Senate candidate forum focuses on foreign policy

LAKE OZARK, Mo. -- Republican Sen. Jim Talent and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill focused Friday on foreign policy, from the war in Iraq to illegal immigration to tracking terrorists.

The candidate forum at the Missouri Press Association conference was the first such meeting between the candidates, with several formal debates scheduled in coming weeks.

The two questioned each others' stand on illegal immigration.

Talent said he supports a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and more agents to enforce immigration laws. He also opposes allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country.

"It's a national security issue," he told the crowd of members of the media gathered at the Lodge of Four Seasons resort.

Talent charged that McCaskill takes the opposite stance, but she responded that she supports a fence and also opposes amnesty. McCaskill also said the focus instead should be on tougher penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants.

"I also believe we must secure our borders," she said. "The magnet that is attracting illegal immigrants across our borders is jobs."

The candidates also discussed how much power the government should have in monitoring and interrogating terrorists. Both agreed tracking suspected terrorists -- including listening to their phone calls -- is important to keep the United States safe.

Talent said the country is safer since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, saying some terrorists have been killed, more money has been directed to emergency workers and some terror plots foiled.

McCaskill said Congress hasn't done enough to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission formed after the attacks. She suggested politicians in Washington have spent money on tax breaks for the rich rather than on increasing cargo inspections.

"That's a matter of priorities," she said.

They also discussed the war in Iraq, with Talent saying he supports the effort and the United States must remain to ensure the country is stable.

"We've made progress," he said. "We have to get past this period of sectarian violence. What we can't do is withdraw either immediately or according to an artificial timetable."

McCaskill said the United States has not gained partners against terrorism in the Middle East with the war and needs to change course.

"We clearly have not gotten what we were told we were going to get," she said. "It's very important that we change course, that we begin redeployment and stabilize the entire region."

Generally, McCaskill touted her role as state auditor and former prosecutor and said she would be an independent voice in the Senate. Talent touted what he has done in Washington, including requiring use of ethanol and biodiesel and an anti-meth bill that restricts the sale of cold medicine.

Responding to a question, both shared their views on a new law struck down by a judge as unconstitutional Thursday that would have required Missouri voters to present a Missouri or federal government-issued photo identification to cast a ballot starting in November.

Talent said he supports the concept of a requiring voters to have a photo ID as long as it's easily accessible to those who need one.

McCaskill said she agrees people should have to identify themselves to vote, but she added that it's important not to place a burden on people's voting rights and the ID requirement was rushed through the legislative process to target this year's election.

The two also fought over who is a bigger supporter of ethanol, with Talent saying he fought for a renewable fuels standard in last year's federal energy bill and McCaskill saying she opposed the legislation because it gave too many breaks to big oil companies.

Libertarian Frank Gilmour and Progressive candidate Lydia Lewis also participated in the forum.