Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 11, 1993 TAG: 9307110095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
Terry responded by accusing Allen of flip-flopping on the issue, noting that in 1991, the Republican assured voters that he did not believe Virginia's abortion laws should be made more restrictive.
"On the issue of abortion, I'm pro-choice and my opponent is multiple choice," she said.
The exchange highlighted the first debate this year between Allen and Terry, held at The Cavalier Hotel. Although neither candidate delivered a knockout blow during the cordial session, they delineated clear differences on abortion, gun control and whether women should attend Virginia Military Institute.
Allen's aggressive criticism of Terry's stand on abortion rights underscored a new GOP strategy for dealing with the issue. Many analysts believe the Republicans narrowly lost the 1989 gubernatorial election because they allowed Democrats to label their anti-abortion views as extreme.
While polls indicate that a majority of Virginians favors abortion rights, they also show that most voters believe parents should be notified before teen-age girls are allowed to end a pregnancy. "You're against that and you're out of touch with the vast majority of Virginians," Allen said.
Allen said he would support a ban on most abortions in cases where doctors could establish that the fetus has independent life signs such as brain waves, a heartbeat, or sensitivity to touch. The exception, he said, would be cases of gross fetal abnormality, when the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, or when continuing the pregnancy would endanger the mother's life.
Throughout the debate, Allen tried to link Terry to two unpopular Democrats in Virginia: President Clinton and Gov. Douglas Wilder. He noted that Hillary Rodham Clinton, the president's wife, appeared at a Terry fund-raiser last month.
"George, you're not running against Doug Wilder," Terry responded. "You're not running against the president. You're running against me, and I stand on my own. If you want to run against Doug Wilder, you ought to get in the Senate race," she said, referring to Wilder's likely candidacy for the U.S. Senate next year.
Allen also tried to link Terry to a 120 percent increase in state spending that has occurred under Democratic governors during the past 12 years.
Terry chastised Allen for blaming Democrats for the rise in state spending. She noted that Allen voted to approve eight state budgets while he was in the House of Delegates from 1983 to 1991.
"I can find no evidence that he ever appeared before the Appropriations Committee in protest," she said.
The candidates expressed sharp disagreements over gun control. Terry supported a one handgun-a-month limit passed by the General Assembly this year and has proposed that the state adopt a five-day waiting period before weapons can be purchased.
Allen opposed both measures. "There's no evidence that they will do anything to reduce violent crime," he said. "What we need to do is get after the criminals and not the law-abiding citizens of the commonwealth."
Allen said he opposes allowing women to enter Virginia Military Institute, saying Virginia should set up another program for women who want to receive military training in college. Terry said women should be allowed to enroll at the state-supported school.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB