Here is my Letter to the Editor for Congressman Sherrod Brown. I am sending it to three newspapers around where I live in southwestern Ohio, hoping that it will cause some independents and weary moderate Republicans to take a look at what Brown stands for. If you are not familiar with Ohio politics, southwestern Ohio is a Republican stronghold, home to Right-wingers John Boehner (my congressman), Mike Turner, Steve Chabot, and Mean Jean Schmidt. However, Brown has frequently been in this area campaigning and raising voter awareness about the differences between him and Mike DeWine.
"Sherrod Brown for US Senate
As a moderate voter, I split my voting ticket in 2004. However I have become extremely disappointed with the way Washington has been selling out the middle-class these past few years. This is why I am supporting Sherrod Brown for Senate. The son of a small town doctor who treated everyone regardless of their ability to pay, Brown has never forgotten where he comes from. As a Congressman from the 13th District since 1992, he has earned a reputation as an independent voice for ordinary Ohioans and middle-class families - a man of principle who has made a career of standing up to special interests who have too much influence in Washington.
Brown has gone up against both Republicans and those in his own party who have jammed trade pacts like NAFTA, China PNTR, and CAFTA down our country's throat. The author of a respected book, Myths of Free Trade, Brown has made reforming America's trade policy his top priority. He has outlined a new plan for truly fair trade that protects workers' rights, labor standards, and the environment while also supporting small businesses and family farmers here at home. Ohio has lost more than 185,000 manufacturing jobs to foreign countries because of these trade deals, but do not look to Mike DeWine for help. DeWine has voted for every single one and has claimed that NAFTA has been a big success for Ohio.
During his campaign for the Senate, Brown has unveiled a solid economic plan to rebuild Ohio's economy. This plan includes lowering the cost of healthcare by curbing prescription drug costs, promoting small business development through middle-class tax cuts, and investing in higher education funding and in urban and rural infrastructure projects. He also wants to make Ohio "the Silicon Valley for alternative energy development."
Brown received a 100% rating for 2005 from the Alliance for Retired Americans, a nonpartisan senior advocacy organization, whereas Mike DeWine received a 30% rating from the group. Brown is co-sponsor of a bill that would allow seniors to receive drug benefits directly through Medicare, bypassing the private insurance market altogether. He also co-sponsors a bill that would allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices on behalf of 44 million Americans, which the current Medicare Part D program prohibits. As a matter of principle, Brown has refused to accept the Congressional Health Plan until health care is available to every Ohioan.
Brown voted for the war in Afghanistan, but against the Iraq war, believing that Iraq was a distraction from the War on Terror. Nevertheless he has fiercely supported our brave troops, being one of the first to successfully lobby for more body armor for the soldiers. In fighting the War on Terror, he also wants to implement and fully fund all 41 recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, something the Bush administration has failed to do.
Middle-class Ohioans need a voice in the Senate; that voice is Sherrod Brown."
If you are in any of the battleground states, whether it is a Senate, House, or Gubernatorial race, please take the time to write a Letter to the Editor to your local newspapers. It is a great way for ordinary citizens to get involved and help their candidates of choice.
BTW, if you are curious, my split ticket vote in 2004 was Kerry and Voinovich. The man running against Voinovich was a horrible candidate and Voinovich was going to win in a landslide anyways. So I did it so I can say that I have voted for a Republican once in my life.