Brad Schneider: Transcending Party Lines

“Centrist” and “moderate” are words used by Representative Dold’s campaign, but they are just that: words. Dold runs as a moderate and attacks his opponent Brad Schneider as being too far left for the district. But words can have many meanings. What does “moderate” really mean to Dold?

While Schneider fought for a woman’s right to choose, Dold repeatedly joined the Republican majority, voting for anti-choice legislation including a bill that will let woman in need of healthcare die instead of receiving the needed care. But Dold calls himself a moderate. (H.R. 358 and H.R. 3)

Schneider supports a bipartisan budget solution that includes both spending cuts and revenue increases, while Dold voted for the Republican budget—the same one that ends Medicare as we know it—two years in a row. But Dold calls himself a moderate. (http://nyti.ms/h6Q7HY and http://nyti.ms/GWjE5f)

While Schneider listens to a wide variety of solutions for reducing the national debt, Dold joined the Republicans in signing Grover Norquist’s extremist pledge to never, under any circumstance, consider revenue increases—even by closing tax loopholes. But Dold calls himself a moderate. (http://bit.ly/vAy49s)

Schneider promises to work across the aisle to create bipartisan solutions, while Dold votes with the Republican Party 83% of the time. But Dold calls himself a moderate. (http://bit.ly/p7uMyK)

The tenth district elected Rep. Dold on his campaign promise that he would cross party lines as an independent voice in Congress. Nearly two years later, he acts more like a square peg in a round hole; he calls himself a moderate, but votes with the Republican Party every time he has the chance. The illusion of bipartisanship is just that—an illusion, an act. He gladly casts a vote for extremist anti-women laws even though he says he is against them. He supports the bipartisan budget that had no chance of passing, so he has an excuse to vote for the tea party supported budget. What good is being moderate if Dold’s voting record is nearly identical to Tea Party members like Joe Walsh? (http://bit.ly/QEOV29) The people of the tenth district expect not only words, but also actions.

Schneider contributes an independent and pragmatic voice to the political discussion. Transcending party lines, he supported moderate Republicans like Mark Kirk as well as Democrats like Melissa Bean. In the Jewish community, Schneider worked with both sides to help create solutions for regional problems. There is one area, however, that Schneider, unlike Dold, will never compromise, and that is his progressive social values. Brad is a strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose and supports full marriage rights for the LGBT community (which Dold admits he is against). In Congress, Brad will be a strong supporter of equal rights for everyone.

This election undoubtedly will feature a slew of negative ads from both sides of the aisle—that's part of politics and I don’t blame Dold. But this election is bigger than mudslinging. We need a congressman who says what he means and means what he says. Actions speak louder than words and that's why I support Brad Schneider. I hope you’ll join me.

Daniel Nussbaum