THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603140007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Former U.S. budget director Jim Miller and Sen. John Warner were supposed to meet last Friday in a debate at the College of William and Mary. They didn't.
Miller is trying to win the Republican Senate nomination in a primary June 11. Warner, the incumbent, hopes to win re-nomination in June and re-election in November.
The race between Miller and Warner reflects the larger family feud in the Republican Party. Warner represents an older, traditional Republicanism. Miller is more attuned to the revolutionary spirit of Newt Gingrich, the social conservatism of Ralph Reed and the economic gospel of Jack Kemp.
Warner made himself persona non grata with some of those same segments of the party by refusing to support home-schooling advocate Mike Farris for lieutenant governor in 1993 and Oliver North for Senate in 1994.
Voters trying to decide which candidate can best represent Virginia's interests in Washington would undoubtedly welcome a chance to see them exchange views. Miller, as the challenger, obviously has more to gain from debates. But Warner has something to lose by dodging them: credibility and face.
If the two men don't meet for a series of discussions, the campaign can be expected to come down to another race in which most voters see little more than dueling soundbites and sneering attack ads. That would be unfortunate.
The country faces big challenges. Defense is being downsized and new roles for the military are being debated in a post-Cold War world. The role of the federal government is also up for grabs. How much safety net do we need? How much can we afford? What services should be cut in pursuit of a balanced budget? Can America be competitive in a global economy while retaining an acceptable standard of living? What (and how much) should the federal government do about education, crime, values?
If Miller and Warner meet to debate several times between now and June 11, there's at least a chance that voters will get a better idea of where they stand on these issues and who's the better man to be casting crucial votes in the Senate.
Presently, each campaign blames the other for the failure to schedule a series of debates. If no agreement is reached, voters will be the losers. Virginia deserves more than a soundbite campaign. We urge Jim Miller and John Warner to get in the arena together.
Similar meetings between the Democratic contenders, Mark Warner and former U.S. Rep. Leslie Byrne, would be equally welcome and useful to voters. We're preparing to hire a U.S. senator for the next six years. Candidates should consider debates a part of the job-interview process. by CNB