Anyone expecting the second congressional debate between Jim Oberstar and Chip Cravaack to be like round two in a boxing ring after Tuesday's debate in Duluth was likely disappointed in the mostly civil event tonight in Grand Rapids.
U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, a Democrat, sparred with Republican challenger Chip Cravaack at the 200-seat Davies Theatre at Itasca Community College, a much smaller venue than the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, which held 1,800 people at Tuesday's debate.
Moderators Patrick Marx of the Ice Lake Leadership Group and Bill Hanna of the Mesabi Daily News made it clear that respect and civility would be maintained. Local law enforcement officers stationed at the entrance points also made a less-than-subtle statement as people arrived.
Still, the crowd couldn't be completely tamed during the 90-minute debate when Cravaack stated that people who are uninsured should buy their own health care.
An audience member shouted, "Absolutely!" before he was shushed by the moderators and others around him. He then shrugged unapologetically.
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When asked if the country needed another stimulus bill, Oberstar said he would like to see a surface transportation system bill to do more to reconstruct roads throughout the U.S. When it was Cravaack's turn to answer the question, he simply said, "No."
Audience members were able to have their questions asked and those from around the region wanted to know about logging (both support it), stem cell research (both only support research using adult stem cells) and about the federal government's role in education.
"The federal government should stay out of our classrooms," Cravaack answered.
Oberstar said the government has a partnership role to play with school districts.
Dick Sackett of Grand Rapids attended both debates and said he preferred the decorum on Friday.
"The moderators had better control and I thought both spoke thoroughly and stayed on topic," he said. "During a debate people are here to listen so they can make a decision. It's not for them to interfere."
Larry Stauber, a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals who is running for re-election, said he thought the debate was great.
"I think they're closer on some things than they'd like to admit," he said.
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Cravaack, 51, was born in Charleston, W.Va., and grew up in Madeira, Ohio. After a career with the U.S. Navy he became a pilot for Northwest Airlines, moving to Minnesota in 1990. Cravaack moved to Lindstrom, Minn., and into the 8th District in 2003. This is his first run for political office.
Oberstar, 76, is Minnesota's longest-serving Congressman, first elected in 1974. He has never earned less than 59 percent of the vote. He's a native of Chisholm and still owns his mother's former house there.
The event was sponsored by Debate Minnesota.
