The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

In midst of presidential debate, don't forget other races

As the race between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry gets down to the nitty-gritty, it's easy to loose track of other races, including the 12th District Congressional race.

Because no one wants to walk into a polling booth on Nov. 2 and not know half of the names on the ballot, or spend countless hours on the internet looking them up, THE DAILY EGYPTIAN went straight to the candidates to get their views on key issues.

In addition to Jerry Costello, the Democratic incumbent, Erin Zweigart, a 1998 SIUC graduate, is running on the Republican ticket, and Walter Steele, an engineering manager for a local telecommunications company, is running for the Libertarian party.

While all three candidates feel they have the best ideas for Southern Illinois they have very different approaches to several key issues, including the war in Iraq, same-sex marriages and the cost of higher education.

Neither Costello nor Steele supports the war in Iraq. Costello said the evidence of Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction was weak, and invading without a true international coalition has been costly.

"The President failed to form a real international coalition to share the costs of the war - in both lives and dollars," Costello said, "We must continue to seek international commitments of troops so that our soldiers can begin to rotate home."

Steele believes the United States should take a peaceful approach to international affairs.

"Every time we try to create a new democracy in the world, we seem to make a new enemy," Steele said. "Let the people of other countries determine their own destiny, just as we have done. The best way to help them is not by sending an army, but by sending our goods in free and open trade."

In contrast, Zweigart believes the war in Iraq is a vital part of offensively preventing terrorism.

"There is evidence that dates back to Clinton's administration that show Saddam Hussein had the potential of making weapons of mass destruction and that he posed a threat to our country," she said.

On another hot-button issue that both Zweigart and Costello see eye-to-eye on is their strong opposition to same-sex marriages.

"I believe that the institution of marriage means one man and one woman." Costello said.

Zwiegart expanded on his idea, saying same-sex marriage is a choice and that the government should not validate it, or give preferential treatment to homosexuals.

"If homosexuals wish to marry, they need to abide by the same restrictions as every other American," Zweigart said. "They must marry someone of the opposite sex, who is of the age of consent, who is not next of kin and who is not an animal."

Steele on the other hand believes same-sex marriage is an issue best left out of governmental hands.

"Government involvement in marriage began after the Civil War as an attempt to prevent inter-racial marriages," Steele said. "It seems the same arguments are being used to deprive a new group of citizens and their rights. Who can be married is an issue for the church, not the state."

While all of the candidates' views vary greatly on the above issues and many more, there is one thing they all agree on - the need to reform medical insurance rates.

 

 

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