DALLAS — They spoke of loving God, hoping for campaign finance reform, opposing gay marriage and seeking changes in everything from the nation's health care system to Congress' system of earmarking funds for communities.
Six Republicans hoping to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate next year touched on these issues and more during a fiery campaign forum Wednesday.Their faith, a constant presence during the event, was no more evident than when they spoke of opposing same-sex marriage.Former Solicitor General Ted Cruz talked of his fight years ago to get the state involved in a divorce that had been granted to two men in Texas who had married out of state. Within 24 hours, Cruz said the district court had vacated the divorce."It's easy to talk about defending traditional marriage," Cruz said. "Talk is cheap."Cruz was one of the GOP Senate candidates who participated in a Dallas Eagle Forum-sponsored debate Wednesday at the Dallas Country Club, along with Glenn Addison of Magnolia, former ESPN analyst Craig James, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Lela Pittenger of Driftwood and Air Force retiree Andrew Castanuela.Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, considered the front-runner by most analysts, did not attend, but Kyleen Wright of the Arlington-based Texans for Life Coalition spoke briefly on his behalf, saying the lieutenant governor is "a man of great character and quiet decency." Fellow Republicans Joe Agris of Bellaire, Curt Cleaver of Keller, Ben Gambini of Winnie and Charles Holcomb of Wimberley also did not attend.During the forum, Cruz criticized Leppert for twice participating in a gay pride parade during his tenure as mayor. "That's a statement," he said.Leppert said he is opposed to same-sex marriage, but as mayor of Dallas, he represented all citizens of the city."My goal as a Christian is to reach out and touch everybody," he said. "I'm against gay marriage ... but I had a responsibility to represent everybody."James also took the opportunity to talk about his concerns about the country's morality."Our moral fiber is sliding down a slope that's going to be hard to stop," he said, adding that children look to adults to set positive examples. "Man, you've got to stand up ... and not do things like that."James also said that he believes people choose to be homosexual, just as they choose to be involved in same-sex relationships."God's going to judge each one of us in this room for our actions," he said. "But in that case right there, they are going to have to answer to the Lord for their actions."Pittenger also weighed in, saying that she would certainly speak to a Republican group that was openly homosexual about her U.S. Senate campaign."But I'm not going to walk down the street with them celebrating what I believe to be a sin," she said.A recent poll showed that Dewhurst leads the GOP side of this race with 38 percent, followed by Cruz with 27 percent, Leppert and James both with 7 percent and Addison and Pittenger each with 1 percent. Nineteen percent said they would prefer another Republican candidate to those already in the race, according to the University of Texas /Texas Tribune poll released this week.Addison spoke on a variety of subjects, saying that the EPA needs to be abolished and federal earmarks need to be transparent. Regarding illegal immigration, he said "if you don't speak English, you are going back home right away."Castanuela, who described himself as a "grassroots kind of guy," said he will be a write-in candidate.Democrats running for the seat who didn't attend were Addie Dainell Allen of Beaumont, Daniel Boone of Canyon Lake, former state Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson and Sean Hubbard of Dallas.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsleyHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
