I happen to be friends with a couple of staffers of Gary Peters (MI-09), and I've been so disappointed over his decision to join in with the Blue Dogs on the Bush Tax Cut issue that I did something I've never done: I wrote directly to one of them, asking them to forward it on to Rep. Peters. I figured this would have more impact than simply submitting the standard contact form on his website.
Dear [STAFFER],
I hope you don't mind my writing you regarding this, but I feel strongly enough about this that I wanted to contact Rep. Peters as directly as possible, and I know you're a campaign staffer.
I knew from the start that he isn't a far-left progressive type, and that's fine; it's not a far-left district. Furthermore, I've been happy with most of his votes and actions since taking office, including many of the "big-ticket" votes such as the healthcare bill, stimulus and bank reform bill.
However, it's my understanding that he's coming out staunchly against allowing the deficit-busting Bush tax cuts for the rich to expire, and in fact even wants to extend the capital gains tax cuts.
Now, personally, I think all of Bush's tax cuts should expire, but I can certainly understand keeping the middle class bracket in place. However, I just wanted to convey my extreme disappointment with his stance on keeping the high-end cuts in place.
This is a pretty major issue for me. As you may know, I donated far more than I could afford to get him into office in 2008, I've been a solid supporter of his since, and I was even planning a house party fundraiser for him earlier this year (it was cancelled for unrelated reasons). I've also donated a lesser amount to his campaign this year.
However, his stand on this tax cut issue is important enough to me that I simply can't bring myself to donate any more money to him for the rest of the campaign. If he's going to align himself with the $250K+ crowd, then they can finance his campaign as well.
I'll still be voting for him, of course; as I said, I've been happy with most of his performance, I like him as a person and lord knows I can't stomach the idea of being "represented" by Rocky Raczkowski. But if he (or any other Dems in Congress) can't figure out why there's such an "enthusiasm gap" between the parties this year, it's precisely due to crap like this.
In short, if he's taking this position because he thinks it will help him get reelected, I guarantee that it's gonna lose him as many votes as it gains (and frankly, I can't fathom it gaining him any anyway...anyone in the upper tax bracket who supports him now isn't gonna vote against him just over this issue, and anyone who was gonna vote against him is still going to anyway).
If, on the other hand, he's taken this position because he honestly thinks it's the right thing for the country (ie, that it's going to help create jobs), then I have a simple question for him:
When these tax cuts went into effect 10 years ago, the unemployment rate was around 5%, the federal budget was balanced and the national debt was around $6 trillion.
After 10 years of the Bush tax cuts, unemployment is at almost 10%, the deficit is over a trillion per year and the debt has more than doubled.
I'd appreciate it if you could forward this on to Rep. Peters. Please don't take any of this personally, and thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
Respectfully,
[Brainwrap]