Teens Question Congressional Candidates at Comsewogue High School

In their first formal meeting with young voters, incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, and Republican challenger Randy Altschuler took questions from students at Comsewogue High School on Tuesday morning. Both are vying for the seat that represents New York's First Congressional district an area that encompases most of eastern and central Suffolk County, including Port Jefferson.

Students lined up in the aisles to pose questions developed with the help of their teachers. The questions ranged from economics to gay marriage.

One student asked candidates if they believed the mosque at Ground Zero should be built.

Altschuler led off saying he didn't think the mosque should be built but he doesn't support the use of eminent domain or other similar tactics to force the issue.

Bishop said that he essentially agreed with Altschuler's position adding that the debate was really about being sensitive to 9/11 victim's families. He suggested instead a multi faith facility of some kind should be built to promote unity and healing.

Another student asked how the candidates would lower the country's dependence on foreign oil.

Altschuler said that there was no magic solution to the problem. He called it a critical challenge and that it was clear that there was no easy way to solve it.

"I support an all of the above solution," he said, pointing out that he thinks every alternative energy option on the table needs to be considered.

Bishop said that America had to move as quickly as possible from an energy policy rooted in consumption to one rooted in production. That problem, he said, is not just an environmental one but also a national security problem. Depending on Middle East oil puts money into Iran's pockets.

"Iran is not out friend," he said. "Iran is not a friend of the Middle East and Iran is not a friend to Israel."

Next a student asked how the candidates felt about gay marriage.

Bishop spoke up saying that he "emphatically" supported the gay marriage bill pointing out that his 31-year old daughter is gay and he felt he wanted her to have the same rights that every other person in the United States enjoys. His statement drew some big cheers from the crowd.

On the issue, Altschuler said that he supports the legal rights of gays to form civil unions comparing his position to that of President Obama's on the subject. He said he would vote against a gay marriage bill but would say yes to civil unions.

On a question about the role of government in the economic recovery the candidates differed the most in their answers.

Using the Route 112 construction project as an example of the stimulus package putting people to work. Bishop said he voted for the Federal government's involvement in boosting the economy and thinks that it's helping to give people a real paycheck.

Altschuler said that he didn't believe that government creates jobs and that the economy hasn't gotten better since Congress passed the stimulus package. He said that businesses are worried about government intervention and that's why the economic recovery hadn't taken off. Small business owners are afraid because according to Altschuler they "don't know what's coming next." He wants to lower taxes and reduce red tape to stimulate hiring and the economy.

The debate lasted about a half hour and the candidates ran out of time before the kids ran out of questions. Principal Joseph Coniglione announced that the last question had been asked and thanked the candidates for their time. Both candidates agreed that it was important to speak with young voters.

The debate was an idea hatched by the students and teachers of an AP Politics class at Comsewogue High School. The teachers called up the candidates and both agreed to attend. Neither candidate asked for a list of the questions before coming to the debate.

Coniglione estimated that 30 to 40 percent of the students in attendance would be of voting age by Election Day translating to about 50 or 60 kids. He thinks that the students will not forget the experience any time soon.

"It provides them with an understanding of issues that they're tormented about and that are affecting their families," he said. "It's important for them to speak their minds and get out to vote.