Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday continued to question the integrity of his election rival, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), urging him to come clean on his US green card and join him in more televised debates.
Hsieh asked Ma to turn in his "winter vacation assignment" and publicize his passport dated before 1990 and that of his wife dated before 1996.
Hsieh said Ma had skillfully showed part of his immigration record between 1992 and 1994 to prove his claim that he did not travel abroad during that period but alleged Ma had actually visited the US several times in 1994.
He claimed that the US immigration court had not nullified Ma's green card, and Ma was still a permanent resident of the US.
Hsieh also asked Ma to produce evidence to prove his claim that his green card had been invalidated.
"Honesty is the best policy," Hsieh said. "You can play a trick on someone, but you cannot deceive heaven."
Saying it is not easy to judge a person by his or her appearance, Hsieh said: "An entertainment industry star doesn't look like a bad person but makes many women cry."
"The fundamental issue for a leader is honesty and the ability to execute. Everything else is idle talk if a leader cannot deliver on what he or she promises," he said.
Hsieh also said he would like to see more televised debates held to allow the candidates to cover issues ranging from national identity, sovereignty and economic development to personal character, performance and integrity.
Hsieh said he was sorry to see the rival camp run ads attacking him and his wife with groundless allegations during the New Year break.
He also accused Ma of adopting "double standards," saying Ma, together with his running mate Vincent Siew (
Meanwhile, the first televised presidential debate is scheduled next Sunday and the second on March 9. Ma has agreed on the dates, and organizers visited Hsieh yesterday to extend an official invitation.
The public is welcome to produce a 30-second video clip of a question they would like to ask the candidates and upload it to the PeoPo Web site before tomorrow.
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