulating petitions for an independent bid.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB