As a Jewish writer who has recently had a novel about a boy from the Hitler Youth published, I wondered as I researched my book how the people of Germany could have let the National Socialism come to power.  I wondered it as I wandered through the Rhine Valley and as I interacted with the delightful people and enjoyed the often pristine, gemutlich villages and marveled at the music of Beethoven.

As a Jewish candidate for Congress, who has seen his face plastered on the bodies of Nazi war criminals by the Young Republicans of a local college because of the maliciousness of my opponent, I wondered how my America could have allowed that to happen.  That my wonderment eventually grew into a law suit against my opponent is less the question  than that it had to happen at all.

As an American citizen, regardless of my religion or creed or race or gender or any other arbitrary standard by which mankind seems to delight in pitting one against another, I wondered how an Anne Coulter could say of a Max Cleland that the three limbs he left in Vietnam during his military service to his country were not as meaningful because they were lost trying to save his buddies from an American grenade and not an enemy grenade, what kind of child-rearing could have produced a morality such as hers. Read more...

I have sent a letter to several Congressional districts across the country that have been targeted by political interest groups mischaracterizing AARP’s Voters’ Guides and the positions of candidates on Social Security.

AARP members in AZ-5, CO-7, FL-16, KY-4, PA-10, and TX-17 will be receiving this correspondence.  The letter sent to these districts can be seen below.  All political interest groups, parties, and candidates should cease using AARP’s Voters’ Guides in a misleading way.

AARP believes that a bipartisan, balanced plan can maintain guaranteed Social Security benefits for future generations, and an overwhelming number of our members and the American public agree with this position.  AARP’s Voters’ Guides provide voters with unedited candidate responses and allow our members and the general public to have a more accurate understanding of the candidates’ positions in order to make an informed choice when they go vote. Read more...

This week I appealed to the president of Bangladesh on behalf of a Muslim journalist on trial for sedition.  Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has faced persecution by the government, by radical Islamist groups, and by unidentified thugs on the street because he warned against the rise of Islamist terrorism in Bangladesh and for advocating interfaith dialogue, including recognition of Israel.

In a letter to President Iajuddin Ahmed, I said Choudhury’s trial makes a mockery of any notion that Bangladesh is a tolerant society or one in which freedom of expression is accorded any value whatsoever.  It also raises a very serious question as to whether Bangladesh is a peace-loving nation.

Bangladesh may not want to recognize Israel; that is its sovereign choice, if a poor one. But it is shameful that a citizen can be threatened with death simply for suggesting that his nation live at peace with Israel or for wishing to visit Israel.
I urged President Ahmed to use his power under Article 49 of the country's constitution -- the "Prerogative of Mercy" -- to counteract any court ruling against Choudhury. Read more...

This week, charges were filed against former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford for making a false writing and serving with conflicts of interest.  I led the call last year for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General Daniel Levinson to conduct an investigation into Crawford's sudden resignation with a particular focus on any potential financial conflicts of interest.  Levinson initiated the investigation in response.

Senior officials at the FDA have led the agency down a dark road into a state of crisis.  This new court filing against Lester Crawford underscores the fact that the FDA, which is one of the most important protectors of public health and safety, is in need of a serious overhaul.  By blatantly ignoring the law on financial holdings and conflicts of interest, Lester Crawford used his position as the head of the FDA to send all the wrong signals to other FDA employees and the American public.  It is not possible for the FDA to fairly and impartially regulate the food and drug industries when the commissioner of the agency has a vested financial interest in the results. Read more...

President Bush and Republican campaign committees have pinned their political strategy on a claim that Democrats would raise taxes if elected to a majority in Congress. They may think their approach is good politics, but at the end of the day, it's policy that matters, and the average American family is not secure in today's economy. Democrats have a long history of supporting relief for middle-income families and we'll build on that to strengthen economic security for all Americans.

Democrats understand that the tax code can help Americans realize their dreams and foster stability as we grow into a new century. But, if we're not careful, the code can widen the gaps that divide America and keep millions from reaching their potential. That is why Democrats have developed a pay-as-you-go budget platform that will not saddle our children and grandchildren with more, unbearable debt. We will make it a priority to close the 'tax gap,' collecting the $345 billion owed each year in unpaid taxes and we will close tax shelters and eliminate benefits for companies that move jobs overseas.

Regardless of which party controls Congress or the White House, issues like enforcing current tax law, simplifying our nation's tax code or reforming Social Security, cannot be achieved without a truly bipartisan effort. I would hope that the President and his fellow Republicans, instead of attempting to predict the behavior of Democrats, would work with us to find common ground and solve the many challenges facing this great nation.

America has a long tradition of military service dating back more than 200 years, with many stories of great soldiers and airmen who gave their lives on the battlefield. I am proud of our servicemembers and will never forget our brave men and women fighting overseas. Arkansans have done their part to protect our freedom, contributing heavily to the war effort since the conflict began. Our State alone has roughly 1,700 soldiers currently overseas and has deployed more than 8,000 since September 11, 2001.

We, as a nation, must ensure that our troops have the tools and resources they need to not only accomplish their mission but to also stay connected to their families and loved ones who remain in the United States. One of my constituents recently informed me that it is difficult to contact her son due to the expensive calling cards needed for overseas telephone calls. With our troops continuously in harm’s way, we must do better than this.

Simply put, this government needs to provide our servicemembers with free telephone access to contact their families here in the United States while they are in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have recently urged President Bush to include funding that will allow our brave American servicemembers overseas to call their loved ones free of charge as the Administration’s FY2008 budget is being prepared.

May God bless our troops, their families, and every American.

My name is Robert Belin and I am running for United States Congress in the second congressional district. One of government’s functions is to empower people to be the best they can to themselves, their families and society. Back in 1995, Representative Jackson said during his campaign, “I am seeking to serve office, to serve the people, meet their needs and better the lives of the people of the second district Read more...

This week, U.S. District Court Sim Lake of the Southern District of Texas dismissed the convictions of former Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay. The dismissal of these criminal convictions effectively leaves the victims of Enron without appropriate financial restitution.

So, I’m urging Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Justice Department to immediately seek an appeal of Judge Lake’s ruling. The Government should fight to preserve Enron victims’ hard-fought right to obtain restitution.

I was also very dismayed to learn that the Justice Department failed to notify all members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committee in seeking a legislative fix to the issue of dismissal of Mr. Lay’s convictions, instead turning only to Vice President Dick Cheney and Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois). Read more...

Right before recess, the SAFE Port conference report sailed onto the House Floor, cruising past the procedural sign posts that are essential for developing legislation.  Why the short cut?, To let Republicans claim they did something on homeland security before hitting the campaign trail.

Republicans cut out the conference committee, replacing it with a charade.  And just like in charades, members were forced to makes guesses - in this case, guesses about what was actually in the bill itself, because the Republicans never provided a copy during the entire session!  As a member of the Committee, I can say with certainty that the whole thing was a farce.

Republicans shut down the conference after opening statements, preventing any amendments from being offered.   The next day, Congress finally was presented with a copy of the bill, the details of which were worked out behind closed doors. Read more...