Letter: Only one choice in District 20 senate race
Too often voters must choose the lesser of two evils, or the better of two bads. In contrast, voters in the Takoma Park-Silver Spring area will have the opportunity in the September 12 Democratic primary election to choose the greatest among many great candidates. This is particularly true in the District 20 delegates race where I would be proud to be represented by any of the candidates. The four challengers, Aaron Klein, Tom Hucker, Heather Mizeur, and Lucinda Lesley, each have particularly strong progressive credentials as does Delegate Sheila Hixson. Similarly in the district 5 county council race between Hans Reimer and Valerie Ervin, and in the at-large council race, where there are many really good candidates such as Marc Elrich and George Leventhal, I wish that I had the opportunity to vote for all of the above.
Initially, I thought that was also the case in the District 20 Senate race where Ida Ruben has provided many, many years of adequate, although far from spectacular, service. However, the Senator’s stumbling performance in the candidates debate where she strongly defended politics of monied special interests and backroom deals, confused global warming with common air pollution (hot air coming in from other states) and was often barely coherent, raised serious doubts about her fitness to represent me.
Most recently her character assassination of challenger Jamie Raskin in a paid mailing (the one with the jackass on the cover) has completely pushed me over the edge. In addition to distorting and taking Mr. Raskin’s legal work in defense of civil rights and liberty completely out of context and insulting every democrat in the county, as well as Mr. Raskin, Senator Ruben also distorts her own record when she claims to have opposed the Iraq war. In fact, she was the chief sponsor of a Senate joint resolution supporting President Bush’s heinous decision.
In contrast, Jamie Raskin offers District 20 voters a chance for leadership that is truly progressive and challenging of politics as usual where the backroom deals support the politically-connected special interests. A leading constitutional scholar and educator who has empowered students, minorities and other under-privileged individuals, Raskin would be a breath of fresh air in the smoke-filled back rooms of Annapolis. A strong environmentalist, who unlike Ruben, feels that the ICC would be an environmental, economic and community disaster, Raskin would engage the intellectual resources of our district in developing innovative policies. Raskin is part of a big blue wave of progressive politics that is starting to sweep the country from Connecticut to California.
As shown by this demeaning attack ad, Senator Ruben and her cronies will not give up power easily. Expect a bloody campaign and a close election. We must reject the politics of negativity and money. It is time to demand the truly great political representation that we deserve. State Senator Jamie Raskin would be a great complement to our suite of top-notch, progressive assembly and council candidates.
— David Blockstein
Takoma Park, MD