In Indiana’s Third Congressional District, Fort Wayne and thereabouts, Representative Mark Souder is apparently afraid of a debate with frequent commenter at Masson’s blog (and therefore my favorite Republican from the district) William Larsen who received 28% of the vote in the 2004 Republican primary. Mike Sylvester has the details. Perhaps Rep. Souder realizes that he should not be taking part in the democratic process at all, given his solemn promise to his constituents in 1994 that he would serve only 12 years. But, obviously, ducking the debate part while still being willing to take the paycheck for holding the office is bad form.
It is unfortunate that voters have such a short memory.
Mark Souder made a campaign promise to debate anyone. Now that he has been in office for twleve years he has changed his made.
Mark Souder also promised to serve for only twelve years; guess what happened to that promise?
Mike Sylvester
Syliva Smith reported in the Journal Gazette on 3-29-2006 there would be no debate.
The reasons Souder gave are:
He debated in 2002 because Helmke “knew what he was talking about.â€Debates in primaries are “usually just a sniping session.â€Larsen “is not a serious contender†and that they agree on a lot of issues.“I don’t need to stand up and hear, ‘We need to get rid of Social Security’ 18 million times,â€I really would like to debate the issues, but Souder will not. I really hate to snip, but is this not what Souder is doing?
Souder says we agree on a lot of issues while at the same time infers I do not know what I am talking about. Maybe it is he who does not know what he is talking about.
Mark Souder spoke to Prime Time 39 on 3-12-2004 and referred to Social Security as a “shell game.” He stated, “For people under 30 its probably going to be income based. I am not saying we’re going to pass that. It will probably be passed after I am dead.” He continued “If you’re 40, you might make it through the system. But if you’re under 40, and certainly under 30, you had better start planning because if you want to have a decent retirement you’re going to need supplemental funds.”
Who would you rather have fix Social Security, Larsen or Souder? He knows there is a problem, yet he is doing nothing about it and he does not want hear about it. The only fix he has is to tell our children to plan on saving a lot more because SS will be income based by they time they reach retirement age. What is the purpose of a U.S. Representative? Is it to ignore the really big problems and or talk about renaming high ways?
On Budget Deficits, Souder voted for the Rx drug program that will cause the deficit this year to increase by $45 Billion if not more and add over $3 Trillion to the national debt over twenty years. It’s your kid’s future Souder is mortgaging. But why does he not care? Pretty simple he will be dead by the time the problem sinks the economy. In scouting we leave a camp site in the same if not better condition than when we found it. I believe we leave this country is the same if not better condition than when we inherited it. Too bad Souder does not have the same moral value.
Souder seems very pleased the military ordered more Humvees. They are built in the 3rd district. The problem is this. Is the Humvee the best vehicle for our troops in Iraq? Sure the Humvee is mobile, maneuverable and fast, but how does this help in the streets of Baghdad where the roads are narrow? Why not use those heavy armored vehicles sitting in the desert that were built for the cold war and now replaced by the Humvee? What vehicle would you rather be in, a Humvee or an armored half track with a 50 caliber mounted on top?
Souder says he cares for veterans, yet is a conscientious objector. I am a navy veteran. I served my country. I gave blood for my country. I know what it is like to lay in a hospital bed recuperating from wounds received in the line of duty. I know what it is like to try and get treatment from the VA hospital in Fort Wayne as well as Indianapolis. We have over 15,000 casualties from this war. These service men and women who VOLUNTEERED will live with these wounds the rest of their lives. I will definitely support our veterans and disabled veterans.