Hillsdale College student Hans Zeiger dissects the record of Joe Schwarz and analyzes the challenge of Tim Walberg in an article for WorldNetDaily entitled "Joe Schwarz's coming expulsion from Congress." He writes:
"The first time I saw Joe Schwarz was in a six-way congressional debate at Hillsdale College. Republicans in the district made the mistake in 2004 of tolerating five generally qualified conservatives to run up against Mr. Schwarz and each other in the primary election. At the debate, Schwarz defended his pro-abortion position and his endorsement of universal health care. Those positions don't resonate with the people of Michigan's Seventh District. So the five conservatives pulled in 72 percent among themselves, handing victory to Mr. Schwarz with only 28 percent.
Needless to say, Joe Schwarz has been a disappointment.
The National Taxpayers Union recently assigned Mr. Schwarz one of the lowest ratings of any Republican in Congress. The median score for members of Congress is 48 percent. Schwarz earns a 47 percent or C-minus for his record on taxes and spending. According to the NTU, Schwarz's rating "represents a minimally acceptable voting record on controlling taxes and spending."
After Hurricane Katrina, Schwarz spoke of undoing the Bush tax cuts to finance the hurricane cleanup. He supported the $223 million "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, part of the gargantuan Highway Bill. He voted to fund the terribly unnecessary Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the equally unnecessary National Endowment for the Arts. He even voted to federally finance the purchase of impotency drugs. Cutting spending does not seem an option to Mr. Schwarz. A little 1 percent spending-cut proposal was met with his big "no" vote.
Schwarz's record on private-property issues is horrendous. After the Supreme Court's Kelo decision that expanded eminent-domain powers, Schwarz opposed a bill to protect private-property rights. While the size and power of government has grown, individual ownership has become increasingly insecure. Joe Schwarz is actively helping to perpetuate that insecurity.
Gun Owners of America gives Schwarz a puny 50 percent rating (even though Schwarz represents a major hunting and outdoors constituency). Schwarz pulls in a mere 60 percent rating from Eagle Forum, and a 62 percent rating from Family Research Council. Schwarz is one of the few Republicans who stands against a federal Marriage Amendment. He voted in favor of John Conyers' bill that would deliver special punishments for so-called hate crimes."
Read the whole article. Also, see what I wrote on Schwarz's positions on abortion and gun rights.
3 comments:
How can all of the following people be wrong?
National Leaders who support Congressman Joe Schwarz:
U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House
U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, House Majority Whip
U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee
U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, Chair of the House Republican Conference
U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee
U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland)
U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids), Chairman of the House Administration
Committee
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph)
Party Leaders who support Congressman Joe Schwarz:
Saul Anuzis, Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
Dick DeVos, Republican gubernatorial candidate
Chuck Yob, Republican National Committeeman for Michigan
Holly Hughes, Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan
Mike Troutman, Chairman of the 7th Congressional District Republican Party
Clark Bisbee, Former State Representative from Jackson
Gene DeRossett, Former State Representative from Manchester
State Sen. Bev Hammerstrom (R-Jackson)
Harry Gast, Former State Senator from St. Joseph
Jerry Roe, Former Executive Director of the Michigan Republican Party
Tim Tarry, Chairman of the Eaton County Republican Party
There is an unwritten rule that the party establishment will always support a Republican incumbent. This was true in 2004 when Arlen Specter was challenged by a conservative, it is true this year when Lincoln Chaffee is being challenged by a conservative, and it is true of Joe Schwarz.
Notably absent from the above comment is any attampt to defend the record of Joe Schwarz; it is indefensible. Also absent is the support of any conservative organizations or leaders of the conservative movement. Conservatives are not obligated to follow the party establishment. Voters in the 7th district owe it to themselves to examine the record of Joe Schwarz. When they do, they will see that there is a better choice.
The record of Congressman Schwarz certainly does speak for itself. To anyone who is actually willing to take the time to look in depth at his voting record and his reasons behind it, as some are obvioulsy unwilling to do, you get the picture of a man who approaches each topic with with a clear and unbiased mind. Someone who has no preconcieved notions and is willing to bare his great intellect on any issue in order to find fair solutions. This is what makes a great legislator. I think anyone would be hard pressed to say the same about Tim Walberg.
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