Clear choices on issues in congressional races
If you plan to cast your vote in this year's congressional elections based on candidates' stances on the issues alone, your choices should be easy to make. In the Shore-area's four congressional districts, the differences on the Iraq war, the economy, immigration and other key issues are stark.
We saw that firsthand at today's editorial board meeting with 12th District candidates Rush Holt, the incumbent Democrat, and GOP challenger Joseph Sinagra, a former Helmetta councilman. Holt, who voted against giving President Bush the authority to wage war in Iraq, was one of the first congressmen to call for a full withdrawal. He thinks one year should be enough time to do it. Sinagra believes in staying the course. Holt calls the Bush administration's handling of the economy a disaster. Sinagra says the economy is humming along nicely. Holt opposes building a fence on the Mexican border to keep the illegals out, and many other measures favored by House Republicans to stanch the flow. Sinagra's views on immigration are the polar opposite.
Holt calls the election this year a referendum on Bush and his "rubber-stamp" Congress. That may be in many parts of the country. But in the Shore-area, experience and the perceived integrity of the candidates will probably have the most important bearing on the outcome.
We saw that firsthand at today's editorial board meeting with 12th District candidates Rush Holt, the incumbent Democrat, and GOP challenger Joseph Sinagra, a former Helmetta councilman. Holt, who voted against giving President Bush the authority to wage war in Iraq, was one of the first congressmen to call for a full withdrawal. He thinks one year should be enough time to do it. Sinagra believes in staying the course. Holt calls the Bush administration's handling of the economy a disaster. Sinagra says the economy is humming along nicely. Holt opposes building a fence on the Mexican border to keep the illegals out, and many other measures favored by House Republicans to stanch the flow. Sinagra's views on immigration are the polar opposite.
Holt calls the election this year a referendum on Bush and his "rubber-stamp" Congress. That may be in many parts of the country. But in the Shore-area, experience and the perceived integrity of the candidates will probably have the most important bearing on the outcome.
posted by Randy Bergmann at 7:49 PM
1 Comments:
Holt is also to the left of Castro. Accordingly, I doubt those on the editoral board of The Asbury Park Press did much beyond swoon at his feet and lob softball questions at him when he appeared before them.
Although I have no doubt that he will be re-elected (Incumbents in NJ have to be indicted before they lose a re-election bid), I note that Congressman Holt rarely has many plausible solutions for dealing with the war on terror or a host of other issues. He's too busy saying "I'm not Bush" to offer any real solutions.
Post a Comment
<< Home