6 GOP candidates square off

Six Republican candidates for the 1st Congressional District seat were asked Thursday night not only about their possible future votes and endeavors but also about their political hindsight.

The six were guests of a forum at The Citadel hosted by the Propeller Club's Port of Charleston chapter, and were asked to tell in brief how they would handle issues they would likely face as House members.

Present were candidates Carroll Campbell, Katherine Jenerette, Larry Kobrovsky, Mark Lutz, Paul Thurmond and Stovall Witte. Notably absent was Tim Scott, who was at a Myrtle Beach area fundraiser.

A June 8 primary will determine which candidate will try to hold for the GOP the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Henry Brown.

Propeller Club board member Robert New acted as emcee for the event. New posed questions ranging from health care concerns, to federal budget matters, to "earmarks," to port development issues in South Carolina and Georgia and the war in Afghanistan.

New also asked each candidate to name his or her favorite, at the moment, for the GOP's presidential nomination in 2012, and to employ their best "20/20 hindsight" to say whether the invasion of Iraq was wise.

Thurmond said the invasion was justified because Saddam Hussein was a dictator and posed problems "we needed to resolve." Witte said that although weapons of mass destruction did not turn up, "We did the right thing." Campbell stated that "The best defense is a strong offense."

Kobrovsky said yes and Lutz said no. Jenerette said that America did not go there for democracy, "We were there for oil." But she said the invasion was a necessity because "If we weren't there, the Russians would be there. The Chinese would be there."

Candidates varied on what course to take regarding newly approved health care legislation, and whether repealing it is a realistic and/or desirable goal. "Sure we can repeal it, and that better be our goal," Witte declared.

Lutz said repeal won't be possible until Republicans have a majority in both houses of Congress and the presidency. Kobrovsky said a court challenge is realistic, and Thurmond urged party faithful, "Don't give up yet."

Jenerette said repeal is not realistic. "The table has been set," she said, but added what happened was "round one, and there's more to come." She said the health care law was calculated. "They've got their foot in the door, and they will open it wider and wider," she said.

The candidates agreed that the federal budget needs tightening, and that earmarks contribute to debt. But questions forced candidates to say how they might get funds for local dredging needs while avoiding the earmark process.

Candidates also were asked to say whether they would want the state to accept funds from any new federal stimulus package. Campbell and Kobrovsky said they would take it but use it to pay down debts.

Each candidate was given the opportunity to ask another candidate a question. Asked by Thurmond whether he thought it necessary that the next 1st District representative have legislative experience, Lutz replied: "No. We don't want more of what we have in Washington right now."

The candidates all welcomed any "tea party" endorsements they might get. Asked to name their current choice for president, Campbell said Mike Huckabee, Kobrovsky said Mitt Romney, Lutz named U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, Jenerette chose Sarah Palin, and Thurmond and Witte selected Indiana U.S. Rep. Mike Pence.