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2001 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate - Articles
Earley, Warner have final say at Roanoke debate
The candidates discussed hate crimes and felons' voting rights, but each man also staked his claim on a message of fiscal common sense.
By Michael Sluss and Isak Howell
The Roanoke Times, Thursday, October 11, 2001
Taxes and the state budget impasse were at the center of the friction between gubernatorial candidates Mark Earley and Mark Warner at their televised debate Wednesday in Roanoke.
As he did at last week's debate, Republican Earley repeatedly said Democrat Warner would raise taxes as governor and threaten an already shaky economy. But Warner emphatically countered that argument, saying a proposed regional tax referendum in Northern Virginia is a matter of trusting voters.
"The size of our tax bill matters, and it's just plain wrong to have a $900 million tax increase in these difficult times," Earley said, a variation he repeated throughout the hourlong debate at the WDBJ (Channel 7) studios, moderated by University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato.
"What we've seen here again [is] old-style politics - attack, attack, attack," Warner countered.
The candidates tackled issues including hate crimes and felons' voting rights, but each man staked his claim on a message of fiscal common sense : For Warner, that a good businessman can fix the "budget mess" in Richmond ; for Earley, that his pledge to not raise taxes is the right medicine for the state. It was the final debate before the Nov. 6 election.
Warner appeared steadier Wednesday than he did last week in a debate at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he occasional ly looked flustered and rattled.
He smoothly handled questions about a proposed referendum that would allow voters in several Northern Virginia localities to decide whether to raise the sales tax a half-penny to pay for road improvements. Warner said he trusted voters to make that decision and lambasted Earley for accusing him of advocating a $900 million tax increase.
Earley shifted his own position on the issue twice before declaring last week that he would veto legislation to get the issue on the ballot.
Earley's main offensive referred to the proposed referendum. The idea has bipartisan support among Northern Virginia legislators, and Warner cited Republican lawmakers who back it. Earley had to deal with his own shifts on the referendum.
"My position all along has been consistent," said Earley , a former state senator and attorney general. "I oppose tax increases. I will keep my door open to legislators, but that does not mean I agree with them."
"Mark, you've flip-flopped on this thing so many times I hope you don't throw your back out," Warner said.
The candidates also broke new ground Wednesday by discussing hate-crimes legislation and whether to restore voting rights to convicted felons.
Warner said he supports expanding Virginia's hate-crimes laws to include offenses committed against homosexuals. He specifically cited last year's deadly shooting at Roanoke's Backstreet Cafe as evidence that the expansion is necessary. Earley said he supported tougher penalties for violent crimes but said the law should not delineate the types of victims covered by the law.
"I think we should abolish all of those categories," Earley said. "That protects all of our citizens."
Both candidates expressed support for expediting the process of restoring voting rights to felons, an issue that has been a high priority for black lawmakers. Earley said he would oppose granting voting rights to violent offenders.
Earley also addressed comments made by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, who agreed with the Rev. Jerry Falwell that homosexuals, feminists and the American Civil Liberties Union bore some responsibility for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Robertson has given $35,000 to Earley's campaign. Earley said the remarks were inappropriate, and he repeated his opposition to them Wednesday.
Warner said, "Those remarks were totally inexcusable, and it didn't take me a week to denounce them."
The debate had been scheduled for Sunday but was postponed after the United States launched military airstrikes over Afghanistan.
The postponement cost Earley part of the large statewide television audience he would have had if the debate had taken place Sunday. A Northern Virginia cable news channel was the only outlet offering a live broadcast in the voter-rich region that would be the only area affected by the proposed sales tax referendum.
MICHAEL SLUSS can be reached at (434) 697-1585 or mikes@roanoke.com.
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Copyright © 2002 U.Va. Center for Politics. All rights reserved.
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