Race opens for Bernstein, Ensign

By Jane Ann Morrison
Review-Journal

      The warm fuzzy speeches have ended.
      The cheering crowds have gone home.
      The hot dogs, lemonade and cookies have been either eaten or tossed.
      Now Republican John Ensign and Democrat Ed Bernstein resume playing up their differences as the race for the U.S. Senate intensifies over the next eight months.
      Their announcement speeches came just a week apart -- March 6 for Ensign, March 13 for Bernstein.
      Their styles were different, as different as their positions.
      Ensign opted for a gym packed with more than 500 supporters. He was introduced by popular Gov. Kenny Guinn, and prominent elected officials dotted his crowd, showing his establishment backing.
      Bernstein opted for a mobile home park with about 60 people. He was introduced by injured worker David Emerick, intended to demonstrate his willingness to fight for the little guy.
      Both men spoke of their families, their beliefs and their commitment.
      Neither mentioned the other by name in prepared speeches.
      After their speeches, both were surrounded by reporters, pounding them with questions about their positions, their philosophies and even their spiritual beliefs.
      Both men became a little testy toward the end of the questioning.
      Ensign became irate over questions about Promise Keepers, the Christian-based men's group.
      Bernstein became irritated at persistent requests for a specific "fresh idea" he had promised in his speech.
      But their answers did point out differences in the two candidates and framed some of the issues they will be debating between now and Nov. 7.
      Bernstein is careful in what he says on the record, but there are indications he'll be making an issue of Ensign's affiliation with Promise Keepers.
      The candidates differ on abortion.
      And they differ on who would be most effective in keeping nuclear waste from coming to Nevada.
     
     Religion
      Bernstein is Jewish, attends Temple Beth Sholom and also studies Eastern religions. Recently he told the Reno News & Review, "I want to be a cross between Madonna (the singer) and the Dalai Lama," because he admires their willingness to keep growing and learning.
      Ensign is an evangelical Christian who attends the Meadows Fellowship Foursquare Church in Las Vegas. He has participated in mass rallies conducted by the Promise Keepers, a men-only Christian group, and during his four years as a congressman had a 100 percent voter approval record from the Christian Coalition.
      Bernstein, asked three times following his announcement speech if he would be making Promise Keepers an issue in the Senate race, never answered directly yes or no.
      Instead, he said, "I stand for tolerance, and that's what I embrace. ... I'm in favor of groups that tolerate and open themselves up to all peoples, so if there is a group that treats women differently than men, then I am not very happy with that, being the father of three daughters. ... I'm going to make part of my campaign about who I am and I'm someone who treats men and women equally."
      At an earlier interview, a less cautious Bernstein said, "Whether it (Promise Keepers) is a religious cult is for people to explore individually. The only criticism I have of groups like that is whether they install their philosophies into government. When religious cults become government cults, I have a problem with that."
      Said Ensign, "I think it's wrong to make religion an issue in campaigns, I thought we learned from John F. Kennedy. I respect Ed Bernstein's religion, I hope he respects mine and we leave it at that. ... I'll never attack my opponent's religion, ever, and I hope he does the same. Religion is a very personal issue to people, what you want from a candidate is where they stand on issues.
      "I went to some Promise Keepers conferences at the request of my wife, and it really improved our marriage. She is the biggest reason I continue to go. I haven't been to one in a couple of years, but recently, she's encouraged me to go back to one because she thinks I need a tune-up."
      Promise Keepers is "absolutely not" anti-woman, he said. His wife, Darlene, "goes to women's conferences called Women of Faith" and learns about racial reconciliation, denominational reconciliation and improving family life.
      A reporter suggested to Ensign that Promise Keepers encourages families to stay together despite abuse and domestic violence. Ensign, his voice rising, responded that this was "an absolutely false statement."
     
     Abortion
      Ensign, who opposes abortion, said, "Everybody knows my position, but there is very little you can do about abortion at the federal level. Bernstein's on the wrong side of this issue. Partial birth abortion, federal funding and parental notification, those are the only things you can do anything about. So we're talking about other issues that Nevadans care about. ... We know people care deeply about that issue, we've said where we stand on that issue, then we go and talk about other issues."
      Bernstein, who supports abortion rights, said, "I've been listening to people for the several months I've been talking about running. I heard that people in Nevada care about a woman's right to choose."
      In an earlier interview about abortion, Bernstein said he would vote in favor of preserving a woman's right to a partial birth abortion if the procedure is necessary for the health of the mother. He supports federal funding for abortion, and he would vote against requiring girls to notify their parents before having an abortion, but would want some counseling and education provided to the girl.
      "I am in the mainstream, he's in the extreme," Bernstein said.
     
     Nuclear waste
      When it came to nuclear waste, both men promised to be fighters and were flamboyant in their descriptions of how they would fight.
      "If you elect me to the United State Senate," Ensign said in his written kickoff speech, "I promise to spend every day, every minute, fighting to keep nuclear waste from coming to Nevada. And if that fight pits me against my own party, then so be it."
      Ensign said he believes as a senator, he can help get support from other Republican senators and help Democratic Sen. Harry Reid block legislation to bring nuclear waste to Nevada.
      Bernstein said, "It's going to take a fighter like Ed Bernstein, with my experience, to stop Republicans in Washington who want to dump nuclear waste in our back yard. I will never waver on this, and if necessary, the train will run me over before I allow this garbage in our state."