Jennings vs. Schneider

Comment by Bud Hastings
#Cross-posted frrom MIKLB's Mindless Ramblings, May 18, 2006,

Among hundreds of FL-13 voters (ask one) who’ve cared enough to attend mutliple public forums since - January 1st - wherein thoughtful, pertinent yet unscripted questions were posed to both candidates, there is but a single consensus. Jan Schneider truly knows what she’s talking about… in-depth.

She has a subtsantive, rock-solid and savvy understanding of the key issues that effect us all. Why don’t you ask her a pertinent question… go ahead… seek her out at a public forum… go ahead… do it!

But I have to fore-warn you. Jan is only 5'2" tall, has brown eyes and a fairly high-pitched voice (some describe it a “squeaky” voice).

In this regard, she is reminiscent of Eleanor Roosevelt who, likewise, couldn’t do much about her height, eye color or squeaky voice either. But for our FL-13 voters who fancy themselves with an I.Q. above room-temperature… surely, it is the quality, substance, principles and values of one’s mind… what one stands-for.. says and writes that truly count… not sound-effects. After-all, this is neither an “American Idol” competition nor a fashion & hair-styling show.
The world’s pre-eminent theoretical phycisist, Steven Hawking, has no voice at all. He communicates via a synthesized language-computer.

By contrast, Christine Jennings… (with a typical voice) regularly skirts-around answers to basic questions and repeatedly refers to the only (substantive) experience she’s had in life… that of a successful banker. Further, she would portend to spread that experience all too thinly… stretching-it-out… as if it is somehow connected to other issues related to her candidacy… which, in my view, it does not.

Additionally, her campaign website’s content is superficially simple. It grossly under-estimates the intelligence of our typical District 13 voter. Why is that?
It is because her website accurately represents her to the public. It is an honest portrayal of the shallowness of Jennings -on the issues- and as a candidate. Hurry-up though… visit it now…. before her highly-paid consultants read this piece and attempt a quick ‘white-wash’ job: http://www.christinejenningsforcongress.com

I will give Jennings this… she probably knows more about banking than Jan Schneider does. As far as I am aware, Jennings also seems a nice person.

At one venue, Jennings was asked a routine campaign question… to which she had no answer… but responded by saying that (if elected) she would “…hire smart people…” to handle such issues. This leads me to the question… “hey, are we voting for an employment coordinator or our Congressperson?”… Such is the management style Jennings would bring… for our benefit?
Oh yeh… the other thing Jennings beats-to-death… is that her origins are humble and her family members were Democrats. I ask.. so what? That describes many folks in FL-13 today, but clearly is no qualification for the U.S. Congress. Is it? ‘Cause if that was so important to her, why was she a registered Republican down here for all those years? Huh?

Jennings desrcibes herself as a “Moderate”. What the heck does that mean? Can you tell me what a “moderate” is and what it stands-for? Better yet, can Jennings provide us a cogent answer? I seriously doubt it. Why don’t you go to the next public forum and ask her to describe/define just what a moderate is. It’s my guess you’ll be in for a surprise at her attempted answer… if she has one, that is.

According to Jennings, Schneider is “.. too far left..”. What the heck does that mean? “Left” where… how… on what issues… specifically….? Huh? Why don’t you ask Jennings that at the next public forum?

Jennings and her supporters believe that by labeling her as a “moderate” they’ll increase the number of cross-over Republican votes to turn FL-13 blue. I say, Horse-Pucky! That’s self-delusional. It’s nothing short of strategic political suicide. Republican-Lite just doesn’t work.
As the details of upcoming public candidate forums surface, I will try to post them here. Also, please watch the newspapers for such notices.

This election is not about money… it is all about the issues, plain and simple… the issues and you.

Jennings is a candidate that may appear to have form, but as a real Democratic congressional candidate, she scores way too low on substance.

No matter how much money she has… It won’t buy my vote.