Editorial: Send Conger to US Senate ballot (OR primary next Tuesday)

thedalleschronicle.com ^ | 5/13/14

[cotton1706]

The story of Jason Conger’s path from homelessness to Harvard Law School is one to inspire any young person with the idea that a good education and a powerful desire can make anything happen — as long as the people continue to support those opportunities.

#Conger and Dr. Monica Wehby are the front runners in the May 20 Republican primary race for the right to challenge U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley in the November general election.

#The Chronicle’s editorial board strongly endorses Conger for the position, not only because of his poverty-to-success story, but also because that story continues to inform his positions on the issues that affect a majority of his constitutents: middle income tax relief, restructuring of college aid and others.

#Both Wehby and Conger adhere to the fundamental Republican platform planks, with minimal difference in their positions on most. Both want to repeal the Affordable Care Act and adopt plans that address some of the complaints that have arisen in its wake: namely affordable catastrophic coverage, purchasing insurance across state lines and tax benefits for those who purchase insurance. On other issues, Conger has developed more comprehensive positions that reflect a better understanding of the issues of particular interest to Oregonians, and the issues before Congress.

#Wehby has gained some national interest as a result of her role as a physician in the campaign against Obamacare, but her leadership roles and her issue statements thus far have been narrowly focused on medicine and do not reflect a comprensive understanding of the broader issues.

#And her argument that doctors know best isn’t likely to wash as well with Oregon voters who have seen the state’s doctor-governor rule over a spectacular failure in the Cover Oregon computer system debacle.

[kabar]

Conger position on immigration from his website:

Create temporary visa or adjusted-status programs that allow law-abiding currently undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States (as non-citizens) to work in agriculture and other industries if they have a community-based sponsor (such as a church, association or employer).

This is amnesty. Any legislation that allows the lawbreakers to stay and work here is amnesty.

Reform the temporary visa program for high-skilled workers from foreign countries so U.S. companies have the workforce they need to be competitive globally.

Reform it how? We already bring in 650,000 guest workers a year. And how many high-skilled workers do we need with 21 million Americans unemployed or underemployed? -

[rstrahan]

Harvard-law grad. Immediate disqualified for me

[cloudmountain]

Those dang American workers and cotton pickers won't work for less than minimum wage. Illegals, A.K.A. wetbacks, will work for pittance.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is capitalism.

[txrefugee]

Always vote against the endorsements of Leftist newspapers. They will push the most liberal Republican every time, and in the general, they will endorse their own Democrat candidate.

[cloudmountain]

Harvard-law grad. Immediate disqualified for me

Lawyers represent the greedy, mean, killers, etc. That's their job.

The blame is with the folks who sue, grasp and grab for what doesn't belong to them.

[cloudmountain]

Always vote against the endorsements of Leftist newspapers. They will push the most liberal Republican every time, and in the general, they will endorse their own Democrat candidate.

Amen to that good advice.

[Lisbon1940]

That takes out Cruz then. Sasse is okay because his Harvard degree is Bachelors.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

Darva Conger?

[Hawthorn]

>> Harvard-law grad. Immediate disqualified for me <<

Absolutely. Ted Cruz is one-too-many GOP Harvard grads in the U. S. Senate.

(And while we’re at it, let’s also disqualify Ben Sasse and Tom Cotton. We certainly don’t want those Harvard grads to make it to the Senate!)

[kabar]

That, ladies and gentlemen, is capitalism.

Breaking the law by hiring illegal aliens is capitalism?

[TBP]

What a story!

[Seattle Conservative]

Thanks for posting this.

I only know about this race by what I’ve read on FR, and, most OR FReepers support Conger. Wehlby is pro-choice (which I find interesting give her profession). I’ve also read that she is a fairly liberal Republican. All that said, this is OR, not OK or TX. The last R Senator they had was some years ago - Gordon Smith.

It would be great if OR could elect a Republican that is fairly conservative (as much so as can be elected in OR). If they do, I hope some of the sentiment moves north - - I’m stuck with Maria Can’t-do-well and Patty “Osama Mama” Murray. I’ve adopted Sens Cruz & Sessions as my senators, with Mike Lee as an honorary 3rd.

[kabar]

I am becoming more and more cynical about the wisdom of electing "Republicans" who are really just moderate liberals. We will probably need a third party for us conservatives who must hold our noses to vote for pseudo-Reps.

[cloudmountain]

Breaking the law by hiring illegal aliens is capitalism?

YOU said it. I didn't.

[kabar]

I asked you a question.