Incumbent Congressman Dan Lungren and challenger Dr. Bill Durston confronted each other on issues of war, taxes, health care, and the United Nations, and made a few pointed attacks during the debate at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp. They are vying for the seat on the third Congressional District on the Nov. 7 election.

The war on terrorism was a main focal point during the debate. Democrat Durston called the war in Iraq “disastrous” and cited the “Project for the New American Century,” a self-described neo-conservative organization, which he said played a part in post-Sept. 11 actions.

Republican Lungren denied Durston’s implication of a “conspiracy theory” within the Bush administration and accusations that the war in Iraq was planned. He cited a six-prong policy within the current administration, which includes maintaining defense at home, arresting and killing Islamic terrorists and supporting democracy in the Middle East.

The dispute over how much to tax Americans was another central issue. Lungren countered his opponent’s argument that Bush administration tax policies have caused the country’s economic deficit.

“It doesn’t matter how much money you give them, they always spend more,” said Lungren, generating a roar of applause from his supporters.

Durston said that the current administration’s spending is not fiscally responsible. He said that there was a budget surplus as Clinton was leaving office and that “Bush turned that right around.” The country’s national debt is increasing by $1.7 billion a day, he said.

According to Lungren, the nation is experiencing a sustained unemployment rate of about 4.7 percent, a figure he said economic experts had deemed impossible. He said that hundreds of thousands more Americans are working now than when the country had higher taxes.

Durston, who served as an emergency physician in Sacramento, said he would work toward a universal health care system for citizens. He said that Americans pay twice as much for health care than in other industrialized nations.

Lungren, who said he comes from a medical family, said the greatest opportunity is for a diversity of services so individuals can make their own decisions on health care. Health care shouldn’t be a partisan issue, he said, and people don’t ask for the Republican line or the Democratic line when they visit the hospital.

Both candidates came out swinging with pointed attacks on various issues. Durston said that private health care providers were major donors to the Lungren camp. He also criticized Lungren’s support of sending troops to Iraq considering that the congressman had never served in the military.

Lungren commented on Durston’s attempts to degrade the integrity of the past two debates by slinging mud. Lungren criticized statements that Durston supposedly made in the past regarding how Durston trusts the United Nations more than the United States government. He also said that Durston would not fit in at Capitol Hill if he and his supporters continued to not respect people who disagree with him. Durston denied both statements during the debate, stating that Lungren repeatedly misquoted him.

Lungren was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004 after previously serving for 10 years in the 1980s. He also served as the state’s Attorney General.

Durston has been an emergency physician in Sacramento for about 20 years while serving on various boards, including as president of advocacy group Physicians for Social Responsibility Sacramento. He also served in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Marines.

The hour-and-a-half debate drew about 350 people to the Bret Harte High auditorium Monday night. The event was sponsored by the Calaveras Chamber of Commerce and the Calaveras Enterprise. Bret Harte cheerleaders provided cookies and refreshments in the lobby.

“I’m very energized,” said Murphys resident Dan Anctil, a Durston supporter. “I think this event is very important.”

Wife Carolyn Anctil said she was surprised to see so many Democrats in the audience.

The audience was divided in two with Lungren supporters holding large yellow signs on the right-hand side and Durston advocates donning blue T-shirts on the left.

Murphys resident Brook Moes said he disliked the rowdy behavior of Durston supporters during the debate. Moes said that both candidates were generally civil, but that Durston initiated the attacks. However, Moes did mention Lungren’s shots against Durston regarding a “no tree left behind” comment.

“I live for this sort of stuff,” Moes said, holding a Lungren sign. “These events are usually so far away. It’s great that it was here in Calaveras.”

Contact Maveric Vu at mvu@calaverasenterprise.com.