First meeting helps define Senate hopefuls
Posted: Friday, June 06, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- After months on the campaign trail, Republican Mike Johanns and Democrat Scott Kleeb finally met Thursday for their first debate in Nebraska's race for U.S. Senate.
Most of the questions focused on ethanol and Nebraska's economy.
Johanns, former agriculture secretary and Nebraska governor, said he'd use the bully pulpit to combat bad publicity about ethanol. Kleeb, a Yale-educated former ranch hand turned history professor, criticized President Bush's veto of the farm bill, which included money for cellulosic ethanol. Congress overrode Bush's veto of the farm bill last month.
But with high school boys asking the questions at the event organized by the American Legion Cornhusker Boys State, Kleeb and Johanns also were asked about their stance on the legalization of marijuana and prostitution.
For the record, both candidates are opposed to both.
Johanns stepped down as U.S. agriculture secretary in September to seek the seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel, and Johanns trounced Schuyler businessman Pat Flynn in the May 13 primary.
Kleeb jumped in the race in February and defeated Columbus industrialist Tony Raimondo in the primary.
Boys State is a weeklong government leadership program for about 400 high school boys. The first half of the debate featured questions provided to the candidates in advance, while in the second half, the boys in the audience asked their own questions.
One boy asked the candidates their stances on gay marriage.
Kleeb said he personally believes marriage is between a man and woman. But he said the constitution isn't meant to deny people rights, and said he supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed by the House last year. The measure would make it illegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee based on sexual orientation.
"We cannot let this country choose to make some person less equal than another person," Kleeb said.
Johanns said the question deserved a direct answer: "I oppose gay marriages and civil unions," he said.
It was one of several occasions that Johanns mentioned that he was going to be straightforward and not speak in hypotheticals, needling at Kleeb's tendency to sometimes skip past a "yes" or "no" answer in favor of stirring statements.
Kleeb's message is one of change and hope and jives well with that of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
He told the boys they were the future leaders of the country, but "I can't afford to have you wait," and asked them to "let the challenge rise within you."
Johanns stayed true to the tenor of his campaign, casting himself as the tried and trusted leader who can get things done in Washington.
Kleeb said he agrees with Johanns: "You know what you're going to get from him."
Kleeb focused much of his criticism on Bush, who threatened to veto a GI Bill for veterans' college benefits.
"That's not supporting our troops," Kleeb said.
Johanns said Kleeb is running against Bush, and "that's past history" because Bush will soon be out of office.
Johanns was asked why he left the ag department midway through the farm bill, revisiting an issue raised since he left.
"The Democrats really attacked on that issue," Johanns said. "I don't think they wanted me to come back."
He said he spent months drafting a farm bill proposal, holding forums and readying the bill for Congress.
"We got our work done," Johanns said.
But Kleeb said the farm bill should be developed through a conversation between two branches of government instead of having the administration propose a bill and walk away.
This is Kleeb's second campaign. He ran for the Nebraska's 3rd District House seat in 2006, losing to Republican Adrian Smith.
About a dozen members of Nebraska's Green Party stood outside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Kimball Hall, where the debate was held, protesting their candidate's exclusion with signs and chanting "Fair debates. Fair elections."
Steven Larrick said the Green Party is a legal party in the state and should have been allowed to participate.
He said the party will consider legal action if it is excluded from future debates.
"This is a travesty to our democracy," Larrick said.
Also running is Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg.
On the Net:
Mike Johanns for Senate: http://www.mikejohanns2008.com
Scott Kleeb: http://www.scottkleeb.com
Most of the questions focused on ethanol and Nebraska's economy.
Johanns, former agriculture secretary and Nebraska governor, said he'd use the bully pulpit to combat bad publicity about ethanol. Kleeb, a Yale-educated former ranch hand turned history professor, criticized President Bush's veto of the farm bill, which included money for cellulosic ethanol. Congress overrode Bush's veto of the farm bill last month.
But with high school boys asking the questions at the event organized by the American Legion Cornhusker Boys State, Kleeb and Johanns also were asked about their stance on the legalization of marijuana and prostitution.
For the record, both candidates are opposed to both.
Johanns stepped down as U.S. agriculture secretary in September to seek the seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel, and Johanns trounced Schuyler businessman Pat Flynn in the May 13 primary.
Kleeb jumped in the race in February and defeated Columbus industrialist Tony Raimondo in the primary.
Boys State is a weeklong government leadership program for about 400 high school boys. The first half of the debate featured questions provided to the candidates in advance, while in the second half, the boys in the audience asked their own questions.
One boy asked the candidates their stances on gay marriage.
Kleeb said he personally believes marriage is between a man and woman. But he said the constitution isn't meant to deny people rights, and said he supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed by the House last year. The measure would make it illegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee based on sexual orientation.
"We cannot let this country choose to make some person less equal than another person," Kleeb said.
Johanns said the question deserved a direct answer: "I oppose gay marriages and civil unions," he said.
It was one of several occasions that Johanns mentioned that he was going to be straightforward and not speak in hypotheticals, needling at Kleeb's tendency to sometimes skip past a "yes" or "no" answer in favor of stirring statements.
Kleeb's message is one of change and hope and jives well with that of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
He told the boys they were the future leaders of the country, but "I can't afford to have you wait," and asked them to "let the challenge rise within you."
Johanns stayed true to the tenor of his campaign, casting himself as the tried and trusted leader who can get things done in Washington.
Kleeb said he agrees with Johanns: "You know what you're going to get from him."
Kleeb focused much of his criticism on Bush, who threatened to veto a GI Bill for veterans' college benefits.
"That's not supporting our troops," Kleeb said.
Johanns said Kleeb is running against Bush, and "that's past history" because Bush will soon be out of office.
Johanns was asked why he left the ag department midway through the farm bill, revisiting an issue raised since he left.
"The Democrats really attacked on that issue," Johanns said. "I don't think they wanted me to come back."
He said he spent months drafting a farm bill proposal, holding forums and readying the bill for Congress.
"We got our work done," Johanns said.
But Kleeb said the farm bill should be developed through a conversation between two branches of government instead of having the administration propose a bill and walk away.
This is Kleeb's second campaign. He ran for the Nebraska's 3rd District House seat in 2006, losing to Republican Adrian Smith.
About a dozen members of Nebraska's Green Party stood outside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Kimball Hall, where the debate was held, protesting their candidate's exclusion with signs and chanting "Fair debates. Fair elections."
Steven Larrick said the Green Party is a legal party in the state and should have been allowed to participate.
He said the party will consider legal action if it is excluded from future debates.
"This is a travesty to our democracy," Larrick said.
Also running is Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg.
On the Net:
Mike Johanns for Senate: http://www.mikejohanns2008.com
Scott Kleeb: http://www.scottkleeb.com
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