Wexler (FL-19) Deserves Our Help

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Rep. Robert Wexler is one of the only seven House members to cosponsor Kucinich's Impeachment Bill. That is only one of his acts of courage. He voted against the "compromise" FISA bill. He also tried in vain to get his fellow reps. to see the scam in the Bush Medicare drug program before it passed. His Republican opponent is an outright crook who won't pay his federal taxes and has an IRS lien against his business. Even worse Wexler's facing a spoiler campaign from a self-styled "independent Democrat" who dropped out of the Democratic primary race when it became clear he would lose. That independent bears Wexler a grudge, because Wexler backed someone else in a previous primary for State Senate.

Much is being made of the issue of Wexler's residence. He's been called crooked and worse. Wexler grew up in south Florida and lived in the district until a year after he was elected. He has quite a few years of experience with home ownership and raising a family in Florida. He moved his family to be with them, and retains his residency the during his gov't service the same as soldiers do during their service. None of the current Florida members of Congress can live in Florida in the way that most Florida residents do. They spend the work week in DC and go back to Florida on weekends when they can. Wexler goes down to his Florida district office a couple times a month--around the same as the representatives whose families live in south FL. The main difference is where his family lives. Some other FL reps. even have their families living in the DC area as well but have retained token FL apts, a few even sharing them with "roomates". Where is the outrage against those reps.? A lot of the hostility is displaced anger that as a superdelegate he was an early supporter of Obama in a majority Clinton state. Perhaps he's gotten too comfortable with voting his conscience, but remember that cuts two ways--he can be counted upon to pay little attention to what special interest lobbyists want if they go against the needs of his district. It would be a real shame if that is enough for his constituents to remove such a courageous representative.

Wexler has worked hard to represent the interests of his district. A good example is his valiant struggle against the Bush Medicare drug program that gave a free hand to the drug companies to charge whatever they want. The proponents of the plan lied to Congress about what it would cost while taking large campaign contributions from the industry. The Bush official in charge of designing it came from a top job in the drug industry and went right back to it after the program passed. THAT'S CROOKED. I can't see how Wexler's behavior can be called crooked. Wexler was open all along about the residency. He even wrote about it in his book. A vote for one of the other candidates will result in a real Republican crook being elected.

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1. For Constituents Who Are Concerned About His Advocacy for FL Homeowners

The following are his top issues priorities according to his website:

Homeownership and the Foreclosure Crisis: In response to the housing and mortgage crisis, Congressman Wexler and his colleagues on the Financial Services Committee have acted to help homeowners facing foreclosure and make US businessees more accountable to shareholders and consumers.

Homeowners' Insurance Homeowners' Insurance: Congressman Wexler believes that the federal government must take action to assist Florida homeowners faced with rising insurance costs and an increasing number of insurance policy cancellations.

Economic Prosperity Economic Prosperity: Congressman Wexler supports efforts to produce an economic stimulus package that includes seniors and others in our community in order to put money back in the hands of the people and help middle class families get ahead.

Fiscal Responsibility in the Face of the Bush Deficit Fiscal Responsibility in the Face of the Bush Deficit: Congressman Wexler urges Congress to examine all aspects of our government's fiscal and financial policies, in order to be properly positioned to pass along to our children a stronger country than the one we inherited.

His record shows he walks his talk concerning the struggles of homeownership and the economic struggles of seniors. The page continues with his strong record and positions on:

Health Care and Social Security
Voting and Civil Rights
Foreign Policy
Environment and Energy
Veterans
and more

<http://wexler.house.gov/issues.shtml>

His press releases show his most recent successful committee work and votes on many issues critical to south Floridians. Congressional Quarterly included him in their "50 Most Effective Legislators in Congress" for good reason. His district could only lose by voting him out because of some trumped up hysteria over his residence by the crooked Republican and the "independent" spoiler candidate.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Meh. Even with Graber in the race, I don't see how Wexler even comes close to losing this.

I wouldn't worry too much about his re-election.