Once again, Jesse Sbaih is on the attack. This time, attacking my disability with scathing attacks on my ability to get through a 3-hour debate with a disability like Ulcerative Colitis. A little history of my disease which can be read here. I have never hidden my illness; I have never once hidden that I receive benefits, nor once have I used it as an excuse for any shortcomings I have had during this campaign season.
Those with a disability and in particular hidden disability understand that what is happening on the outside of the body, very rarely matches what is going on inside of the body. These illnesses are rarely easy to deal with without government assistance. The impact that they have on the mental and physical strength of an individual and their family is indescribable. Life is never planned around a potential disability but is always changed for a disability
The question of how can I serve my community and constituents in Congress, yet can’t work in the private sector? Gaining employment in the private sector that can balance your needs is a difficult to near impossible task and even when you can, it's even harder to keep that job when you get one. When I first became sick while I was at work, my trips to the restroom were being questioned as “drug breaks” by co-workers. Which ultimately leading to a decrease in hours and a loss in pay.
Of course asking how I can serve in Congress is a legitimate question with a disability. However, my answer to that is that fighting for rights for future generations to make sure that the programs of Social Security Disability, Medicaid, and Medicare, which have helped in my fight with my disease are there for future generations, is something even the disabled can do. Being an advocate and fighter for ALL Americans is something I have been doing and will continue to do whether I get elected or not.
Here is what my opponent Jesse Sbaih had to say about my disability and ability to serve:
“Furthermore, during the debate, you indicated that you are disabled and you rely on social security benefits for a living. If you're disabled, unable to work for a living, and you're receiving disability benefits, how are you able to run a campaign fulltime but unable to get a job so you can make a living? I think it's important to know why you're receiving benefits when you are clearly able to do work and sit through a 3 hour debate.”
and again:
“Alex...no one is attacking your disability. The point is that you are running for Congress while at the same time you're contending that you are unable to do ANY work and receiving disability benefits from the government. People have the right to know how you are on the one hand not able to do ANY work that entitles you to benefits while you are running all over town spreading lies about me.”
While I apparently imagined the attack in my head:
“You made it into an attack when it was not. There was no such attack. You continue to avoid valid questions. Speaking with you is futile. Good night!”
The pictures of these exchanges are on my Facebook here.
What I did to deserve this attack was point out his inconsistencies on the issues, the baseless attacks on Harry Reid that accused Senator Reid of being a bigot without proof, becoming anti-establishment only after being rejected by the establishment, and calling himself a grassroots candidate after loaning his campaign over $500k from his bank account. This isn’t the first time he has attacked me for pointing out his hypocrisy; he has accused me of being a “Karl Rovian troll” for saying that he has spoken on all sides of the issues. This, is, unfortunately, a familiar pattern with Jesse, as one look on his Twitter will show that any questioning of his actions is immediately met with accusations of “lies” and “attacks”.
For the record, I entered this race in late November and had never once stolen any item or policy from his page. While those are petty details, they are also untrue on his end. During some debates, even candidates have looked over to me and said “those stances on the issues sure sound familiar!” But again, insignificant details. However, what is not is the Facebook stalking and going through my family list and trying to add my wife, father-in-law, family and close friends who described the ordeal as “creepy” and “wrong.”
Back to the issue at hand:
According to Jesse Sbaih, those with a disability, especially a hidden disability, should not run for office, because you might make it through debate, or a couple of hours of campaigning. Therefore, your disability is non-existent. Of course, walking in the shoes of someone with a disability or even having an understanding of disabilities apparently is not something he seems interested in.
Under the idea that those with a disability should not run for public office, Senator Max Cleland comes to mind. Now, let me make this clear: I am not comparing myself to a war hero who served this country and gave limbs to protect this country. I can’t even imagine such wounds. Working in the private sector would be difficult and not without issue, for an NON-Senator, war hero Max Cleland. We would also not have great public servants such as Tammy Duckworth, Daniel Inouye, and of course Max Cleland, and so many others. As well as Progressive hero, President Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt. A disability is not and should not be a disqualifier for office.
I am running for Congress with a disability, at the age of 29 because I believe in what Dr.King called the “fierce urgency of now” and that we can be too late to solving the problems we face. The time for action, courage and leadership are needed not only in Congressional District 3 in Nevada but all across this country. We do not need bullies, attack artists or self-promoters in this district that look out for themselves and not their constituents.
I have been upfront with the voters with my disability, employment, and education. I have worked as an activist on many campaigns, starting in 2008 as well as on issue campaigns, and l have also worked in the private sector; I had to delay my education due to my illness, which has since been continued, and I am proud to call myself a CSN Coyote for the past year as well as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Not many elected officials have been on disability, but millions of Americans are and have been, and their voice needs to be heard in Washington as well as their rights fought for by someone who understands their struggle.
My path to Congress is not one taken out of a political playbook, but it is my story, and it’s a part of the American story. Voters will have different metrics for choosing candidates, and voters will vote for and against me for varying reasons, as is their right. But for a candidate to use my disability as an attack and claim for it not to be, is insulting and out of line.
Thank you,
Alex Singer
SingerForCongress.com
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