Emerson's record

It's that time of the year, folks, when our homes are inundated by misleading and untrue political ads. We are exposed to exaggerations, lies and hyperbole that stagger the mind.

The current TV commercials of JoAnn Emerson are a case in point. They loudly proclaim that Sowers will raise our taxes, or that Sowers supports some distorted figure, that he will become the puppet of Pelosi. For Pete's sake. None of which he has ever done. He has not indicated that he will ever do this, but nevertheless the Emerson camp presents these messages as an accomplished fact (much like Bush's hooray --- mission accomplished). Further, Emerson proudly smirks at the beginning of these untruthful commercials that she "approves" of them. Really? One notices quickly that she does not run for re-election on her record of accomplishments for, sadly, she has none. So, she and her handlers resort to character assassination of a veteran who has served our country well. But then what else could we possibly expect from her? Apparently not the truth. The GOP, when closely examined, doesn't adhere to very many things to benefit this country. Freedom of religious expression? Heavens no. For from the GOP and Tea Party camps come a loud insistence that no mosques be built in our country. Constitution? Forget that. They loudly proclaim that they are the Christian Party, but they fight against laws which would help the poor, sick and hungry or those that have lost their jobs due to a tanking economy brought on by GOP policies beginning in 2006 and 2007. Oh no, we're not going to help the "least of these," as Jesus instructed, since they fear, "I would have to give up something that is mine." They pass a law that permits huge, rich corporations to donate unlimited sums of money to congressional candidates who will then do their bidding. Why not? It's a good thing they say and somehow falls under "freedom of speech." What a crock. They scream and holler and vilify the health care effort/bill and ignore the fact that over one third of our people in the 8th District have no health care for themselves or their children. But Emerson has spent years in Washington D.C. and has done nothing to stop the soaring cost of health care. But then she has an outstanding health plan, so why worry about her constituents? She doesn't even live in the 8th District but in St. Louis. Emerson proudly states she has fought against the health care plan but never states just what she's done to ease the health care crisis for her constituents. Sadly, our current Congresswoman Emerson has been bought and paid for by her fellow lobbyists for all the long years she has been "serving" Southeast Missouri. She has cast votes over and over that hurt the 8th District as thousands of jobs leave the 8th District. But in her commercials she has the gall to say that she is for finding jobs for "our" people because "it's important." We are supposed to believe this line of hers and not contemplate just why the jobs left or where they went, and not say, "but wait, these jobs disappeared on her watch." No, she glosses over this fact. No explanations, just ignore it. Pour tons of lobbyist money into negative and false commercials and the dummies will forget all about it and believe the lies and distortions in the commercials. Aren't we smarter than that?

It would be refreshing if the voters actually gave a moment or two to think about the kind of job Emerson has done for us during her tenure. As the voters drive through the small and dying communities where the factories have closed and the people (particularly our young educated people) have fled elsewhere to seek work, can we honestly say we're better off with her representation? No, this district deserves better! A young man with outstanding credentials and abilities is running for Congress from the 8th District. For the sake of the people of the 8th District, as Tommy Sowers appears around the district, go out and meet him, listen to what he's about, and I am confident you will realize that we, the people, need his representation in Congress.

SHIRLA HOWARD, 13593 County Road 437, Dexter, MO 63841