Re: U.S. House, District 13

[Robert <Robert@xxxxxxx>]

Robert L Bass wrote:
> We recommend Christine Jennings
>
>
>
> Congressional elections used to be tame and predictable in these parts. Not this year.
>
> In the 13th District -- which ranges from Palmetto to Englewood to Arcadia to Wauchula -- the Republican primary was the most
> expensive and divisive on record in this region. Meanwhile, to the south and east in the 16th District, Republican incumbent Mark
> Foley's general-election campaign crashed and burned when the nation learned that he had an affinity for male, teenage pages.
>
> Voters in District 13 have a choice between Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Christine Jennings.
>
> Auto-dealer magnate Buchanan spent the most money and got the most votes in the Republican primary -- but only 32 percent of them,
> far from a majority, and finished second in his home county, Sarasota.
>
> Buchanan lists an impressive number of local, state and national supporters. Intraparty bitterness lingered after the primary,
> however, with open defections by some local Republican leaders and a refusal by one of Buchanan's primary opponents, former local
> party chairman Tramm Hudson, to back his campaign (and a late, lukewarm expression of support from another of the candidates,
> longtime legislator Nancy Detert, who won Sarasota County in the primary).
>
> Part of the lingering division can be attributed to legitimate questions about Buchanan's business ethics, some to concerns about
> his encampment on the far right of the political spectrum, and another part to the magnitude of money he has dumped into his own
> campaign.
>
> Jennings' mainstream appeal
>
> Whatever the reasons, Buchanan's candidacy created an opening for Jennings, a former local banker whose positions on deficit
> reduction, environmental protection, religious freedom and education place her in the mainstream of the political spectrum.
>
> Buchanan's campaign ads have attacked Jennings' position on taxes. No surprise there: Buchanan, like other high-income Americans,
> has benefited from tax cuts and shelters. Jennings, who as a banker reaped earnings and helped individuals and companies create
> wealth, favors reviewing and reorienting tax policies, with a focus on strengthening the middle class.
>
> On immigration, Buchanan backs draconian measures; Jennings disagrees with parts of President Bush's sensible policy, which is
> supported in the Republican-led U.S. Senate, but she is closer to the president on immigration than Buchanan is.
>
> Differences on Iraq, reproductive rights
>
> When asked before the primaries to assess U.S. military policy, Buchanan said, "We must continue our strategy in Iraq and beyond."
> Jennings, for her part, responded: "Unfortunately, this administration has compromised our ability to fight terror across the globe
> by locking up our military resources in an extended conflict in Iraq with no clear strategy for victory."
>
> Neither candidate has articulated a clear plan for effectively dealing with the chaos in Iraq -- few national political leaders
> have -- but even many of the president's supporters have urged him to change the ineffective "stay the course" policy.
>
> On reproductive rights, Jennings supports a woman's right to choose, but wants to publicly discuss: "Why are there so many unwanted
> pregnancies and what are the mitigating circumstances?" Buchanan wants to deny women the constitutional right to an abortion "100
> percent" of the time, even if it takes an amendment to the Constitution.
>
> Jennings won a competitive Democratic primary in September, after having lost a primary two years ago. She persevered and has
> withstood four years of public scrutiny with her positive reputation intact.
>
> If elected, Jennings would be a moderate capable of reaching out to Republicans, Democrats and independents.
>
> We recommend Christine Jennings for U.S. House of Representatives, District 13.
>
> Copyright - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
>
>
gracias