Third Congressional candidates debate how best to handle Iran's nuclear threat, support Israel

Several hundred people turned out to hear the candidates' views on foreign policy and to question the candidates.

By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune

Last update: September 22, 2008 - 9:30 PM

The three candidates vying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad faced intensive questioning Monday on U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East and Israel, at the third debate in Minnesota's Third Congressional District race.

Each sought to distinguish his position on how best to deal with the threat of Iran gaining nuclear weapons and on Arab-Israeli relations.

Republican Erik Paulsen, a seven-term member of the state House and its former majority leader, faces DFLer Ashwin Madia, an attorney and Iraq war veteran, and Independence Party candidate David Dillon, a family business owner. Madia and Dillon are first-time office-seekers.

The debate, held at Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka and coordinated by the Jewish Community Relations Council, was attended by several hundred people.

Iran and issues related to the Middle East were the first topics of discussion. Paulsen characterized Iran as "a serious threat" and, as he has in the past, criticized Madia for statements the DFLer has made that Paulsen said did not sufficiently recognize the threat. Paulsen said that no strategy should be taken off the table but that economic sanctions should be explored first.

"Iran is a threat, not only to Israel, it's a threat to the United States and it's the most important threat globally," Paulsen said.

Calling Iran "a menace that needs to be dealt with," Madia said the United States should defer to Israel on the threat Iran poses to Israel, but he also advocated using "every tool in our toolbox" before exploring a military option.

"As a Marine, when someone says threat, you attack. I'm not there yet," Madia said.

Dillon said that diplomatic talks have not worked and that it is time to demand divestiture and other economic sanctions with a country "that has been doing a land-office business with other countries."

Madia said the United States has been the only country to have credibility in Arab-Israeli relations but blamed the Bush administration for dropping the ball as Iran threatens Israel from the east, and Hamas and Hezbollah pose threats to it as well.

Paulsen pledged to be "a consistent vote for foreign aid to Israel" and said the United States should recognize that Israel has the right to decide how to defend itself.

"Israel is the one who is facing the daily rocket fire. Israel is faced by the Iranian threat. The United States must stand firm to give strong support to Israel," Paulsen said.

Dillon said some sort of Palestinian state should be recognized but in a way that both parties can find viable.

In the contest to succeed Ramstad, a Republican who is retiring after nine terms, the candidates are seeking to represent a moderate western Hennepin County district that is the most affluent of Minnesota's eight congressional districts.

The three candidates bring something unique to the field: At one time they were all Republicans. Madia acknowledges voting for George Bush in the 2000 presidential election but says he became disenchanted with how the war in Iraq was handled and voted for Democrat John Kerry in 2004. Dillon, who grew up in a DFL activist family, describes himself as a onetime Republican who now sees the two-party system as broken.

Mark Brunswick • 651-222-1636

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