Scontras takes stage in liberal forum

It was a tough room.

Dean Scontras, a Republican candidate for the First Congressional District, took the stage Tuesday with four Democrats vying for the CD1 seat. It was a forum put on by two leftist groups, and a crowd of mostly liberals.

Along with the rest of the candidates, he answered questions about abuse of power, government accountability, and the big question of the day – whether or not to impeach President Bush and Dick Cheney.

John Nichols, reporter for The Nation magazine, headlined the event. Portland lawyer John Kaminski moderated the discussion. It was host by the Maine Campaign to Impeach and Maine Lawyers for Democracy.

Impeachment is one of many issues many politicians in Washington have avoided, Nichols said in an interview Wednesday. He said he was encouraged by the candidates’ willingness to talk openly about the matter.

Democratic candidates Chellie Pingree, Mark Lawrence and Ethan Strimling were all vocal in their support of impeachment. Democrat Michael Brennan distanced himself from supporting impeachment, instead suggesting a more substantive approach. All agreed that Bush is abusing his powers.

Scontras is opposed to impeachment, and said the President did not abuse his executive powers.

He continually brought up the Supreme Court. It’s the high court’s job, he said, to challenge instances of abuse of power.

“With each successive challenge, this country has returned to the constitutional centerline, with the Supreme Court serving as the balancing point of the three branches of government. During times of conflict and crisis Americans have always challenged the roles of the Executive branch, Legislative branch and even the Judicial branch when they felt that things were out of balance,” Scontras said in his opening remarks.

The issue of the calls to impeach Bill Clinton also came up. Scontras talked about his support of impeachment of Clinton. Others opposed it.

There were some jeers and some boos, and also some cheers with his remarks, but after the debate people surrounded Scontras and thanked him for adding substance to the debate. Even Strimling, who has dueled with Scontras on the illegal immigration issue, said his presence made the debate more substantive.

“I was continually shocked about the neglect of the judicial branch,” Scontras said after the debate. “Every issue (discussed) has come before the Supreme Court.”

Nichols disagreed with this point. The founding fathers considered giving the issue of impeachment to the court, but decided it belonged in the hands of an elected Congress, Nichols said.

“The Supreme Court is part of the system of checks and balances, not the institution or the agency to guard against an imperial person,” Nichols said. The Supreme Court playing the role that Dean suggested is completely foreign to the founding fathers.”

Nichols said the debate was unique, because it included members of both parties vying for an open seat. He described Maine’s political community as “open and communal”.

Nichols has travelled the county facilitating discussions on the Constitution and impeachment.

“It’s a place where we begin to build beyond the political disconnect in Washington,” Nichols said. “The disconnect was closed a little bit last night.”