Rogan, Gordon Debate Is Short --and Stinging

The first debate between Republican Rep. James Rogan and his Democratic challenger Barry Gordon lasted only a half hour, but each unloaded with furious attacks touching on issues from the Clinton scandal to abortion Wednesday afternoon.

Gordon, a lawyer and former president of the Screen Actors Guild, accused Rogan of grandstanding during the congressional debate on whether to launch an impeachment investigation of President Clinton. He also attacked the freshman Republican for opposing abortion rights and favoring school vouchers.

Rogan, who voted with the GOP majority to hold the impeachment inquiry, defended the action, saying “Congress has an obligation” to investigate charges of perjury and obstruction of justice leveled at Clinton by independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr. He also accused Gordon of being beholden to the teachers’ unions and pushing their agenda to protect the education bureaucracy and fight merit pay increases.

The radio debate was hosted by Larry Mantel on KPCC 89.3 FM in Pasadena, the local public radio station. Both men sounded at ease on the air, even when coming under attack.

Because Congress remains in session still grappling with the budget, Rogan participated long-distance from Washington, his voice piped in by telephone. Gordon was in the studio.

Despite this week’s budget impasse, Rogan said he has helped the Republican Congress deliver what voters demanded when he was first elected to the House in 1996.

“I’ve been a part of a Republican majority that’s given America the first balanced budget in 30 years, the first tax relief in 16 years, the lowest unemployment in three decades,” Rogan said.

Rogan is a member of the House Judiciary Committee that will hold the impeachment hearings, and has advised House Speaker Newt Gingrich on how the House should handle the Starr report. He also has discussed the proceedings on national news shows and in newspapers across the nation, often stressing the need for hearings that are fair and impartial.

After a brief introductory statement, Gordon lashed out at Rogan for his role in the impeachment debate. Gordon said Rogan has ignored the concerns of voters in the 27th District--from protecting patients against unscrupulous health-maintenance organizations to reforming the campaign finance system.

“Apparently, he would rather be talking to Sam Donaldson in Washington than to the voters here at home,” Gordon told listeners. “It’s time to have a real debate about real issues affecting real people.”

Gordon called Clinton’s behavior “reprehensible” but not worthy of impeachment.

Rogan, a former prosecutor and Municipal Court judge, dismissed the criticism, saying Clinton should have a “presumption of innocence” and Congress still must determine if credible evidence exists that he broke the law. Rogan blamed media for being consumed by the matter.

Rogan went on to list accomplishments of the Republican Congress during his first term. He said these included delivery of a balanced budget for the first time in decades while passing a substantial tax cut and significant welfare reform.

Neither party has bragging rights to the district, which includes Glendale, Pasadena, Tujunga and Sunland. Democrats account for 44% of the registered voters, and Republicans 39%.

Clinton won the district handily in 1992 and 1996, yet voters there have elected a Republican to Congress for the past 24 years.

Pasadena businessman Bob New is the Libertarian Party candidate.

Gordon, who was a regular character actor on such television shows as “The New Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Fish” and “Archie Bunker’s Place,” ran for the same seat two years ago, narrowly losing in the Democratic primary to businessman Doug Kahn. Rogan beat Kahn in the general election.

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Gordon criticized Rogan for trying to portray himself as a moderate when in fact he was closely allied with Gingrich and the conservative wing of the party. Gordon emphasized he supports abortion rights and the assault weapons ban, while his opponent did not.

Rogan said he supports abortion rights in cases of incest or when the life or health of the mother is in danger.

Rogan was elected to the Assembly in a 1994 special election. He won a seat in Congress two years later.