In 2004, Russ Carnahan made a series of promises upon being elected to fill Dick Gephardt's seat in the 3rd District.
These are pulled directly from his campaign site.
On staying in touch with the people in his district.
"Congressman Gephardt has provided a great model for service by keeping local and personal contact with his constituents. I will work tirelessly to continue that strong connection to the people. No one will out work me at the grassroots level."
Voters of the third district. When was the last time any of you saw Russ Carnahan out in public, without a carefully scripted meeting? When was the last time he ate in your restaurants, shopped in your stores, or just walked around and met with you? Dick Gephardt was great at this. Russ promised to serve in the same manner, but like every job he's had, from BJC lobbyist to Missouri State Representative, he just doesn't have his heart in it. You know it's true.
Russ's Economic Plan1. Restore America 's Economy and American Jobs
The Bush Administration, through irresponsible tax cuts and excessive spending, is mortgaging our economic future. Corporate scandals, job loss, and economic stagnation are the hallmarks of an administration that has focused on tax breaks for the richest Americans. In Congress, I will work hard for all Americans, particularly our children and the future generations who will have to pay for Republican economic excesses. My economic priorities will focus on reducing the spiraling national debt, protecting American jobs from being outsourced to countries with unfair trade policies, ensuring responsible corporate policies and developing cutting edge technologies in Missouri 's 3rd District.
When Russ took office in 2005, the Debt was $7 Trillion, but the deficit was shrinking. Once the Democrats took over in 2007, the debt exploded, and we are now over $13 trillion in debt, with trillion dollar deficits forecast for the next decade.
What has Russ down to reduce the spiraling debt? He voted time and again to increase it. Mind you this was 2004 that he was making these promises. This was before the bailouts, before the crash, and before 10% unemployment. Maybe if he read the bills he was voting on...
Now I hear his sister, Robin Carnahan (in addition to whacking him over the head for taking half his money for PACs, voting for TARP and other bailouts, and earmarking special interests like his brother's wind farm), is for those evil tax cuts to the richest Americans.
5. Fight for Seniors: Save Social Security and Medicare for Future Generations
As Tom Brokaw's “Greatest Generation” settles into retirement, programs for seniors are facing the greatest threat since their inception. One of my most fundamental duties as a Congressman will be to preserve and protect these programs — particularly Social Security and Medicare.
Social Security and Medicare are broke - taking in more than they are paying out, and Social Security has been raided of all of its surplus, which means there is nothing for future programs. And to top it off, Russ's vote on the healthcare plan cut $500 billion from Medicare so they could claim the bill was deficit neutral! Two months later, they tried to put the funding back in, having crammed through healthcare on a straight-line party vote and with billions in pay-offs and kickbacks.
Bottom line for Carnahan - is he's going to lose a race in a safe Democratic district because he's the laziest politician in Missouri. Democrats in the third district only support him in a lukewarm manner, but most will be pleased when he is gone. They can't wait until 2012 to run a representative who actually wants to be there.
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