Heath Shuler [is] wasting our time in Washington!
As a voter for him this past November, I am extremely upset at his recent vote on a resolution condemning MoveOn.org.
First, it is incredible that someone who claims to be an American would condemn someone’s right to free speech.
Second, we have real Americans dying for no real reason, and he has done nothing to bring them home. And the Congress is wasting time condemning free speech.
It is time for the Democrats, and people like Shuler who call themselves a Democrat, to stand up to our dictator, Bush. I have had it with no one taking a stand while we continue to lose lives.
On another note, I am extremely pleased that the Senate had the guts to pass the Matthew Shephard Act, even though Shuler voted against it. If I had known he was such a homophobic and discriminating person, I would have not cast my vote for him. Thanks for nothing.
— Timothy Thomasson
Asheville
Shuler has let many people down. Many voters supported Democratic candidates last November for essentially two reasons: to change the course of the Iraq debacle and to reassert Congressional checks-and-balances oversight, consistent with their Constitutional responsibilities. Instead, what we get are spineless sycophants as leaders of the Democrats (Nancy Pelosi, adamant that no impeachment proceedings will move forward, has effectively given Bush and his lackeys license to do whatever they want…they’ll just roll over like a docile dog). Shuler refused to support impeachment initiatives against Cheney, he supported the Administration’s continual efforts to eviscerate our Constitutional freedoms (voting to extend warrantless wiretapping without oversight) and has generally been as compliant an enabler of the worst of this administration. But hey, he’s ready to tackle the national problem of appropriate movies for kids on airplanes.
He seems to be as cowardly as his Democratic colleagues, and is a huge disappointment.
Did you expect any different? In all honesty, didn’t most of us vote for Shuler simply for not being his esteemed opponent?
Timothy,
While you may be disappointed in the policy direction of this country, your objections based on “free speech” have no logical or sensible ground. Certainly MoveOn dot org is afforded the right to voice it’s opinions in any matter it desires (provided there is a media outlet for those opinions). However, that right of political speech is no guarantee that the expressed opinions are going to be well received or received in silence. Rep. Shuler did not vote against anybody’s “free speech”. Instead he voted to affirm a resolution that objected to the content of that exercise. The same can be said of your letter to this publication. It is an objection to the actions of your Representative and is a protected free speech issue (as long as the publication agrees to publish your remarks as they have in this instance).
It is clear you do not approve of his actions however it is unfortunate you are not voicing your objections with a reasonable argument. Instead you are engaging in ad hom statements and unsubstantiated rhetoric as well as demonstrating a lack of knowledge regarding the issues at hand. As for voting for or against him, you will have another opportunity. I recommend you write in whatever candidate you desire and let your conscience determine your actions.
A.M. Mallett
Tim, you seem not to understand the meaning of free speech. I read that article by chance this morning and I know this town is very liberal, and many share your views on the Iraq war debacle as you call it.
However free speech is what it is Tim and many people have taken a stab at that moveon.org ad including myself, and it is every bit as much their right to do so as it was for moveon.org to put their 2 cents in about Gen. Petreaus.
Sorry to hear that the Democrats you elected don’t share your unrealistic get out of Iraq ASAP mentality. The truth is things are more complicated than that and perhaps many Democrats in congress more than understood this but used the war to get them elected anyway. Oh well, I saw this kind of thing coming.
As for Sheuler I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to point out how ridiculous that Ad really was then more power to him buddy. Free speech right?
I may support winning this war, but I firmly believe a person can be against it yet be realistic at the same time. Bashing someone solely to support a political viewpoint is wrong.
That article speaks of free speech yet it seems as slanted as a one legged, one armed vagabond walking the high wire for the local circus at night, and I suppose thats pretty slanted. ;)