Independent congressional candidate Rod Driver, left, and U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin in a televised debate aired last night.

The Providence Journal / Steve Szydlowski

PROVIDENCE — U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin and his opponent Rod Driver squared off in their first debate last night – a discussion that time, and time again, came back to the war in Iraq.

Driver, an independent candidate, opened the debate, aired live on Rhode Island PBS, Channel 36, by saying that he’s running for the 2nd Congressional District seat because of his concerns for human rights and because “American foreign policy is a rather sad commentary on human rights.”

Langevin, a three-term Democrat, said that President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have failed in Iraq, failed to deal with the nation’s “health-care crisis” and failed to solve the country’s energy problems. He said he believes there will be a Democratic majority in the House and he wants to be part of it.

The two candidates ran against each other in 2000. Asked how this year is different, Driver said then there were four candidates. This year, there are only two.

“The country has not gotten any better in the last six years,” Driver added, saying Langevin “has supported the war.”

Langevin quickly defended his record: “I voted no on the war and have been an outspoken critic.”

He then called it “one of our nation’s worst foreign-policy failures.”

Langevin said he has voted to continue financing the war, but those votes are in support of the troops there, not the war itself.

Describing his motivation to continue financing the war, Langevin said, “It was disgraceful that we sent our troops there without body armor. … Our troops did not ask to be sent there.”

Last night’s debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and was moderated by Maureen Moakley, chairwoman of the political science department at the University of Rhode Island. It will air again Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on Rhode Island PBS, Channel 36, or cable channel 8.

When the debate turned to the Patriot Act and the balance between national security and the public’s right to information, Langevin said that the administration should be heading to court to gain access to information, something that is not happening enough now. He noted that he voted against reauthorizing the Patriot Act.

Driver pointed out that Langevin did vote for it originally and also “voted to continue detaining and interrogating individuals in Guantanamo.”

“I’m dismayed that we have just forgotten about the Constitution,” Driver said. “I would hope that in the future [Langevin] would read about the bills and think about them before voting.”

Driver was then asked what would be the most effective strategy for rebuilding if the country withdraws from Iraq.

He didn’t answer the question but said, “I wouldn’t go near the place now” and “I think we need to get out.”

Langevin said that we are “doing more harm there than good now” but that even if the troops leave, the country needs to support the Iraqi political process, work to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure and give financial support.

Asked how he would pay for the war if it continued another year, Langevin said he would first repeal the tax cuts pushed through by Republicans.

Driver said in response: “I’m not going to talk about covering these shortfalls by raising taxes.” But Driver never came up with his own proposal to come up with the cash, saying the country simply needs to stop making bad foreign-policy decisions.

With the balance of power in the House up for grabs, Driver was asked if he would support the Republican or Democratic leadership.

“I will not be voting for any Republican leadership that I see in Congress now,” Driver said. “But I won’t be another Democrat.”

He then accused Langevin of voting more often with the Republicans than Democrats. Langevin’s staff later refuted that, saying Congressional Quarterly rates Langevin voting with Democrats 90 percent of the time.

The debate then shifted to mandating car manufacturers to sell vehicles that run on alternative fuels.

Driver said that’s the wrong focus. He said fuel efficiency standards need to be raised, noting that his car gets 50 miles per gallon.

Langevin blamed the Bush administration for not pushing the issue.

“We need a national energy policy similar to putting a man on the moon,” he said. “It’s going to take a national commitment.”