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Posted on 09/28/2002 7:27:40 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Democrats said on Saturday that even as the nation prepared for a possible war with Iraq, lawmakers should not ignore the challenges facing the U.S. economy and pressing health care issues.
"The president rightly seeks to marshal our national resolve against the purveyors of hatred and violence who have made America their target," Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey said in the weekly Democratic radio address. "But shouldn't we be equally as vigilant about attacking the economic challenges we now face?"
Torricelli, whose ethics lapses put him in a tight race for reelection, said the nation's challenges include record job losses, weak economic growth, declining business investment, falling stock prices, shrinking retirement accounts as well as rising health care costs.
He also mentioned poverty increasing for the first time in eight years, rising home foreclosure rates and budget deficits that mean lawmakers are dipping into Social Security to fund other programs.
"We have the opportunity to address these issues now," Torricelli said. "For example, guaranteed Medicare prescription drug coverage for all seniors would not only give older Americans greater security, but would place downward pressure on prescription drug prices.
As the White House and Congress debate a possible U.S. military attack against Iraq, Democrats are pushing to focus voters' attention on the economy and other domestic issues ahead of congressional elections on Nov. 5 that will determine which party controls Congress.
Torricelli faces a tough reelection bid after being hit with a rebuke from the Senate Ethics Committee for improperly receiving gifts from former New Jersey businessman David Chang.
Truly pathetic what some politicians will do to retain control of the Senate.
But NOOOOO, they put up an ethics violator who is a total crook. McAuliffe obviously is behind this.
In order for Toricelli's actions to be considered "lapses", wouldn't we have to first establish that he normally conducts himself ethically? It seems to me, an ethical lapse for Torricelli is when he does the right thing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Tom Rubino September 28, 2002 (609) 890-4699
Did The Democrats ACTUALLY Choose Mr. Torricelli To Respond to President?
With Little Credibility, Mr. Torricelli Was The Wrong Choice
(HAMILTON, SEPTEMBER 28) – Forrester for Senate campaign manager Bill Pascoe – responding to the Democrats’ pick of Robert Torricelli (who has NO credibility remaining) to respond to President Bush’s weekly national radio address – today issued the following statement:
”This morning, Mr. Torricelli gave the Democrats’ response to the President’s radio address. Forget the fact that Mr. Torricelli’s credibility has been destroyed by the latest revelations in the Chang affair; the Democrats had him speaking about issues where Mr. Torricelli had no credibility to begin with.
“Mr. Torricelli started his response by saying, ‘Americans today are focused on the issue of security.’ That’s true. National security is the number one issue among New Jersey voters, and Mr. Torricelli has the worst record on national security in the Senate. He has consistently voted to cut defense and intelligence budgets. He’s voted to make intelligence budgets public – letting our enemies know our strengths and our weaknesses, by revealing to them what we know and what we do NOT know – and he has even leaked classified information.
“The Torricelli Principle – restrictions put in place in the mid-1990s, at the direct urging of Mr. Torricelli, that prevented CIA case officers from recruiting agents with ‘unsavory backgrounds’ without first obtaining approval from Washington bureaucrats – decimated our nation’s intelligence gathering capabilities. Moreover, Mr. Torricelli has lobbied on behalf of the MEK – a terrorist group based in Baghdad, funded by Saddam Hussein, and involved in the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Iran – to have them removed the State Department’s terrorist list! And the Democrats chose Mr. Torricelli to speak to Americans about national security?
“Mr. Torricelli then went on to speak about ‘mounting threats to our economic security,’ blaming the Bush Administration for our nation’s economic troubles, ignoring the impact of the terrorist attacks and corporate scandals that began in a previous Administration. Considering Mr. Torricelli’s record in decimating our nation’s intelligence capabilities and his questionable record of one-day, insider stock trading, is it wise for him to be making such an argument?
“Mr. Torricelli then continued, criticizing raiding the Social Security Trust Fund – but failed to mention that he has voted to raid the Social Security Trust Fund TEN times. He voted against a Social Security Lock Box SEVEN times, and he even voted to RAISE taxes on Social Security benefits.
“Lastly, Mr. Torricelli spoke about the crushing cost of prescription drugs. He failed to mention that he has been in Congress for 20 years and has failed to pass a prescription drug plan. He also failed to mention his only legacy on prescription drugs is taking $50,000 from the maker of Claritin and the very next day proposing patent extension legislation that one consumer group estimated would have cost Americans $11 billion in HIGHER drug prices.
“The fact of the matter is that Mr. Torricelli has NO credibility when it comes to ethics OR issues. After 20 years of Mr. Torricelli in Washington, at least ONE verdict is in – Mr. Torricelli has failed New Jersey. Today’s address is just another example of why New Jersey deserves better. There are just 38 more days – Help is on the way!”
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Paid for by Forrester 2002, Inc.
Domestic challenges like terrorism in the USA?
Works for me. The Torch can keep x42(i), Shrillery, and El Reno company.
Go Go
NJ, it's time to put out the Torch!
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Jamais reculez á tyrannie un pouce!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! Never give an inch to tyranny!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
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