Boxer, Fong Differences Spotlighted in Debate

In their first close encounter of the campaign, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and her main challenger, state Treasurer Matt Fong, sparred politely Wednesday over the White House sex controversy and displayed clear differences on abortion, gun control, the environment and gay rights.

And without announcing any new stances on major issues in an hourlong debate, both seemed to be trying to revamp their political styles: Boxer, the hard-charging Democrat, by toning down her partisan rhetoric; Fong, the reticent Republican, by being more assertive. She called him “Mr. Fong”; he called her “Barbara.”

Fong, 44, repeatedly referred to the first-term senator as “a divider, not a fighter,” a reference to Boxer’s reputation as a Republican-basher not given to compromise.

Boxer, 47, portrayed Fong as inexperienced and untested, possessed of a conservative zeal to reopen old legislative battles such as those over the government’s role in safeguarding the environment and protecting children.

“I think his views will take us back, back to the old fights,” Boxer said.

During the match, arranged by and broadcast from Los Angeles television station KCAL, Channel 9, the candidates avoided the sarcasm and caustic comments that the California gubernatorial candidates have employed in their debates.

The most unexpected moment in the session may have been Fong’s disclosure that he has a gay relative (whose identity he did not give) yet supports pending federal legislation denying federal aid to any local government that provides domestic partner benefits for gay employees.

“I believe the core value of America is the traditional family, and that traditional family is a husband and wife,” Fong said.

Boxer said that in denying federal aid to cities and counties with domestic partner legislation, Congress would be usurping local rights, “and I think that’s a little bit of Big Brother.”

Fong criticized Boxer for not condemning more strongly President Clinton’s acknowledged relationship with former intern Monica S. Lewinsky. He noted that when Sen. Bob Packwood and then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas were accused of sexual misconduct, Boxer was unstinting in her criticism of the two Republicans.

“This issue is not President Clinton’s disgusting behavior. It is Barbara Boxer’s actions,” Fong said. “She has been unwilling to apply the same standard to her Democratic president as she did to Republicans. Barbara, your silence on this issue is deafening.”

Boxer replied that she has called the president’s relationship with Lewinsky wrong and criticized him for misleading the public for seven months. The controversy has put a “cloud” over government, she said.

“I’m not going to stand under the cloud,” she said. “I called it very squarely: The president was wrong. Now let’s move on.”

She added: “We can sit back and talk about Clinton’s problems, or we can talk about what matters to people.”

Discussion of Ties to Clinton

In a post-debate press conference, Fong suggested that Boxer, who is related to Clinton by marriage, might have to recuse herself if an impeachment case against Clinton is brought to the Senate. Boxer declined to comment on what she called a “what-if” issue.

Fong bemoaned the potential effect of Clinton’s behavior on America’s youth, including Fong’s two teenage children.

“I cannot even have my family turn on the 6 o’clock news without having to censor what’s going on in Washington,” he said.

Pressed by reporters, Fong said he has not decided whether he believes Clinton should resign. Since he may someday have to vote in the Senate on possible impeachment, said Fong, an attorney, it would be inappropriate for him to express an opinion before hearing all the facts.

The debate was the first face-to-face confrontation between the two rivals, whom the Field poll this week showed deadlocked at 45% each. Boxer declined to participate in a debate during the primary campaign that Fong, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve and former member of the State Board of Equalization, won against a more conservative GOP opponent, Vista car alarm magnate Darrell Issa.

At the press conference, Boxer said she has always expected this race to be the toughest of her career, which includes five terms in Congress and two as a Marin County supervisor.

Differences in Style

An experienced and passionate debater, Boxer appeared at ease and quicker than her opponent with facts and figures. Fong consulted notes more frequently and occasionally took off his glasses and stared balefully at Boxer.

Boxer made a point of appealing to special interest groups whose support has been the foundation of her political career, particularly backers of abortion rights. Electing Fong, she said, would imperil the abortion rights granted by the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision.

Boxer supports federal funding for abortions; Fong does not. Fong supports requiring parental consent for minors to receive abortions; Boxer does not. Fong said he would permit abortion only in the first trimester.

“If you have a senator who does not support Roe, it will be unraveled,” said Boxer, who would permit abortion in the first two trimesters. “Your choice is imperiled.”

On gun control, Fong said he does not support additional restrictions to the assault weapon ban already passed by Congress. Boxer supports an expanded definition of weapons covered by the ban, as well as legislation requiring child locks on guns.

Fong accused Boxer of “playing politics with the environment” by withdrawing her support at the last moment from a plan to save California redwoods.

Under the plan, known as the Quincy Library plan for the location in Northern California where the agreement was reached, some redwoods would be saved but other trees would be cut. The plan was touted as a compromise between logging interests and environmentalists.

Boxer supported the compromise until major environmental groups turned against it. Fong said he liked the Quincy Library plan because it would provide compensation for property owners rather than merely forbid logging.

“I could not go along with something that would double the cutting of trees,” Boxer responded.

Both candidates have said they oppose additional oil drilling leases off the California coastline. Clinton recently banned new leases, but dormant leaseholds issued under the George Bush administration could still be activated.

Boxer challenged Fong to join her in asking Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to deny drilling requests on those leases, located off the coast of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.

A joint appeal to Babbitt, Boxer said, “would be a very powerful thing, if we could do that together.”

Fong did not respond to the challenge, although he said, “I’m an environmentalist. I want to protect our beautiful coast.”

Fong noted that Boxer criticized President Bush when he extended the drilling moratorium for 10 years rather than impose a permanent ban, yet praised Clinton recently when he opted for another 10-year moratorium.

“That’s playing politics, that’s divisive politics, and that shouldn’t happen and that’s wrong,” Fong said.

Although both candidates support the death penalty, Fong said Boxer has nominated federal judges for California who have overturned death penalty judgments.

“I’m tough on criminals, but you’re soft on criminals, Barbara,” Fong said. “You cannot be tough on crime when you’re soft on the judges who oversee those criminals.”

Boxer noted that her judicial nominees have all been approved by ultraconservative Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Further, she noted that her reelection has been endorsed by major law enforcement groups.

A second Boxer-Fong debate is set for Oct. 12 in San Francisco, and the two camps are discussing possible additional debates.

Hear Times political writer Mark Barabak and political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe discuss Wednesday’s Senate debate on The Times’ Web site. Go to: https://www.latimes.com/debate