Dear Editor:
I’m writing this letter to let the public know why I’m the best candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s new 8th Congressional district.
The new 8th CD, one of the most egregiously gerrymandered districts in America, covers parts of four counties, and divides three cities along mostly racial lines. A political party flip-flopper, I’ve switched from Republican to Democrat, but nothing about my beliefs have changed. Before I was a RINO, now I’m a DINO, which means I’m an independent, the hardest thing you can be in politics. But it’s not like party-switching should be an issue, knowing Rep. Albio Sires’ history.
That being said, the only election that matters is the June 5 Democratic Party primary, because a GOP or third-party candidate will never win in the new, heavily gerrymandered, 8th CD.
First off, Rep. Albio Sires’ record of failure in Congress speaks for itself. Since 2006, the year Rep. Sires was appointed to Congress by former Governor Jon Corzine (former CEO of Goldman Sachs, recent CEO of now-bankrupt MF Global and facing congressional investigation for stealing client funds), the country has been on a major downward trend. Increased unemployment, trillions of dollars in debt, social unrest, political tension, and still no recovery in sight. How could this be success? Our nation is continuing to fall behind in education globally, and we haven’t fixed our immigration problems.
Rep. Sires promised to put Main Street ahead of Wall Street, but voted to bail out big banks like Goldman Sachs. He voted to cut food stamps past 2014 to bail out special interest groups. He voted to cut funding for Social Security. He voted to increase troops in Afghanistan, and has been silent about the Obama Administration handing over thousands of guns to Mexican drug cartels (Operation Fast and Furious). He voted to end one war of choice, Iraq, but continued to support another war based on false ideology, false intelligence, and false promises: the “War on Drugs.”
In fairness, Rep. Albio Sires is only a part of the problem in our nation’s capital. The reason voters shouldn’t elect him to Congress next year is because a) he’s become too comfortable with his current position to ever be a part of the solution (that description could apply to most of the politicians in Congress, Republican or Democrat), and b) he doesn’t have the vision or leadership necessary to actually change things.
Insanity is repeating the same thing over-and-over again and expecting a better outcome. If you think the country is doing great and headed in the right direction, then please re-elect Albio Sires. Otherwise, vote for me, Michael J. Shurin, the candidate with bold vision and fresh leadership. If Rep. Sires feel different, he can publically debate me any time, any place, anywhere.
MICHAEL J. SHURIN
Democratic Candidate for Congress
N.J. 8th Congressional District