10/25/2006

Editorial

Stupak, Huckleberry reflect districts' needs, interests

At a time of profound disconnect between Washington, D.C., and the rest of America, northern Michigan is on the cutting edge. This time, however, that is not a good thing.

U.S. Reps. Dave Camp and Pete Hoekstra, who represent about half the region, are classic examples of the deep divide that separates voting America from the people who represent them in Congress.

Their priorities don't reflect their districts, and it shows.

Hoekstra (R-Holland, 2nd District), chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee, may be the only person in America except for Vice President Dick Cheney who still claims there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Be afraid! Be very afraid!

He has strongly backed the administration on everything from spying on citizens to holding anyone they declare an enemy for as long as they want with no charges.

At a time when contempt for Congress is at a near-record level, Camp, whose 4th Congressional District includes Traverse City, has set a personal fundraising record; he has spent nearly $800,000 so far and still has $1.1 million on hand.

As vice chairman of the House's Native American Caucus, Camp got special attention — and $35,000 — from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his Indian tribe clients. He also got $16,000 in three years from tobacco interests.

His voting record is nearly party-perfect, but he gets a "zero" rating from the Disabled American Veterans (as did Hoekstra). In 2005 Camp brought an assistant secretary of the Army and an Army Corps of Engineers lieutenant colonel to Traverse City to hear a motel owner's complaints about beach grooming policies. The motel owner later donated $5,000 to the GOP.

Camp's nickname, among Democrats at least, is "Rubber Stamp Camp" and he's earned it.

Our Congressional endorsements:

• 1st District. Rep BART STUPAK (D-Menominee) continues to focus on issues critical to his district, such as the Great Lakes and water, veterans' needs and energy.

• 2nd District. No endorsement. Hoekstra has not offered the region or the nation strong leadership on Iraq or the hunting down of al-Qaida, despite his lofty committee position. Democratic challenger Kimon Kotos lacks experience.

• 4th District. For about three years now Democrat MIKE HUCKLEBERRY has been piling up the miles and talking to whomever will listen, and he talks about the things that matter most to the district — jobs and the economy, education, free-trade agreements and health care.

He's a far cry from the distant, well-connected Camp, but in this year of discontent that's a plus.

As Huckleberry put it himself, "I'm about people, he's about corporations."