Gutknecht, Walz meet for 3rd debate, wrangle over DM&E, Iraq

Gutknecht reverses himself — again — on the war

by Leigh Pomeroy

Minnesota 1st District Congressman Gil Gutknecht and his DFL challenger, Tim Walz, met for a third debate at a luncheon sponsored by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce on Monday. This was their first debate outside an agricultural setting.

Perhaps the most divisive issue, judging from the response in the room that had to be quelled from time to time by moderator Jane Belau, was the proposed DM&E expansion project, which would result in dozens of coal trains traveling daily through Rochester just blocks from the Mayo Clinic. More than a handful of the visitors in the audience wore "Track the Truth" shirts or buttons, indicating their opposition to the project. There was also a smattering of protesters outside the downtown Marriott Hotel, where the luncheon was held, carrying "Track the Truth" signs and passing out literature.

Gutknecht, once the darling of the Rochester business community, has been criticized for his fence-straddling on the DM&E issue. On the one hand, the western part of the sprawling east-west border-to-border district overwhelmingly favors the railroad project; on the other, his home base of Rochester and principally the Mayo Clinic oppose it.

Gutknecht has recently teamed up with fellow Republican Sen. Norm Coleman to search for a solution to the Rochester problem. In Monday's forum he stated that "local taxpayers should not pay for DM&E mitigation costs" and that he would "try to get the best deal for Rochester." He also noted that the proposed $2.3 billion government loan to the DM&E "gives everybody heartburn."

Walz too has been seemingly inconsistent with his stand on the railroad, saying in previous debates where the audience was primarily rural that he favors railroad upgrades to help Minnesota farmers.

Yet on Monday he slammed the "invisible handshake" in Congress that led to the proposed $2.3 billion loan, which he unequivocally opposes. He explained that his earlier wavering was based on his need to assess information provided by both sides. He said he's met with officials from the DM&E and GOTRAC (a group supporting the expansion) and asked for information, but they have yet to supply it. Because of this lack of response he now sides with the Mayo's position.

Perhaps appropriately, in the middle of the discussion glasses on the tables began to clink as the room shook a little indicating a passing train on the tracks nearby.

The DM&E was not the only topic as the two candidates sparred on other issues, including the effects of 9/11 and the Bush economic policies. Gutknecht argued the economy was doing well due to low unemployment and high productivity, but Walz countered that the benefits were going primarily to the very wealthy and that the increase in the GDP "hasn't translated to most Americans."

Differences also arose regarding national security. Walz pointed out that 78% of the resources allocated for the "war on terror" had gone to fight the war in Iraq and very little to actually secure the U.S. Gutknecht retorted that the U.S. was safer today and that it was no longer fighting a war on terror but a "war on militant Islam," reflecting the latest Republican adjustment in political terminology.

Perhaps surprisingly, he backed away from statements he made on the war after returning from a weekend visit to Iraq last month. At that time he received national attention for appearing to change from staunch supporter to having doubts. Yet at Monday's luncheon he clearly returned to his pre-visit position, stating that the war is "central to our enemies' plan, which is why we must win it."

The wide ranging question-and-answer session also included discussions of immigration, health care, international trade, tax cuts, social security, energy, government waste, term limits, and education.