Rep. Giffords secures first major print endorsement of CD8 race
October 1, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Swedlund
Communications Director
Giffords for Congress
520-512-0012
REP. GIFFORDS SECURES FIRST MAJOR PRINT ENDORSEMENT OF CD8 RACE
In picking Giffords over Tim Bee, the well-read and respected Tucson Weekly called Giffords “a politician in touch with the needs of Southern Arizona.”
The Weekly’s endorsement, published in the Oct. 2 issue, comes on the heels of the paper naming Giffords Best Public Servant in its annual Best of Tucson Issue. It is the first from a major newspaper in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. The full endorsement is below.
When we endorsed Gabrielle Giffords in 2006, it was a leap of faith based on what we knew about her. As a member of the minority party in the Arizona Legislature, Giffords hadn’t had a chance to build a long list of legislative accomplishments, although we admired her voting record on environmental and health-care issues and her level-headed style.
Two years later, Giffords has proven herself to be a politician in touch with the needs of Southern Arizona.
Giffords stepped up when the Border Patrol wanted to build a massive permanent station on the edge of Green Valley. She stepped up when the Federal Emergency Management Agency wanted to include much of Marana in a floodplain, and she’s earned an enthusiastic endorsement from Marana’s Republican mayor as a result.
That’s real constituent service from an accessible lawmaker.
And while Democrats in Congress haven’t been able to accomplish many of their national goals–improving health care, ending the Iraq war, reforming the broken immigration system–the blame for that rests with both parties, not just the Dems.
We respect what Republican Tim Bee has done for Southern Arizona during his time in the Legislature. But much of what we admire about him–his understanding that government can help those less fortunate through education and social services–is lost on most members of his own party. We’re also disappointed with his tacit approval of bigotry by allowing Proposition 102 to get on the ballot.
As we mentioned before, GOP rule of this country has been a disaster. This is not the time to give the keys to Congress back to them.
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