Round 1: Rep. Nye, challengers joust in debate

VIRGINIA BEACH

The first forum of the 2nd Congressional District election involved questions about war, taxes, veterans and the economy - and verbal attacks on the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye.

Before an overflow crowd of more than 500 Thursday night in the Princess Anne High School auditorium, the two challengers who hope to unseat the Virginia Beach Democrat took shots at his vote on a multibillion-dollar stimulus bill last year, while Nye stressed his efforts to help the military.

"When I first got into Congress, we were in the worst economic crisis we had ever seen," Nye said, explaining why he voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Nye noted that he did not vote for other stimulus bills.

Republican Scott Rigell said, "I'm not at all surprised that Congressman Nye got off that question as quickly as he could. He voted for the bill."

Rigell said he opposed all the stimulus bills. Companies have to be able to weather market forces and the changing economy without government assistance, he said.

"Either we believe in the free market or we don't," he said.

Kenny Golden, a former Republican running as an independent, argued that the best way to stimulate the economy was to replace the federal income tax with a double-digit national sales tax - called the fair tax by it s supporters.

The 2nd Congressional District includes all of Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton.

When asked about the health care legislation approved earlier this year, Nye noted that he voted against it "because it cost too much."

Nye, who didn't announce how he would vote on the health care bill until the night before the House vote, said he took time to read every section of the massive bill before deciding.

Rigell claimed Nye delayed taking a stand because he waited to see whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi had enough votes to pass it without his support.

"Clarity comes to Congressman Nye when clarity comes to Speaker Pelosi on the vote count," he said.

Nye, who didn't criticize either opponent during the 90-minute forum, said his health care decision wasn't complicated: He studied the bill and voted no.

When asked about the war in Afghanistan, the three were supportive of American efforts but offered slightly contrasting views.

"This is a fight we have to win," Nye said. "We were attacked by terrorists who were based and planned that attack out of Afghanistan. The key to success" is getting Afghan soldiers sufficiently trained to defend their own country.

"It's a tough situation," said Golden, who argued that it's just as crucial to continue to assist Pakistan to prevent the Taliban from rising to power. "The heart of darkness in that area is the Taliban."

Rigell said he has felt since nine years ago, after the United States was attacked, that Congress should have declared war before entering Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I'm not a warmonger, but I believe if America goes to war, we go with overwhelming force," Rigell said.

On the subject of illegal immigration, all want to ramp up enforcement along U.S. borders, but none said what should be done about the illegal immigrants already inside the country.

"Seventeen percent of them are bad people," Golden said, referring to illegal immigrants. "They're terrorists. We need to close the border and fix the problem."

Nye said he supported spending more money on border patrol officers. "We need to seal the borders first."

Rigell said he opposed the Obama administration's legal challenge to Arizona's laws aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants. He also said he wants stronger penalties against businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com