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Congressional candidates talk foreign policy

Posted January 07, 2008 10:00 pm

Bernard Schoenburg

In a foreign-policy forum among three Republican congressional candidates Monday, John Morris at least three times referred to the one-time proposal by state Rep. Aaron Schock that included the possible sale of nuclear arms to Taiwan.

One of those times came at a point when each candidate could ask one question of one opponent. In addition to suggesting the now-retracted idea of nuclear weapons sales, Morris said, he wanted Schock to expand on his statements that the United States should fund insurgent movements against dictatorial governments.

Jim McConoughey, the third candidate, also aimed his question at Schock, questioning if Schock had played down the issue of immigration in the 18th Congressional District in a news report.

"When you're out front, you're an easy target," said Schock, whose campaign has reported polling it commissioned that shows him to be the frontrunner for the nomination to get the GOP nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, who is retiring.

Schock, who did not comment on the Taiwan issue during the forum, said, "I don't really have anything that pointed as my two opponents did," and directed his only question at McConoughey, asking if McConoughey had indicated previously that the economy was more important than national security.

McConoughey responded that while "national security is paramount," people must have food and jobs, and the economy is "the mother's milk of America."

In his announcement last fall, Schock, a Peoria Republican, had said that China should be enlisted in the effort to persuade Iran not to create nuclear weapons, and if China didn't do enough, the United States should consider selling nuclear missiles to Taiwan. After his opponents and others criticized the stand, Schock said he had gone too far to suggest the nuclear sales.

"The last thing we should do is (come) up with ideas to threaten China," Morris said in response to a question from one of three panelists about the relations with China.

Morris said later he brought up the issue to help voters differentiate between the candidates, characterizing his own foreign-policy platform as "substantive."

Schock said the U.S. government has a "long history" of successful funding of insurgencies, which is a way to effect change in other countries "without having to commit American forces." He said he would allow the CIA to train insurgents to remove the current leader of Iran.

He pointed to the rise of the Solidarity Party in Poland as an example of the success of that tactic.

He also said that with immigrants, it is a concern of all GOP voters, but there are fewer immigrants seen day to day in large cities in the 18th such as Peoria and Springfield as there are, for example, in Beardstown. He also stressed the need for secure borders.

McConoughey, CEO of the Heartland Partnership Peoria-based business group, stressed his work with international business, while Morris cited his eight years on the Peoria City Council. He is on leave as a fundraiser for a public TV station in Peoria. Schock stressed his legislative experience and ability to get things done even in a Democratic legislature.

About 75 people watched the forum at Illinois College that lasted more than 1 ½ hours and was sponsored by the World Affairs Council of West Central Illinois.

No Democrats are running in the Feb. 5 primary, though party leaders can appoint a Democratic candidate later.

On the world's leaders:

Asked to name two leaders they "despise," all three candidates mentioned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, though Morris said he was aiming more at the clerics behind the leader; and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. Morris added that he "doesn't despise" Vladimir Putin, but is "concerned about what's happening in Russia" because of lack of a free press.

Schock mentioned French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as two leaders he admires.

McConoughey named former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar for his work trying to revitalize the United Nations, and Morris said those he admires are Sarkozy and President Bush.

"I admire him for his resolve," Morris said of Bush.

On safety of Chinese goods coming to America:

"What we have to do is encourage the private sector to self-regulate as much as possible," Morris said, adding that problems with harmful toys are an anomaly.

He said later he's not advocating dropping existing checks on imports.

McConoughey said that government checks on food and pharmaceuticals coming into the country are needed as "part of our national security."

Schock said he, too, thinks the government has a role in checking goods, and that's not anti-free-trade, anti-Republican or anti-American.

On foreign aid to Africa:

McConoughey said aid needs to be "solution specific," and that help in cleaner water or needed drugs to keep more people well can "stabilize the country" and avoid insurrection.

Morris said he would promote more trade, and also lower taxes, so people can donate more to charity.

Schock said he likes a move by the Bush administration to shift aid away from government entities that might be corrupt, leading to "nicer cars and bigger palaces," and instead try to get aid more directly to people.

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