Bucks County Herald – October 19, 2006

Fitzpatrick Re-election Interview

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday was a convoluted day. I interviewed Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick and heard him predict his reelection. “I’m going to win,” he told me confidently.

But minutes after I left him for my trip home, I heard a “Newsweek Magazine” poll on the radio, which said that Americans trust Democrats more with moral issues than Republicans. Worse for any Republican running for anything this year, the poll claims that voters think Democrats will do better with the war on terror. Is Fitzpatrick running against the odds?

If that wasn’t confusing enough, a few hours later, Mighty Betsy took me to the annual Planned Parenthood auction. Planned Parenthood and the congressman do not see eye to eye. He opposes a woman’s right to an abortion, plus he’s against federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Personally, I admire Mike Fitzpatrick. He was an excellent Bucks County Commissioner who began his government service at exactly the same age as I did, 40 years ago. Although our views about “choice” and embryonic stem cell research are very different, we have a lot in common.

But he wouldn’t have been happy with what Mighty Betsy was up to at the auction. She was the high bidder for a very unusual item. At first blush, it looks like a clear plastic bag, ideal for carrying knitting. And it’s colorful too. There are bright, candy like circles sewn into the exterior. You might think that they’re lollypops without stems…but these are not all day suckers.

On closer inspection, you discover that they are condoms. It’s a condom tote bag.

Good Grief!

MB’s been racing all over Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties frightening people…and taking orders for them too. It’s enough to make one weak. You can see why my Sunday was a day of contrasts.

But I stray.

Mike Fitzpatrick exudes confidence. He’s not worried that former President Bill Clinton was stomping for his opponent [Patrick Murphy], in Bristol last week. And Fitzpatrick’s not panicked over predictions that the pro-choice, embryonic stem cell research crowd is out to defeat him.

“My polling team says that I’ll win,” Fitzpatrick began. “They have me ahead.”

How far ahead, Fitzpatrick would not confide. But he believes that his campaign will resonate with the eighth congressional district because he’s a local boy. Murphy is a carpetbagger, Fitzpatrick is quick to add. “He [Murphy] was willing to move anywhere that he had the best political opportunity,” Fitzpatrick argues.

Fitzpatrick says that national, local, and character issues will spell victory for him.

For example, he told me that Murphy claims to have been a New York prosecutor. “The U. S. Attorney office in the Southern District of New York has no record of Patrick Murphy,” Fitzpatrick charged. “Voters doubt that he’s [Murphy] telling the truth.

“Who understands the eighth district better?” Fitzpatrick asked. “My legislation has promoted open space, environment, and conservation.” Fitzpatrick says that he’s proud of his record protecting children too.

Fitzpatrick claims that he’s not President Bush’s lapdog. “I’m the second most independent member of Congress,” Fitzpatrick observed. “The National Journal and the Congressional Quarterly say so. I’m the only [Pennsylvania] Republican congressman to get the endorsements of the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters. And I’m the only state Republican congressman to have the support of the building trades union.

“I vote my conscience,” Fitzpatrick continued. “When the President is right, I support him…when he’s wrong, I vote against him.

“The President’s wrong on Iraq,” Fitzpatrick stated. “He’s wrong on taxes. He’s wrong on amnesty [regarding illegal immigrants]. And I opposed his offer to allow Dubai to operate American ports.”

Fitzpatrick says that he’s against the President’s “stay the course” war policy. The congressman would not send more American troops to Iraq. “But we need more resources to train 320,000 Iraqi security forces,” Fitzpatrick urges. “We need to listen to the generals on the ground. To leave now would leave a large country in the Middle East in a vacuum…filled by terrorists who’d plan another 9-11.”

Fitzpatrick won’t ask President Bush to campaign for him. But U. S. Senator Rick Santorum’s been stumping in Bucks County. “We’re running as a team,” Fitzpatrick added.

That sure sounds like a GOP party man, doesn’t it?

On one hand, Fitzpatrick is a team player…on the other hand, he claims to be an independent congressman. I suppose the million-dollar question is…can Fitzpatrick have his cake and eat it too?

Sincerely

Charles Meredith