PA Small Town and Rural Leaders Reject Clinton and McCain Attacks
In open letter to fellow Pennsylvania voters, community leaders and elected officials reject broken politics of the past, affirm that Obama will fight for Pennsylvanians
PHILADELPHIA, PA�"Twenty-one elected officials and community leaders from small towns and rural areas throughout Pennsylvania today released an open letter asking fellow Pennsylvanians to set aside Senators Clinton and McCain's recent attempts at political point-scoring and consider who will fight for them as President.
"A few days ago, Sen. Obama made some comments that his opponents are now using to make him appear as if he is something he is not. Instead of speaking to us honestly about how they intend to solve the problems we are facing, they are playing the same old Washington games that accomplish nothing," the letter reads. "...The politicians who are now saying that we shouldn't be frustrated are the ones who are out of touch."
Citing a broken Washington politics that has allowed special interests and Washington lobbyists to crowd out the voice of working Americans, the authors praise Obama's commitment to fighting for every day people and rejection the same old political games.
"Unlike his opponents who have been part of the Washington establishment for decades, Barack Obama understands the struggles we are going through," the letter concludes. "We welcomed him with open arms as he made his way through small towns and rural areas on his recent bus tour across the state. And we will work day and night from now until the primary on his behalf not only because he has heard our frustrations, but because he speaks to our hope that Washington can actually work for people like us."
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Fellow Pennsylvanian,
We live in small towns and rural areas throughout Pennsylvania and we support Barack Obama for President.
A few days ago, Sen. Obama made some comments that his opponents are now using to make him appear as if he is something he is not. Instead of speaking to us honestly about how they intend to solve the problems we are facing, they are playing the same old Washington games that accomplish nothing.
What Sen. Obama said is that over the last 25-30 years, working class people in places like Pennsylvania have been falling behind, and that politicians in Washington haven't been looking out for them. He also said that, as a result, many people have become frustrated, angry and even bitter about all the broken promises.
He was right.
The politicians who are now saying that we shouldn't be frustrated are the ones who are out of touch.
People in the towns and communities we live in have seen their jobs shipped overseas. We've seen our pensions disappear. We've seen our health care costs skyrocket. We've seen everything from the cost of gasoline to a gallon of milk go through the roof.
As our families have struggled to make ends meet and our communities fought to stay intact, how has Washington responded? By giving tax breaks to the wealthy, rewarding corporations who ship jobs overseas, and turning the levers of power over to the lobbyists and special interests.
It's easy to feel a little frustrated when you see these Washington politicians continue to ignore you. But it's not the only emotion we feel. When someone comes along who is untainted by the system in Washington , who doesn't take money from federal lobbyists or special interests and who promises that things can be different, we feel something else�"hope.
That's why we're supporting Barack Obama. Others have come along and promised change, but failed to deliver. Sen. Obama is different than the rest. He doesn't take money from the special interests, and he speaks honestly about the issues we are facing.
In addition to supporting his plans for jobs, health care and education, we believe that he can deliver on his promises to ensure economic opportunity for family farmers, to provide support for rural economic development, to promote renewable energy in rural America, to protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns for the purposes of hunting and target shooting, and to preserve open land for hunting and fishing.
Unlike his opponents who have been part of the Washington establishment for decades, Barack Obama understands the struggles we are going through. We welcomed him with open arms as he made his way through small towns and rural areas on his recent bus tour across the state. And we will work day and night from now until the primary on his behalf not only because he has heard our frustrations, but because he speaks to our hope that Washington can actually work for people like us.
Sincerely,
Ted Alter, State College
Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Bayla, Greensburg
Mayor John Brenner, York
Lloyd Casey, West Chester �" President, Pennsylvania Forestry Association
Mayor John Fetterman, Braddock
Mayor Rick Gray, Lancaster
Scott Harrison, Warriors Mark
State Representative Bryan Lentz, Swarthmore
State Senator Sean Logan, Monroeville
Carl Majji, Claysville �" Corporal , U.S. Army
Mayor Thomas McMahon, Reading
State Senator Bob Mellow �" Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader
U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, Doylestown �" U.S. Congressman (PA-08)
Perry County Commissioner Steve Naylor, New Bloomfield
Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien, Dunmore
Fran Rodriquez, Lancaster
State Representative Josh Shapiro, Abington �" Deputy Speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Major General Walter Stewart, Berks County �" Former Commander, 28th 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
State Representative Dan Surra, St. Marys
State Representative Thomas Tangretti, Greensburg
Lackawanna County Commissioner Michael Washo, Scranton
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