Congressional candidates spar over Iraq, immigration, gay rights in debate

Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Miller and his Republican challenger, Vernon Robinson, sharply disagreed on Iraq, immigration and homosexual rights in a feisty debate scheduled to air Saturday on WRAL-TV.

The two candidates for the 13th Congressional District toned down their personal attacks from a debate earlier in the week, but still found a lot on which to disagree.

Miller called for a flexible timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops, saying that America's presence is resented by many Iraqis and that U.S. troops are caught in a cross fire.

"We need to provide a stable transition that is not really happening right now," Miller said. "We need to let the Iraqi people know that we are not there to stay...We (need to) negotiate with their government a flexible timetable for withdrawal." Robinson, a former Winston-Salem councilman, said Miller had previously called for an immediate withdrawal and voted against funding the military.

"The bottom line is you are undermining the morale of our troops," Robinson said. "I know you didn't serve. I did serve. "

"What we need to do in Iraq is to win. If we don't, then one day one of the Al-Qaeda members is going show up in New York, Washington or Raleigh with a thermonuclear devise and kill millions of Americans."

Robinson, who has made opposition to illegal immigration a focus of his campaign, said he favored tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal aliens. He also called for employing 5,000 Marines to seal the U.S. border with Mexico.

"Illegal immigrants will go home if they have no jobs," he said. "They won't have jobs if we enforce the laws on the employers and give them big jail time and big fines for hiring these folks."

Miller defended his vote this fall in favor of a bill that builds 700 miles of fence along the border -- after having voted against a similar proposal earlier.

Miller said he voted against an earlier bill because "it was more political" and because it would turn illegal immigrants into felons, overwhelming law enforcement, and make "unrealistic" demands on businesses in screening people they hire.

The Raleigh attorney said more money is needed for border security, which he said has been underfunded by the Bush administration.

The 30-minute debate also touched on homosexual rights, taxes and other issues. It can be seen on Headline Saturday, sponsored by WRAL-TV and The News & Observer. The event will air at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.