I sent a filled out questionnaire to my congressman today

[corkhead]

First some background. I live in a district that tends to vote very republican in most recent elections. It is the home of the recently retired Nick Smith. In the last election cycle, Joe Schwartz won a close primary against several other candidates who were perceived to be far more conservative. It was expected that the winner would easily defeat the Democratic challenger in the general election. It is a widely held opinion that a combination of crossover voters and the splintering of the extreme right vote led to the primary win by Schwartz, who is viewed by many to be “relatively” moderate. As predicted he easily defeated the Democratic candidate in the general election. Representative Schwartz has been under fire by right wingers because they feel he isn’t conservative enough. The following item arrived in my mail yesterday :

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Here is how I filled out the questionnaire:

1.How do you feel about the material being broadcast on network TV?

_______ Offensive and immoral

_______ A bit indecent for my tastes

_______ Most is OK

_______ Just fine

___X__ Other

Comments: Congress has much more important business to attend to. If people do not like what is on TV, then they shouldn’t watch it. Parents need to be parents if they are concerned about what their children view.


2. Do you consider yourself:

_______ Pro-Life

_______ Pro Life with exceptions (rape, incest, life of mother)

_______ Pro-Choice

___X__ Other

Comments: Safe, legal, and rare. This is an individual rights issue. The extreme right needs to mind their own business and stay out of mine.


3. What issue is of greatest concern to you today?

___X___ Economy

___X___ Health Care

___X___ Iraq War

___X___ Government Spending

( there was no comments section to this question, but I added some additional items in the margin myself)

___X___ Government corruption

___X___ Destruction of the environment

___X___ Integrity of our election process

___X___ Corporatization

___X___ Loss of civil liberties and perceived abandonment of the Constitution


4. Do you support the creation of a National Sex Offender Registry, containing the name, address, and photograph of known sex offenders?

_______ Yes _______ No ___X___ Other

Comments: This is another divisive issue that distracts Congress, the press, and citizens from far more important matters.



5. Do you support the death penalty

_______ Yes _______ No ___X___ Other

Comments: See #4




Additional Comments: I strongly disagree with your positions on all five of the issues you highlighted as achievements in this mailing. I supported you in the last election cycle because I thought you would be more moderate than your primary challengers. I am not so sure that is the case now. Please stand up for ALL of your constituency, not just extreme conservatives and your corporate contributors. You are supposed to be MY representative too.

[ihaveaquestion]

1. Good for you!

We should all do this when we get the chance. After all, they're asking for our opinion. Let em have it!

[jojo54]

2. Very nice, corkhead.

I wish my state reps would send out a questionnaire. They probably don't give a shit anyway.

[corkhead]

3. it's really a wierd situation for him

the local paper beats up on him for not being conservative enough but if you could read the tiny print on the flier, he has been *'s rubber stamp. I think many of the centrists and leftward have written the district off. We need to figure out how to do more to pull in those who aren't voting.

[Obamarama]

4. Rep. Joe Schwartz is a duplicitous asshole...

He voted in FAVOR of CAFTA, which will foster the migration of US jobs to Latin America.

But then he begs the Base Closure and Realignment Commission to keep jobs in Battle Creek by keeping the Ft. Custer National Guard Air Base open.

Can't have it both ways, Joe.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Good for you! Now, about that #2 item

Since when is it "Pro-Life (except in cases of rape, incest, life of the mother)"?????

That's news to me! It seems the very existence of the "except for cases" clause presents a CHOICE.