Grassroots Action; Letters to the Editor against GOP
Fri Jan 07, 2005 at 03:16:33 PM PDT
Hey all. Motivated by yesterday's electoral count challenge, I decided to take a little bit of grassroots action.
I wrote and submitted a letter to the editor and then assisted four of my friends who were online (we'll all between 19 and 21) to do the same.
Below are our letters. Let me know what you think of the message and the content. As Co-President of the College Democrats at Oakland University, I'm thinking of keeping it up as a concerted effort.
The Oakland County Democratic Party, of which I'm an active part, has an Editorial Action Committee. They have lists of contributors who, once a month, submit letters to the editor in their communities to combat the conservative tilt of the letters.
Again, let me know what you think.
I happen to really benefit from constructive criticism.
LETTER ONE:
It is outrageous what's come out of this week's news. As I write this letter, the story of President Bush and Republicans bribing commentator Armstrong Williams with $240,000 worth of our taxpayer dollars is unfolding. The purpose: to buy Williams' support and promotion of the No Child Left Behind unfunded mandate.
Yesterday two stories in Washington were particularly notable. While some brave Democrats spoke out for electoral reform and beneficial voting policies, childish Republicans resorted to unnecessary name-calling and temper tantrums. Apparently the Republicans cannot tolerate any positive discussion of improving our voting process.
On top of that, revelations over the Bush administration's torture stances have become the focus of Alberto Gonzales's confirmation hearings. America's fight against terrorism is doomed if we continuously cling to barbarism and other evils. In order to protect our own troops, the Geneva Conventions cannot be deemed "quaint" or "obsolete," as the Republicans are rushing to explain away those comments.
All the while, Republican plans to undermine Social Security and further damage our federal budget situation barrel forward. Republican leaders must recognize that the American people will not tolerate their dangerous plans masked as needed reform. Hopefully the memo detailing Republican plans to sharply cut Social Security benefits doesn't get lost in the shuffle.
The ethics scandals of the Republicans also develop further, with the House GOP trying to undermine strong standards of ethics as a result. All of this is clearly unacceptable and our Republican Congress better shape up - or get ready to ship out.
- Michael McGuinness, Pontiac
(Oakland Press, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, South Lyon Herald)
LETTER TWO:
This week Congresswoman Candice Miller got up on the floor of the House and attacked Democrats for calling for reforms to our voting process. Even though the victory of President Bush was never in question during the electoral vote certification, Miller still felt the need to make baseless, vicious attacks because representatives were standing up so that their constituents' voices could be heard.
While disagreement is a reality in Washington, the nasty vitriol that Miller espoused was very disappointing. This follows the House Ethics Committee of Miller's unethical behavior trying to blackmail a fellow Michigan Congressman into voting for the budget-busting and ill-conceived Republican Prescription Drug Plan.
Perhaps she thinks that Michigan citizens don't pay attention to what she does and says while at the capitol. If Candice Miller plans on running for any office in the future, she won't have my support anymore. I'm not alone in my disappointment of Miller's behavior, either.
- Jimmy White, St. Claire Shores
(Macomb Daily, Oakland Press, Detroit News)
LETTER THREE:
The Republican Congress has only been in session a few days, but I'm already highly disappointed in their misguided priorities and dangerous partisanship. If Congressman Thaddeus McCotter expects to tow the party line religiously, as he did in his first term, then he can look forward to losing my support.
My main problem lies in the Social Security Reform plan being promoted by President and a group of Republicans. Not only is this not the most pressing issue, since the Medicare Program is projected to be financially unsound years before Social Security, but it is also the wrong plan.
The Republicans are going to screw up a strong national program, just like they messed up with their prescription drug program that is ballooning in costs. We can't handle any more of the budget shenanigans being advanced by the Republican leadership.
As my representative, I'm praying that McCotter actually listens to the concerns of the people in his district. He needs to join with the few moderate Republicans left and his Democratic colleagues to support plans that actually support Social Security, not undermines it in a financially disastrous way.
- Matthew Kelly, Wolverine Lake
(Oakland Press, Detroit News)
LETTER FOUR:
Judging by how the Republican Congress is starting off this new session, it's going to be a very long next two years. With both Houses controlled by the GOP, along with the White House, there are little checks and balances to their partisan domination.
Not only is their leader Tom DeLay ethically challenged, but our local Republicans are also putting themselves and their party ahead of us regular citizens. Candice Miller has been admonished by the House Ethics Committee for improper behavior and doesn't seem fazed by her disappointing actions.
I am concerned for what this all means for us here in Michigan. The Great Lakes State is not served well by a Republican Congress that disregards long-needed reforms to our voting process, but focuses on slashing Social Security benefits and ruining our financial solvency.
No longer is a Republican Congress synonymous with fiscal responsibility. The mantle of balancing budgets and protecting America's long-term economic strength now rests with the Democratic Party.
- Justin Gonzalez, Warren
(Macomb Daily, Oakland Press, Detroit News)
LETTER FIVE:
Here we are in the year 2005. `The People's House', as the House of Representatives is called, has been controlled by Republicans for a decade now.
Republican leader Tom DeLay is ethically bankrupt. He had the audacity to outlandishly ridicule his fellow representatives who called for greatly needed electoral reform, speaking on the floor of the House Thursday.
Gone are the days of statesmen Bob Michel and Gerald Ford, who led the House Republicans with both strength and respect. DeLay resorts to mockery, distortion and other disturbing acts that are very much beneath a House Majority Leader.
In all reality, a vote for Candice Miller is a vote for DeLay. A vote for Thaddeus McCotter is a vote for DeLay. A vote for Joe Knollenberg is a vote for DeLay. A vote for Mike Rogers is a vote for DeLay.
I'm ready to reverse the Republican control of the House. Unlike last November, I won't be casting my vote for the Republican nominee for Congress again. Too much of one party is a bad thing for our government, which is what's happening with Republican control.
- Matthew Keeney, Sterling Heights
(Macomb Daily, Oakland Press, Detroit News)
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