I’m really not surprised that Weston Wamp welcomes the financial aid from the same kind of “SuperPAC” he opposed just two years ago. In fact it’s a family tradition to say one thing and do another when it comes to PAC money.
It’s also not surprising that he dismisses the importance of seniority and committee assignments in Congress. I want a congressman who’ll do whatever is necessary to fix the Chickamauga Lock. I want a congressman who will sit on the Appropriations Committee and steer our tax money back into the Third District. I want a congressman who does not feel entitled to the seat.
Chuck Fleischmann is an honorable man, and has earned the respect and support of past opponents. While he may not put on great debate performances, you don’t need to check him out for a wire before having a conversation either.
Let’s keep a workhorse in the House of Representatives.
Thomas Sullivan
Chattanooga
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Not against/for either candidate.. but in regard to the term “workhorse,” take a look at this article:
http://uspolitics.about.com/od/thecongress/fl/How-Many-Days-Does-Congress-Work-a-Year.htm
An average of 137 days per year. One can almost see the sweat.
Gus Bryan
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Gus, as a former House staffer I can promise you that works goes on constantly in House offices even when Congress is not in session. The Congresswoman I worked for left her home at 6 in the morning and usually returned home around midnight. She oversaw multiple offices in both D.C. and her district, dealing with everything from legislation to case work for her constituents. Take a gander at any member of Congress’ schedule, and you will wonder how they get it all done.
Interesting that you ignored the full article you cited, which states:
“The nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation has reported: ‘Members work long hours (70 hours a week when Congress is in session), endure unequaled public scrutiny and criticism, and sacrifice family time to fulfill work responsibilities.’”
“The 70-hour work week reported by members of Congress is more than twice the average length of the work week for Americans.”
“Wrote the National Journal's Alex Seitz-Wald: ‘Congress's laziness is so taken for granted that it's never really challenged. In reality, while there are lots of nice perks, members of Congress have a grueling job, whether in Washington or at home in their states and districts. And in an age when the two chambers don't do much, they may be better off at home anyway.’”
So please understand that being a member of Congress is neither an easy nor a cushy job.
Wilson von Kessler
Lookout Mountain
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Chuck Fleischman an honorable man? Tell that to Robin Smith. Rep. Fleischman is for the things that Senator Corker and Senator Alexander have already done. Chuck said in the debate that he is now expanding the Chattanooga VA Clinic. His predecessor, Zach Wamp, (an actual workhorse) put that expansion in the five year plan when he was Ranking Member of the VA subcommittee before he left Congress in 2011.
Chuck a workhorse? You got to be kidding. He has done nothing to change Washington and here at home he takes credit.
Maybe Chuck just needs to come home and send a young, visionary and entrepreneur like Weston Wamp to Congress.
Rick Tucker
Hixson
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Ahh, a former House staffer tells me that members of congress are overworked and it's not an easy or cushy job. He cites the cheerleaders at Congressional Management Foundation ("building trust and effectiveness in Congress") as his proof. I guess that clears everything right up, huh? Not for me, it doesn't. I can assure you I don't sit around wondering how they get everything done. If anything, I'm more likely to ponder what the heck they actually do.
Members of congress make $174,000 a year and more than half of them are millionaires. Think about that for a minute. Are half of your co-workers millionaires? Are we really expected to believe that politicians would spend the massive amount of money it requires to run for office in order to take a job that will work them so much and pay them so little? Please.
I'm also asked to believe Chuck Fleischmann is a workhorse? Wow, talk about suspension of disbelief.
If there's anybody to give kudos concerning the Chickamauga Lock, it would be Lamar Alexander, not Chuck. Chuck has been busy sending postcards to the President. Yeah, that's my tax dollars at work.
Bottom line, if you are truly happy with the job congress has been doing, then by all means vote for Chuck. If not, consider Weston.
Herb Montgomery
Chattanooga
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If the people of Tennessee's U.S. House Third District want a real workhorse representing them, they would do well to consider Dr. Mary Headrick. Dr. Headrick has for decades served the people of Tennessee, most especially the low-income residents of Union County, as a medical doctor and educator. Before completing medical school, she worked as a computer analyst and systems programmer for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She has been active in community education and has worked for healthcare reform both at the state and national levels.
Dr. Headrick is highly intelligent, mature, and has well-developed policies on the issues that she will be working on in Congress. You will have an opportunity to meet and hear Dr. Headrick at UTC's Fine Arts Center on Monday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m., when UTC and the Chattanooga Women's Leadership Institute host a moderated forum with the three candidates for the Third District seat. I invite everyone to attend this event and learn for yourself what a candidate with real ideas sounds like. In addition, Channel 45 will broadcast an interview with Dr. Headrick on Friday, July 18, at 8:30 p.m. on a special edition of Tennessee Insider. If you are accustomed to hearing candidates speak stale talking points rather than telling you what they really think, then you are in for a real treat in getting to hear Dr. Headrick. I was in the audience when she and Mr. Fleischmann participated in a forum during the last election cycle, and it was the mismatch of the century.
With due respect to our current representative, Mr. Fleischmann seemed completely out of his league. All he had was Republican Party talking points, which he repeated without any real evidence that he understood the questions posed to him. By contrast, Dr. Headrick had well-reasoned answers with a wealth of background information, and her responses were highly informative and educational.
I believe if more people had an opportunity to meet Dr. Headrick, they would put aside petty party differences and would vote for the smartest, most hard-working person they could find to represent Tennessee's Third District, someone who has dedicated her life to the health and well-being of Tennessee's most needy citizens. I encourage you to seize your next opportunity to meet Mary Headrick and decide for yourself who you want to serve you in Washington: that bench-warmer guy, that photogenic kid, or that rocket scientist/medical doctor. Please don't keep Tennessee the butt of comedy show skits by voting for the first two guys.
Joy Eaton