Cranky Vernon Responds to Democratic Club
President's Daughter's Attack
To the Editor:

It is my pleasure to respond to Shannon Tierney's June 27 letter, "Gray Off Base on Hoyer."

I would like to compliment Shannon on her originality.  In my 16 years of political activism I have not before been called a "town crank."  I shall proudly add it to the many other accolades I have received from disgruntled Democrats.

Shannon accuses me of complaining and "without offering any solutions or anything constructive."  To the contrary, I have repeatedly offered the constructive solution that the people of the 5th District would be much better served by replacing Rep. Steny Hoyer with someone who truly represents their mainstream values and principles, rather than representing the political agenda of the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.

Anyone with an open mind need only refer to www.vote-smart.org, a non-partisan voter information source, to become aware of the true political nature of Hoyer's voting record.  In particular, I believe that senior citizens will find his voting record on Social Security, Medicare, prescription drug benefits, health care reform, and estate (death) taxes very enlightening.  For example, in 1993 Hoyer voted to increase the taxable portion of Social Security benefits from 50 to 85 percent, and in 1995 and 2000 voted against repealing this tax hike on seniors.

Shannon asked of me the question, "What do 70 percent of the voters in the 5th District, both Democrat and Republican, see in Steny Hoyer that you don't or won't?"   So as to not over-state Hoyer's popularity, it is noted that as few as 58 percent of the voters have re-elected him in some previous elections.  What do they see in him?  They see the Steny Hoyer who is craftily portrayed in his publicity.  For example, Hoyer leads people to believe he is primarily responsible for the Joint Strike Fighter coming to NAWCAD Pax River for testing, when in fact his role in this decision-making process was negligible.  Or, consider his rhetoric intended to make people believe his re-election is essential to protecting the district's military facilities from BRAC, when in fact his influence in the process is minimal.  What they see is what he wants them to see for his own self-serving purposes.

What they do not see, unless they go looking, is the Steny Hoyer who hides behind a political smokescreen.  For example, they do not see the Steny Hoyer who has received a 100 percent approval rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), Planned Parenthood, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, National Education Association (NEA), and the Sierra Club; a 90 percent rating from Americans for Democratic Action and a 87 percent rating from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); or a dismal 46 percent rating from the National Retail Association, 40 percent from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 22 percent from the National Taxpayer's Union, 12 percent from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) and a zero percent rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Associated Builders & Contractors, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Sometimes it takes a so-called "town crank" to help people see the truth.

Vernon Gray