Candidates for Congress snapped and sniped in a public forum on Sunday, to the amusement of an audience at Casper College.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, Democrat Gary Trauner and Libertarian Thomas Rankin handily answered questions about energy development and the national debt at the third of Sunday's three candidate forums at the college's Gertrude Krampert Theater.

But these big issues of the day paled compared with where moms had their kids.

Trauner said he has knocked on 15,000 doors, and many people have asked him where he's from (New York) and where he lives (Wilson), he said.

"The fact of the matter is that nobody cares," Trauner said. "What they're concerned about is health care, the price of gas, a war without answers, and what we're going to do with this government to get this debt under control."

Rankin, who lives in Casper, agreed, saying that he was born in Pennsylvania, raised in Oklahoma and has lived in Wyoming for a long time. Cubin likewise was born outside Wyoming, he added.

Cubin said the only reason she has brought up the matter is to let people know about Trauner's real views.

"My opponent, while he tries to pretend to be a moderate Republican or even a moderate Democrat, truly is a liberal Democrat," she said.

Trauner wants it both ways with a national gun registry and illegal aliens, Cubin said.

"My opponent, if he really truly said the things he believes, could never be elected from Wyoming."

The next question concerned what programs the candidates would cut. Rankin said he would ax the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.

Cubin said she would cut into the Department of Energy and between 1 percent and 1.5 percent of the administrations of all federal programs.

Trauner, before declaring he would cut "giveaways to large corporations," said to Cubin on his left, "The things you say aren't true. You don't get to just make stuff up because you want to win."

On the next question, asked why Wyoming should send a Republican to Washington, Cubin responded that she has only repeated Trauner's statements in her television ads.

That drew a low ripple of giggles from the audience.

When it came to health care, Trauner said the insurance system controls the debate. Rankin said Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs should give ideas for better health care.

Cubin recounted her support for the Bush administration's Medicare prescription drug program and health savings accounts - and then launched into Trauner again.

"My opponent once again has said he wants to do away with labels. Well, the reason he wants to do away with labels is up until today, he has said, 'You can describe it however you want,' but what he has described is nationalized health care-socialized medicine; and socialized medicine would cost this country more than our defense budget and many others combined," she said.

That generated another round of giggles. So, before the next round of questions, co-moderator Shauna Bales of KCWY News 13 chided the candidates not respond to previous questions.

More giggles.

The next question concerned the character trait most important to work in Washington. Rankin cited a need to compromise. Cubin agreed.

"Everyone agrees that this country is entirely too partisan," she said.

Louder giggles.

"Being the congressman that I am, you will see that I am not on the television all the time trying to get attention and saying bad things about the other party, and it's not just me," Cubin said.

That comment brought outright guffaws, but Cubin pressed on to say she has worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to pass bills, she said.

In their closing statements, Trauner and Cubin said Wyoming voters have a clear choice on Nov. 7.

"The real risk is politics as usual," Trauner said. "It's time for a change."

Rankin said that he will vote against any pay raises.

Cubin said that people know she tells the truth.

"I've represented you well," she said.

The forum will be broadcast on KCWY on Nov. 4.

Reporter Tom Morton can be reached at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@casperstartribune.net.