Several weeks ago the STARK POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) had a conversation with Democrat state Senator John Boccieri regarding his run for Congress (16th District).Asked what he thought key issues would be in his race against Republican state Senator Kirk Schuring, Boccieri (a major in the U. S. Air Force Reserves who flies C-130s in and out of Iraq) said: “The economy, the Iraq war and health care."
On his website Boccieri has a more extensive list:
* Economy
* Education
* Energy Independence
* Mortgage Crisis
* Health Care
* Iraq War
* Second Amendment
* Social Security
* Veterans and Military Families
Schuring’s priority list includes tax reform, fighting wasteful spending, jobs and the economy, Second Amendment rights, defending values, education and immigration.
On this Memorial Day The Report focuses on the candidates' stands on the Iraq war and a related issue - veterans rights/benefits.
ON THE IRAQ WAR
The Boccieri campaign describes his position as being: “Bringing our troops home safely, honorably, and soon.”
Schuring has nothing on his website about Iraq but after persistence by The Stark County News and Views ... he did issue a statement on Iraq which is best summed up in this excerpt: "We must support our troops by following a military strategy that will stabilize Iraq and ultimately allow our troops to come home.”
It appears as Schuring is locked into the McCain-esque plan (staying the course?) whereas Boccieri’s emphasis is bringing the troops home “soon.”
In a political shrewd move, the Congressional Democrat caucus put John Boccieri on center stage this Memorial Day weekend with a national radio address.
Boccieri elaborated on Iraq in that address, saying: “While the Iraq war is costing us greatly in human terms, the money American taxpayers are pouring into that country is staggering. We're spending more than $10 billion a month on the war while the quality of life for millions of Americans goes from bad to worse. We're building brand new roads and bridges, and schools in Iraq when we need the same things right here in Ohio and in communities across our country.”
ON VETERANS
The Report can find nothing that Schuring has said about veterans’ benefits. The Report has asked Schuring for a statement. The Report is not optimistic that Schuring will respond but if he does this report will be updated with Schuring’s statement. Schuring’s failure to respond is not new. The Stark County News and View ... reported difficulty in getting a Schuring statement on the Iraq war.
Boccieri has the following statements:
"We need a president and a Congress who will take care of our veterans and find a responsible way to leave Iraq so that we can invest in the American people and in American jobs."
"We're proud of our troops fighting for us abroad. Let's make them proud of us by fighting for them here at home. They deserve nothing less."
One other matter. Project Vote Smart reports that Schuring has not taken its Political Courage Test on important federal issues. Boccieri has.
The question: Why is Kirk Schuring being so elusive on the issues?
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