THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9410250345
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
The candidates for Virginia's 4th District congressional seat made a rare joint appearance Monday, and a debate was on.
The gloves, however, were off.
Democratic Rep. Norman Sisisky and Republican challenger George Sweet spent as much time criticizing each other as they did praising themselves during a one-hour forum before members of the South Norfolk Civic League on Monday night.
Sweet accused Sisisky of falsely attacking him on the airwaves. Sisisky said Sweet showed ``nerve'' and ``audacity'' by blaming him for the campaign's negative tone.
The two men are battling for the seat in the House of Representatives that covers Chesapeake, Suffolk, parts of Portsmouth and more than 20 municipalities between Hampton Roads and Charlottesville.
Sweet has tried to focus the campaign on his opponent's record in Congress. Sisisky voted for the 1993 tax increase, has cut defense spending and has supported President Clinton 77 percent of the time.
Sisisky says Sweet isn't telling the whole story. Last year's tax bill reduced the deficit $700 million, he said, adding that he supports stronger defense spending and votes as an independent, not along party lines.
Sometimes, their positions were clear:
Sweet favors term limits, Sisisky does not.
Sisisky says he can't promise not to raise taxes, Sweet says he can.
Both are against banning firearms, and both support a strong national defense and a balanced-budget amendment.
When it came to who was the better candidate for office, however, there was little agreement.
``He knows one way, which is the Bill Clinton, Democratic way,'' Sweet said, pointing across the room at Sisisky. ``It is to increase taxes, increase spending and continue to tax.''
``You can talk about all the deficit reduction you want, taxes or anything else, but in the end you've got to make the tough choice,'' Sisisky responded. ``Anyone can talk about reducing the deficit. Do something about it.''
The two also sparred over recent campaign advertisements.
One Sweet commercial quotes Sisisky saying, ``I never said I was a conservative,'' a remark the congressman says was taken out of context. Sisisky's recent ads say Sweet favors eliminating veterans hospitals and Medicare, a claim Sweet denies.
``I think that is really wrong,'' Sweet said, referring to Sisisky's ad. ``That's not what I believe. Anyone with any sense would know that . . . that would be absolutely foolish.''
Sweet, the first to air commercials attacking his opponent, said Sisisky had followed a national trend among Democrats by running negative advertisements. Sisisky responded loudly.
``The nerve, to stand up here and blame Democrats for putting up attack ads,'' Sisisky said, clenching his fists.
``To have the audacity to say that there's negative advertisements by Democrats across the country. We're talking about right here.''
He stopped talking and put both hands on the podium.
``Well, I said I wouldn't get mad, but I did.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Rep. Norman Sisisky, left, and challenger George Sweet: Sweet says
he would never raise taxes. Sisisky is more cautious.
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATE DEBATE CONGRESSIONAL RACE
by CNB