tl20020930-000 "g Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Monday, 9/30/02 Drought brings about campaign 5 AIM back after a week-long hiatus 5 Journalist speaks on 'literary' work 12 Chan outdone by 'Tuxedo' tricks 13 Departments News Nation Briefs Campus Briefs 5 6 7 Arts 12 Entertainment Briefs 13 Backstage Pass 13 Sound Bites 15 Sports 20 Athlete of the Week 18 In This Corner 20 Classifieds 16 Opinion 2 Townsend and Ehrlich go at it MD gubernatorial candidates exchange jabs and sarcasm during first debate Sarah Breitenbach The Towerlight During a 90-minute mud-slinging debate, Maryland gubernatorial can-didates Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (Democrat) and Congressman Robert Ehrlich (Republican) took jabs at each other's campaigns and character. The debate, sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and held at Morgan State University last Thursday evening, continued the political sparring that has character-ized the 2002 race for governor. Not long after a friendly hand-shake and introductions, the candi-dates took the stage with quick quips and sarcasm. Townsend emphasized Ehrlich's conservative voting record, while the Republican attacked shortfalls within the Lt. Governor's eight-year administra-tion. After the cheers and jeers from the crowd of 2,000 were quieted, the debate began with opening state-ments from the candidates and their running mates. Democratic candidate for Lt. Gov. Charles Larson said he is proud to be running with someone like Townsend who shares his political views. Townsend came out with fists raised as she attacked Ehrlich's affirmative action views during her introduction. Lisa Joluison/Tha Towerlight NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said he hopes college students surprise pollsters by voting. Photo Illustration by Lisa Johnson The Towerlight Maryland gubernatorial candidates, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Congressman Robert Ehrlich, attacked each other's credibility during their first debate last Thursday evening at Morgan State University. ""He opposes affirmative action based on race,"" she said. ""Well let me tell you, slavery was based on race. Lynching was based on race. Discrimination was based on race. Jim Crow was based on race. Affirmative action should be based on race."" Later on in the debate, Ehrlich reminded his opponent that he is for affirmative action based on lack of wealth, not race. Ehrlich opened his portion of the debate by appealing to the human-istic side of politics, taking time to give personal background informa-tion and introduce his family to the audience. He countered Townsend's attacks by displaying himself as a moderate Republican, remarking on his cam-paign with running mate Michael Steele, an African-American. ""We go places Republican candi-dates have never gone before, and we're not afraid to do it,"" he said. ""We do not operate in our comfort zone, we operate for the future. We want to change the political culture in this state."" In rebuttal to the congressman's remarks Townsend focused on the traditional association between blacks and the Democratic Party in Maryland. ""This is not 'Star Trek.' African Americans are not aliens, they are a part of our community,"" she said. ""I think that it has not been a part of your comfort zone, that's a problem with your party for a long period of time."" As Townsend continued to pin-point conservative voting tenden-cies in Ehrlich's career, he replied with an attack on her professional abilities. ""Lt. Governor, with all do respect, you've never been elected at any-time to anything on your own,"" he said. ""This is serious business, ma'am you've never had to vote on war, or abortion or tort reform or the budget or anything."" To which Townsend responded See DEBATE, page 9 Today High 78 Low 59 Tuesday High 82 Low 60 Wednesday High 83 Low 60 Thursday High 76 Low 59 Friday High 82 Low 58 "
