October 13, 2008
Second major print endorsement goes to Congresswoman Giffords
October 13, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Swedlund
Communications Director
Giffords for Congress
520-512-0012
SECOND MAJOR PRINT ENDORSEMENT GOES TO REP. GIFFORDS
Tucson Citizen calls for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ re-election, saying she’s accessible, candid, and hit the ground running
TUCSON—In endorsing Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for a second term in Congress, the Tucson Citizen said she “hit the ground running” and “has only picked up speed since.”
Calling her accessible and candid for her hard work on behalf of her Southern Arizona constituents, the Citizen editorial board said she is best known for the frequent Congress on Your Corner events, where “she meets with long lines of her constituents – one by one, hour after hour.”
In selecting Giffords over challengers Tim Bee and Paul Davis, the newspaper said “she has a far better understanding of national issues, and she has the experience needed to use that knowledge on Arizonans’ behalf.”
The Citizen’s endorsement, published on October 13, follows the endorsement of the Tucson Weekly, which was the first major newspaper in 2008 to make an endorsement in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
The full endorsement is below:
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wastes no time. She hit the ground running as a freshman Democrat elected to Congress in 2006, and she’s only picked up speed since.
Giffords has learned so much so quickly, woe to the man who would aim to outdo her.
That’s woe to Tim Bee, her childhood schoolmate and former fellow state legislator. His decision to run for her seat in Congress was ill-timed.
As Arizona Senate president, Bee, a Republican, served southern Arizona well, bringing together conservative Maricopa County legislators, moderate lawmakers and even liberal Democrats to achieve consensus time and again.
While we can’t condone all he did, such as pushing through an unnecessary and mean- spirited initiative on gay marriage, we have applauded many of his accomplishments, including his work with both parties to ensure prudent state budgets and tax-increment financing for Rio Nuevo.
We’re sorry he’ll no longer represent us in Phoenix. But we prefer that he not do so in Congress.
Giffords has a far better understanding of national issues, and she has the experience needed to use that knowledge on Arizonans’ behalf.
Bee chastises her for procuring “earmark” appropriations for southern Arizona. Giffords retorts that while the earmark process is flawed, “I’m not willing to sit back and let your hard-earned tax dollars go to Alaska - or Connecticut.”
Bee says the federal government should not be involved with mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: “Once government gets involved, it stays involved.”
Giffords, however, knows that deregulation of financial institutions was a key cause of our disastrous economic free-fall.
On the war, Bee says Congress should not “second-guess” military commanders.
Giffords notes that the U.S. Constitution specifically calls for a civilian commander in chief. As for Congress, she says, “Our job is oversight.”
Many Giffords supporters will point to her travels to Iraq with Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, her battles on behalf of veterans or her seemingly endless community meetings over the controversial Interstate 19 checkpoint used by Homeland Security.
But Giffords likely is best known for hanging out in grocery store parking lots. At frequent “Congress on Your Corner” events, she meets with long lines of her constituents - one by one, hour after hour.
The accessible, candid Giffords is eager to discuss her actions directly with the people of Congressional District 8 - a vast area stretching from the Tanque Verde Valley where she grew up and south to Green Valley and Sierra Vista.
The Tucson Citizen endorses Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords for re-election in Congressional District 8.
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