BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Republican incumbent Steve Chabot and Democratic challenger Roxanne Qualls clashed over abortion and just about every other topic in an hourlong session Friday with The Cincinnati Enquirer's editorial board.
The two 1st Congressional District candidates hurled accusations that each was distorting the other's position on the controversial procedure some call partial-birth abortion.
"This faculty of yours for making things up, I really find quite amazing," Ms. Qualls told Mr. Chabot, referring to his charge that she supports the procedure.
The Qualls campaign, Mr. Chabot replied, "resorts to scare tactics, like telling people I voted to cut Medicare, which is just not true."
Mr. Chabot said that he is "pro-life, and always will be." He said that Ms. Qualls, as a member of Cincinnati City Council, twice voted against council resolutions urging Congress to override President Clinton's veto of the ban on partial-birth abortions, which Mr. Chabot supported.
Ms. Qualls accused Mr. Chabot of "trying to hide" the fact that the bill he voted for was not an outright ban of the procedure; it made an exception for cases in which a mother's life is threatened.
Mr. Chabot said he supports that exception, but faulted Ms. Qualls for her position that she would vote for a partial-birth abortion ban only if there were exceptions for the life and health of the mother.
"We all know that if you include the health exception, it will open it up to all sorts of things, like emotional disturbances or even problems in the marriage," Mr. Chabot said. "It would make the ban meaningless."
Ms. Qualls said that an exception for the health of the mother would include only certain serious, clearly defined health risks.
The two candidates were asked if perjury by President Clinton could be considered an impeachable offense. Both said it could.
Mr. Chabot, a member of the House Judiciary Committee that will investigate impeachment charges against the president, said he believes the situation has distracted the president. He also said Mr. Clinton has spent too much time on political fund-raising, including trips to Cincinnati.
"The president has had only two Cabinet meetings this year," Mr. Chabot said. "One in which he lied to his Cabinet and a second to apologize for lying. In the meantime, he has gone to over 100 fund-raisers."
Mr. Chabot said he believes Ms. Qualls "shouldn't be taking money raised in fund-raisers by a man she might have to sit in judgment of if she goes to Congress."
Ms. Qualls responded that fund-raising trips by the president to Cincinnati were not for her campaign; the money went to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
If Congress continues with plans to hold impeachment hearings, she said, "the people need to know that when a conclusion is reached, that it is the truth and that it is fair."
The editorial board debate between the two 1st District candidates was videotaped by WCET-TV (Channel 48) and will be broadcast at 11:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday.
