“An Easy Call” - Arizona Republic Endorses Gabrielle Giffords

An easy call: Gabrielle Giffords

By the Arizona Republic Editorial Board

Gabrielle Giffords is an easy choice for Arizona’s Congressional District 8.

She is intelligent, articulate, has a track record as an effective lawmaker and a keen understanding of the needs and challenges of a southern Arizona district that shares a border with Mexico. What’s more, her experience running her family’s small business gives her insights into the issues that face residents of an urban district.

A Democrat, Giffords shows a willingness to work with those on both sides of the aisle and has done so effectively.

Her Republican opponent, Randy Graf, is a one-issue candidate who favors the failed enforcement-only approach to illegal immigration. His views are so extreme that the GOP congressional committee took the unusual step of running ads before the primary touting one of his opponents.

Although he now has the support of his party, including Sen. John McCain Graf remains what he was in the GOP primary: a candidate who falls far short of what this district needs.

Voters in District 8 have a clear choice between two very different candidates. But that does not mean that Giffords is the left-wing mirror image of Graf’s radical extremism. She’s not.

A former Republican, Giffords has a voting record in the state Legislature that shows her willingness to cross party lines and seek solutions that will work. That approach will be critical when a new Congress takes up the unfinished job of reforming immigration laws so flawed they have produced a crisis along the border.

Giffords favors the kind of comprehensive approach coupled with worksite enforcement that McCain himself championed in the Senate. Giffords’ approach is also in line with what President Bush seeks in immigration reform. McCain may be supporting her opponent, but Giffords says she admires McCain.

Her moderate, thoughtful approach can be seen in her response to a question about the Minuteman group that strongly supports Graf. Rather than dismiss the group as vigilantes, she points to the frustration people who live on the border feel about the lack of federal action.

That kind of tactful approach will help to make her an effective member of Congress, ably succeeding the retiring Rep. Jim Kolbe, a Republican. The other issues Giffords wants to highlight while in Washington include stabilizing Iraq before bringing the troops home, health care, environmental protection, education and ensuring that the large number of military vets in her district do not suffer benefit cuts.

Also in the race are Libertarian David F. Nolan and Independent Jay Quick.

The Republic recommends Gabrielle Giffords to voters in Congressional District 8.