Letter: Congressman Issa, You Are a Political Coward

There are approximately 339,000 registered voters in the new 49thCongressional district.  BUT you hide behind the Republican Party (and a 43% to 30% GOP-Democrat advantage), your coveted House Chairmanship, your intimidating personal wealth, as an excuse to not campaign, hold town hall meetings, meet your constituents, or debate your challenger Jerry Tetalman.

As the only Congressman actively managing dozens of multi-million dollar businesses you probably know about "mission statements," when used as a guiding principal tool. Does the Federal Government have one? I don’t know.

I’d write one to simply read:

“It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to constantly work towards making our nation a more perfect Union of states, to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility and promote the general Welfare for ALL its citizens, and provide for the common defense of its people and possessions, in order to secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our Posterity." [Re-edited: Preamble, US-Constitution]

With this statement in mind, let’s look at just one set of issues:

Budget, Economy and Domestic Enemies

You voted for the Ryan budget and stated to local media your only issue is that it doesn’t go far enough - that spending should be trimmed further.

In July, as a keynote speaker at the Association of Government Accountants in Washington, DC, you called Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Ponzi schemes. Really, Social Security a Ponzi scheme?

You signed the Grover Norquist “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” playing a high stakes game of economic chicken with the Federal Debt Ceiling votes.Remember this country was founded on the principals of taxation with representation, the Constitution establishes the ‘right’ through fair and representative taxation to pay for the things it needs. Remember, Mission Statement!

Do you support the ‘general Welfare’ of your districts Citizens? Your voting record suggests you are intent on attacking and tearing down fundamental programs intended to help our citizens, young or old, with health, education, living conditions, or our environment.

Domestic Tranquility?  Not when you vote to hold our country economically hostage during the debt ceiling debate, causing a credit rating downgrade, costing taxpayers $1.3 billion and counting! That did not help the tranquility of my 401K or my business planning. The Republican Party whines about jobs, but won’t embrace bi-partisanship and the spirit of compromise, as set forth in the Constitution. Why? Because, it might make the current President look good!

Look in the mirror Mr. Issa, you should be seeing a “domestic enemy” looking back at you.

Since Congressman Issa will not spend time in his new district to meet his new constituents, here are some stories from serious, reputable media organizations that our citizens can read to become more self-informed: (1) The New Yorker,  24Jan2011, Don’t Look Back; (2) The New York Times, 14Aug11, A Businessman in Congress Helps His District and Himself.  Enjoy.

Dr. David S. Golman

Encinitas, CA

49th Congressional District