Kirk, Seals spar over Iraq, women's rights

Mark Kirk and Dan Seals traded barbs and accusations throughout a contentious debate at Deerfield High School Sunday.

The acrimony was fueled by a crowd eager to wildly cheer or boo either of the candidates running for the 10th Congressional District.

Both before and after the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the 10th District and the Union League Club, partisans wielding placards lined the school driveway, acting as human yard signs.

Kirk, the Republican incumbent, portrayed himself as a maverick who is pro-choice, pro-environment and pro-education.

He said The Washington Post voted him the eighth most independent member of Congress. He added that Congressional Quarterly, tracking his votes, said he opposed President Bush 59 percent of the time.

Seals, the Democrat who is making his second attempt to unseat his opponent, continued to link Kirk with President George W. Bush. "When George Bush needed him, Mark Kirk was there." He said Congressional Quarterly reported Kirk has voted the party line nearly 90 percent of the time.

Seals attacked Kirk for voting against a bill calling for equal pay for women in the workplace, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

"I believe that women should receive equal pay for equal work. It's as basic as that," Seals said.

Kirk responded, "I believe that you should control your rights if you feel discriminated against and not have them taken over by a class action trial lawyer." Kirk defended his record on women's rights, including his support of the Equal Rights Amendment and his endorsement by Planned Parenthood.

Kirk also went on the attack, noting that while he voted to end Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's risky loans in 2005, his opponent worked for GE Capital in commercial real estate. Kirk said Fortune Magazine this week said GE is going under because of its bad lending practices in the commercial finance division where Seals worked.

Seals reacted sharply to the attack. He said, "Perhaps because you have never had a job outside of Washington, you don't understand the difference between commercial lending, which has nothing to do with residential lending." He added, "While you have never had a job outside of Washington, in 16 days I'm going to give you a chance."

Kirk replied, "That's right. When I was not working in the United States Congress, I was serving in the United States Navy."

On the issue of the Iraq war, Seals said he supports bringing the troops home in a responsible, phased manner. He said his opponent has voted more than a dozen times to keep the troops in Iraq.

Kirk, however, pointed out that eight more military bases have closed in Iraq.

"Our partisan eyes don't allow us to see what is good going on there and only see what is bad.

"We should wind this mission up, but wind it up carefully to make sure that two wars in Iraq are enough, that we should never go back."

Seals said, "My partisan eyes say that an estimated cost of one day in Iraq is $195 million. With that money, we could have converted 47,000 cars from gas to electric, we could have purchased the highest quality body armor for 66,000 troops, we could have rebuilt 2,200 homes in New Orleans, we could have covered health care for 27,000 families."

Kirk touted his record on veterans affairs, mentioning his role in the creation of the Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, when the North Chicago veterans hospital was in danger of closing. He said the center will take care of 100,000 veterans, retirees and naval personnel at Great Lakes.

But Seals criticized Kirk for voting against pay raises for the troops, while voting for a pay raise for himself.

Kirk called the charge misleading.

He said he voted for the 2004 veterans appropriations bill, a bill that would not cut veterans benefits but would actually increase them by $1.3 billion. He added that the entire Democratic leadership voted for the bill.