Stender Wins Debate for Real Change

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September 16, 2008

Stender Wins Debate for Real Change

Successfully Attacks Lance as Part of Failed Bush Agenda

FANWOOD – In a debate held tonight at the Wilf Jewish Community Campus in Scotch Plains, 7th District Congressional candidate Linda Stender decisively showed why she is the only candidate for real change after eight years of George Bush’s disastrous economic, energy and foreign policies. Leonard Lance exposed why he will continue the Bush agenda in Washington, while Stender represents real change.

Stender emphasized the stark choice that New Jersey voters face: “On November 4, after eight years of failure under George Bush, we have a choice between more of the same or a new direction in Washington. With Wall Street in chaos, the economy in shambles, record gas prices and a war in Iraq costing us $10 billion a month, we see the American Dream crumbling. I’m running for Congress to restore access to that American Dream for my children and grandchildren.”

Stender successfully linked Lance to Bush’s failed record on everything from the economy to energy independence to foreign policy, noting, “Leonard Lance’s friend George Bush is coming to New Jersey next week to raise money for him. He says nothing about the tax breaks for Big Oil who are making record profits and about tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.”

On the economy, Lance failed to address tax breaks given to companies who ship jobs overseas and, as Stender pointed out, even voted against raising the minimum wage for workers. Stender said we needed to regain trust in our credit markets after eight years of neglect under President Bush: “What we’ve seen over the past eight years is a loss of trust in our financial markets. The dismantling of regulations and oversight has led to the crisis. We have to restore that trust.” She further pointed out Bush’s flawed economic record that Lance promises to continue: “We see the Bush Administration turned record surpluses into record deficits. We need to have pay-as-you-go rules and tax cuts for middle class families.”

Lance’s answer to questions regarding energy neglected to ever mention tax breaks for Big Oil while we pay more at the pump. Stender made clear she had a comprehensive approach that breaks away from eight years of failure under Bush: “We need to stop tax breaks to Big Oil and invest in alternative fuels and renewable resources. We also need higher fuel efficiency for our vehicles. We need to make sure we are investing in that technology and science and innovation which will reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and need for an economy based on fossil fuels.”

On foreign policy, Stender noted the Bush’s war in Iraq had emboldened Iran and created a greater threat to Israel’s security. “The decision to go into Iraq was a mistake. It made Iran stronger and a greater threat to Israel, the Middle East and to the world. It made them a bigger player in an unstable part of the world…For too long, we’ve had cowboy diplomacy from the Bush Administration which we need to change if we’re to get a better, safer world,” Stender said.

Stender concluded with her pledge to fight and restore the American Dream: “Fact of the matter is that the party of which my opponent is in, the so-called moderates have been part of the mess they’ve made. We know that my opponent supports George Bush and that’s why he’s coming in support of my opponent. To me, what’s at stake is what kind of future will there be for my grandchildren. When I hold my grandchildren, I want to be able to say I did everything I could to build a better future for them, that I worked to bring the troops home, that we accomplished energy independence instead of being beholdened to oil companies, that I was there to stand with democracy, and with Israel, and that I fought so people could have decent wages and health care and retire with dignity. That’s the American Dream. We can have more of the same or begin building a better future. With your help, I will restore the American Dream and offer us a new direction so we can once again be proud of the country we all love.”

Paid for by Linda Stender for Congress