Editorial - Senator shows his party's colors
2007-10-06
Source: Jackson Hole Star Tribune
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, our newly appointed senator from Wyoming, has shown his true Republican colors, voting in lockstep with the Republican Party on a variety of key issues important to all Americans.
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rss feedFirst, he voted against expanding health care coverage for children! Citing ridiculous platitudes like, "Wyoming citizens do not want to subsidize health care for children in New York," not only is Barrasso factually wrong, but Barrasso completely ignores the children of Wyoming who would benefit from the increased coverage.
Wyoming Public Radio reports that 8,000 children in Wyoming will be without health care as a result of Bush's veto and Barrasso's capitulation. I am embarrassed that he would use such coarse, incorrect, "Republican talking points" to justify his vote against children.
Next, Barrasso shows his Republican credentials by voting to weaken our military. By voting against the bill that would have allowed our soldiers adequate rest between deployments, he is effectively breaking the back of our men and women in uniform.
Even Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey indicated that Republican senators who voted against this bill "do not support the troops." I guess Barrasso would rather send our men and women into harm's way without armor, without rest, without health care and without a plan under which they could succeed.
Finally, Barrasso did all people a disservice when he joined U.S. Sen. Enzi and voted against the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, know as the Matthew Shepard Act, which gives local law enforcement officials greater latitude and resources in investigating hate crimes, and allows federal assistance where needed.
These are crimes against people because of their race, religious orientation, nationality or sexual orientation. Do the senators remember that Matthew Shepard was murdered in Wyoming for being gay? Don't they feel even a little obligated to help people?
On the issues that matter most to Americans, Barrasso has shown that he will willingly and hypocritically abandon common-sense, justice, the people's will, and tow the Republican Party line. Three strikes and the senator is out!
