|
By Peter Mantius, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democrat Michael Coles and Libertarian Bert Loftman challenged Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-Ga.) on health care, drug tests and the IRS during a debate broadcast statewide from Georgia Public Television studios Sunday night.
The two are trying to unseat Coverdell in next month's elections.
Coverdell responded by atttempting to link Coles with the Clinton administration, which the Republican incumbent said had "systematically undermined the U.S. military" by underfunding the Defense Department.
"This is not my team," Coles answered in a bid to distance himself from the embattled president. Coles countered that Coverdell had voted to cut $17 billion in veterans health care benefits.
In the first of a string of television debates, Coles and Coverdell also sparred over Coles' challenges to Coverdell to take two personal drug tests, the second of which screened for prescription drugs to treat depression.
Coverdell said he agreed to take the second test to put the matter to rest, but called the controversy "so much silliness."
Coles said he was trying to force Coverdell to submit to the same drug test other federal employees take. He accused Coverdell of dragging his feet for two months before taking and passing the test. "You could clean up the whole East German Olympic team in two months," Coles said.
Libertarian Loftman took turns challenging both major party candidates and pressed his own agenda of replacing the federal income tax with a federal sales tax. "Without the income tax, you would never have to face the IRS," said Loftman, an Atlanta neurosurgeon.
Loftman took Coles' side against Coverdell over whether patients should have expanded rights to sue their health insurers. Both favor extending those rights; Coverdell does not.
Coles sought to underscore his difference with Coverdell on that point by inviting to the debate a woman who said she lost her daughter in childbirth after her HMO denied coverage for a Caesarean section delivery. Coles had featured the woman, Jodi Garrison, of Commerce, in a recent television commercial attacking Coverdell. |
|
