FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM A taped debate between congressional candidates Dalton Tanonaka, left, and Neil Abercrombie, moderated by Richard Borreca, will air at 7:30 p.m. today on Hawaii Public Television.

Abercrombie defends
draft stance in debate

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie has defended co-sponsoring a bill to reinstate the military draft and then voting against it amid charges from Republican challenger Dalton Tanonaka that he was scaring young people.

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The exchange between the 1st Congressional District candidates highlights a half-hour debate that will air at 7:30 p.m. today on Hawaii Public Television as part of "Island Insights Election 2004," sponsored by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and PBS Hawaii.

Abercrombie is one of 14 Democrats who co-sponsored a bill introduced in Congress by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., in January last year.

"We do not have a policy to disengage from Iraq or Afghanistan, and it was inevitable, given the Bush policy, that he would be bringing forth a draft. We wanted to get that discussion out in the open and not have it in secret," Abercrombie said.

Tanonaka said introducing the bill plays with people's lives. "You scare young people (when you) even raise the issue of a draft," Tanonaka said.

The bill was not given a hearing. But earlier this month, in the final days of the session, the leadership of the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives placed the bill on the agenda for a floor vote. The vote was 402-2 against the proposal.

Abercrombie said he voted no on the bill because he is opposed to a draft.

Tanonaka said he also opposes a draft and is confused about Abercrombie's position.

"So you introduce a bill even though you don't really want it?" Tanonaka asked. "You introduce something, and then you say it's not for real and later you vote against it? If you have principles, stick with it, say, 'Let's bring this up for debate.'"

Abercrombie said he can understand why Tanonaka is confused.

"It doesn't surprise me that you don't understand, because you've never served on a committee," Abercrombie said. "We do bring it up for discussion."

And Abercrombie said he has proof the Bush administration has a plan for a draft in the Pentagon.

Tanonaka said he is not aware of any plan for a draft.

The two candidates also clashed over who is responsible for the recent boost in Hawaii's economy.

Tanonaka credits Gov. Linda Lingle for promoting Hawaii and making the state more business-friendly.

Abercrombie said the state has the lowest unemployment rate in the country because the Hawaii delegation in Washington recently delivered a $17 billion military construction program and is responsible for bringing Norwegian Cruise Lines here.