Editorial
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Kerrey
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Jury hung on senate endorsement
The Daily Nebraskan’s endorsement for the IJ.S. Senate
office is ... is ... is ...
The DN editorial board, after interviewing the three candi
dates— State Sen. Ernie Chambers, U.S. Sen. Dave Karnes and
former Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey—came up with a hung jury.
The final count: three votes for Chambers, three votes for
Kerrey, and one for Karnes* This match ended in a draw, folks.
So, in the interests of informing all the voters about these
three men and about what the board was hoping to find in a
candidate, the DN has decided to focus the editorial on the
beliefs and comments from the candidates that left a lasting
impression on board members.
The candidates met privately with the editorial board, and
were not allowed to mention their opponents’ names while being
interviewed. In other words, no mudslinging allowed.
They were asked questions on the following topics:
• How should the government handle the federal deficit? Is
a tax increase inevitable? Could we cut programs instead?
Which ones?
• What AIDS legislation is before the Senate, and what do you
see as future legislation, such as funding for research, protection
for AIDS victims and anti-discriminatory laws?
• What’s the current status of education? Where can we make
cuts?
• Should the United States fund the Contra Rebels?
• What are the chances that Congress will review the nuclear
waste compact law? Would you support breaking up the com
pact system?
• What approach would be most effective in the war on drugs,
both domestically and internationally?
Chambers had the best answer to the drug problem question.
He said that harsh legislation dealing with drug kingpins and
monitoring suppliers from other countries “won’t resolve any
thing.”
Instead, Chambers believes that local treatment and educa
tion will solve the problem. He added that people must first feel
better about themselves before they can deal with a drug
problem.
“You won’t get that by just saying ‘no,’” he said.
“People have to have self-esteem, need to see they have a
future, need jobs and they don’t get jobs because of the way they
look,” he said. “They can’t get jobs so they go to the street, so
the (dealers) want them to sell.”
Chambers also attacked the recent drug bill passed by the
Senate, saying, “the whole bill was political."
Chambers and Kerrey said they opposed U.S. support of the
Contra rebels in Nicaragua, but Karnes said the U.S. should
continue to back them financially.
Kerrey’s reasoning made the most sense. He said the U.S.
should clearly state its intent in Nicaragua. He said the Central
American policy is “built on dishonesty.”
‘ They lie about what they’re doing,” he said, “then they
complain that they can’t support it.”
Chambers called the Contras “thugs and criminals.”
“S’ pporting them would be the worst thing that can be done,”
he said. “That shows our type of mentality and national ethics.
America is on the wrong side of every conflict
“The evil empire should be applied to the United States,”
Chambers said.
Chambers also said the United States should “get out of
there ’ arid give assistance to all Central American countries. He
said the United Stales should stop subverting other governments
and cooperate w i th them to create the equivalent of the European
economy.
Chambers and Kerrey also had good solutions to cut the
federal deficit. Both said taxes would have to be raised and some
programs would have to be cut to balance the $150 billion
deficit
Kerrey said he raised taxes as governor, and he isn’t afraid to
increase revenue. He said he understands that many of his
decisions as governor were not popular, but he was trying to
solve a problem.
“I would go to Washington and do basically what I did as
governor: solve the problem and not worry about the political
consequences,” he said.
Chambers said increased revenue would come from taxes,
taxes on wealthy Americans and large corporations who can
afford the increases.
But, according to Chambers, much revenue would come
from cutting the $2 trillion defense budget by 20 percent. The
cuts would not affect the United State’s ability to defend itself,
he said.
Chambers said useless military bases in South Korea and in
Europe could be closed, and the Star Wars defense initiative
should be stopped. Also, the U.S. government could stop
spending foolishly on low-quality, high-priced equipment.
The three candidates answered the AIDS and education
questions differently.
Chambers said the status of higher education was bad and
Kerrey said it was ‘‘poor to good.”
In contrast, Karnes said the status of higher education was
good, based on exams and international job competition. Karnes
cited specific plans for education research, student loans and
educauonal savings bonds.
Karnes supported financing of the drug AZT for AIDS
victims, but only as treatment. Chambers focused on the human
clement of the disease, particularly discrimination against those
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Kerrey, meanwhile, said AIDS education in Nebraska was
“behind where it should be.” He said it was only the second time
in the campaign he had been asked about the disease.
When it came to what guided the careers of the candidates,
Chambers proved to be the philosopher, and the educator, of the
group.
He said he doesn’t slick to the norms, nor allow anyone to
dictate his opinion to him. He said he listens toothers, but makes
up his mind on his own.
“The strong shouldn’t suppress the weak,” he said. “Office
holders shouldn’t turn and look away.”
Chambers doesn’t side-step the issues, as his 18 years of
legislative experience have shown. He said he tries to set an
example.
“I set my standards up here,” he said, raising his hand in the
air, “and I help raise others up to it.”
Although none of the candidates earned the editorial board’s
endorsement, Chambers’ philosophy of the senatorial position
earned the respect of board members. He was straightforward in
his interview, untainted by political partisanship.
Let’s hope the man who goes to Washington, D.C. will take
some of Chambers’ ideals with him.
— Mike Reilley and Curt Wagner
for the Daily Nebraskan
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Bob Kerrey Ernie Chambers Dave Karnes J
Hometown Lincoln I ^__K_ I
Astrological sign Virgo cancer SagtoiuswfJI
Education „ ^coln Bachelor of Arts degree, Graduate of Omahal
UnhSv** Stf S Creighton University; juris Benson High School and|
rXire Of PhlrnS? ^ doctorate degree from earned undergraduate i
Aa oI!c^‘ of Creighton College of Law. and law degree from the!
Xjl University of Nebraska "
W Lincoln.
ifw Experience Nebraska governor, 1982- State senator since 1970; Appointed to U.S. Sen-1
f 86; private businessman; barber ate position, March I
J member u. Seals, U.S. 1987; served on agricul- 8
{ i!££,ve? Cxigres- ture, banking ancfsmall i
a . •to"1* M®dal of Honor business committees;!
■ White House Fellow- J
■ _ ship (1981) I
Or&phlc by John Bruco; research by Mike ReiNey/Dally Nebraskan