California Elections : Dornan, Robinson Quickly Turn First Debate Into a Donnybrook

In their first face-to-face debate of the campaign, Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) and Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) came out swinging Thursday evening, attacking each other personally and quarreling on a multitude of policy issues.

Dornan, who is seeking reelection to his 38th Congressional District seat, said he had earned the title of “Mr. Cities” by virtue of his strong service to the communities in his district. He blasted Robinson as the “invisible man” who has been inaccessible to constituents as an assemblyman.

Accused of Telling Lies

The flamboyant, conservative congressman also criticized his opponent for telling “Walter Mitty-type lies” about his military record. Robinson, a 12-year Assembly veteran seeking to unseat Dornan, blasted his opponent for visiting Third World countries during the past 19 months, saying Dornan was more intent on globe-trotting to “grab headlines” than on serving the needs of his district.

Noting that Dornan had sponsored legislation that would provide $40 million in U.S. foreign aid to the “Marxist rebel leader of Angola, Jonas Savimbi,” Robinson said “no one in the 38th District asked him (Dornan) to do that. . . . They didn’t elect a secretary of state; they need representation in Congress.”

The assemblyman, referring to Dornan’s comments about his military record, said he was not going to get involved in a “smear campaign. . . . I think we should make this campaign on the issues of the district.”

Last month, national Democratic Party leaders charged that Dornan deliberately misrepresented his military record, incorrectly claiming that he had combat experience in Vietnam. Dornan has angrily denied that charge, saying he did not mislead anyone and adding that the Democrats had mounted a “smear campaign” of their own against him.

During the one-hour debate--sponsored by the League of Women Voters and held at Rancho Santiago Community College in Santa Ana--Dornan, Robinson and Libertarian Party candidate Lee Connelly discussed issues ranging from President Reagan’s “Star Wars” missile-defense program to domestic budget-cutting problems.

Alliance Charged

Dornan, frequently on the offensive, charged that Robinson was “a liberal Democrat trapped in a conservative’s body” and was trying to disguise the fact that he was a left-of-center Democrat allied with former California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

Robinson, clearly irritated by Dornan’s accusation, responded: “Come on, Bob, you know better than that. I’ve always been (politically) independent.”

For months the Dornan-Robinson contest has been billed as one of the nation’s most expensive congressional races. Both parties have labeled the 38th District race a top priority, pouring money and other political support into the fray.

Dornan, 53, an outspoken, anti-Communist crusader, won the seat two years ago in a bruising battle with five-term incumbent Jerry W. Patterson. It was a smashing political comeback for Dornan, who was squeezed out of a Los Angeles congressional district seat in 1982 by a Democratic-backed reapportionment plan.

Democrats have vowed to recapture the seat this year, saying Dornan’s “political extremism” is out of touch with the largely blue-collar district that includes Garden Grove and parts of Anaheim, Buena Park, Santa Ana, Westminster, Stanton, Midway City and Cerritos. Party leaders are pinning their hopes on Robinson, a six-term assemblyman whose 71st District encompasses much of the congressional area.

Robinson, 43, is known as a shrewd political insider in Sacramento and a tenacious campaigner. He gave up his Assembly seat for the congressional contest and has pledged to make Dornan “the No. 1 issue” in the race.

Until now, however, both campaigns have been quiet, with Dornan sending out sporadic political mailers and Robinson mailing potholders to district voters. Both candidates have predicted that the race will heat up during the last week before the election.

Two years ago, Dornan waged a tough, aggressive campaign and raised $1.1 million to unseat Patterson. He is expected to outspend Robinson in this race by a comfortable margin, although his fund raising this time has lagged behind the pace of the previous campaign. In their most recent federal campaign spending reports, Dornan and Robinson reported raising $554,190 and $348,146, respectively.

Rep. Robert E. Badham and challenger Bruce W. Sumner traded barbs in a debate. Page 4.