Marshall, Clay square off in second debate this week

DUBLIN - U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall said Tuesday that Calder Clay doesn't understand the issues he would face in Congress, while Clay said Marshall avoids giving direct answers on questions like the marriage amendment and the presidential election.

The two clashed during an hourlong debate on TV-35 in Dublin, their second debate this week.

Clay, a Republican, charged that Marshall, D-Macon, delayed supporting a constitutional ban on gay marriage until he was pressured by Clay to do so. Marshall replied that he supported the concept from the beginning but was concerned that the initial bill was poorly worded.

"I said as soon as the language gets changed in the House of Representatives, I'll sign on to that language," Marshall said.

Clay responded, "That's an answer that lawyers give. It's a simple question and it takes a simple answer. Marriage is between a man and a woman. That's the way God intended it to be. It doesn't mean what's in this bill or what's in that bill or what version of this bill or what version of that bill. It's a simple question."

Marshall later replied, "I'm flabbergasted that he said he doesn't really need to know what's in the legislation that he's going to vote on."

And in a sharp rebuke over Clay's TV ads that attack Marshall's record, Marshall said, "What you've seen on TV is somebody who's willing to say whatever he needs to in order to try and get elected. He's willing to attack with falsehoods. ... It's spin. It's a failure to do homework. You don't even know the terms of legislation that you would co-sponsor, you say, and you fault me for not co-sponsoring. It's not telling the truth."

The two sparred over Social Security - Clay favors giving new enrollees personal savings accounts while Marshall does not - and over tort reform. Clay favors federal legislation to stop "frivolous" lawsuits. Marshall says it's a state issue, not a federal one.

"In my view, my opponent is not part of the solution, he's part of the problem," Clay said, pointing out that trial lawyers are major contributors to Marshall's campaign.

As he did in a debate Sunday on Georgia Public TV, Clay asked Marshall whom he would support for president. Marshall said he isn't getting involved in any races but his own.

Clay shot back, "The most important race of our lifetime, and my opponent is a lone wolf. I'm a team player, and I'm on the right team. I'm on George Bush's team."

Marshall reminded voters that he has received support from Democratic Sen. Zell Miller, who also supports President Bush.

"It's not without political cost," Marshall said. "There are plenty of people in my party who are pretty disappointed by my decisions." He said he will do what he believes is right for Middle Georgia, regardless of "which party makes a suggestion or which party is trying to push me in a certain direction."

Clay, meanwhile, refused to say which version of the federal budget he would have supported. Marshall said he chose the most conservative version, which would reduce the national deficit most quickly and help put Social Security on an even keel. Clay repeated a charge that Marshall's vote spent $1 trillion of the Social Security trust fund after Marshall assured seniors he would protect Social Security. Marshall said the vote he chose was the most responsible option.

The debate in Dublin was broadcast in Laurens, Wilkinson and Treutlen counties. Officials said excerpts of it may be rebroadcast later by another station with a larger reach.

This year's race is a rematch between Marshall, who once served as Macon's mayor, and Clay, a former Macon City Council member and former Bibb County commissioner.

When the two faced each other in 2002, Marshall won by a 1 percent margin.