April 21, 2008
The Citizens Voice: Hackett rates edge in race for GOP spot
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The battle between Chris Hackett and Dan Meuser in the 10th Congressional District has been a high-stakes, bitter fight for the conservative label in a traditionally right-leaning region where 60 percent of voters supported President Bush in 2004. Republican voters will decide Tuesday which of the two strikingly similar candidates will challenge first-term Democrat Congressman Chris Carney in the November general election.
Hackett and Meuser have much in common. Both are successful business owners with little political experience but lots of cash to spend on their own campaigns. At last count, Hackett has thrown in more than $792,000 and Meuser over $1.5 million. Most of their money has purchased hard-hitting, negative attack advertising.
Both men favor using free market, business methods to solve most of the nation's troubles including spiraling health care costs. Both pledge to lower taxes. Neither man wants to withdraw troops from Iraq on any sort of timetable. And while both favor securing the borders and stronger enforcement of federal immigration laws, each has tripped over his own "immigration issues" during the campaign. Meuser was forced to explain why his company, Pride Mobility, paid a $23,000 fine in 1997 for employing illegal workers, and Hackett revealed he recently fired an illegal immigrant who worked as a nanny in his home.
Though similar, we see an important difference between the candidates. Hackett insists he will not accept "earmarked" money for his district and will not vote with Congressional leaders for their wasteful spending plans. Hackett calls earmarks a drug that binds newly elected Congressional members to the leadership, and usually brings but "crumbs" to the 10th Congressional District. Meuser says he does not like the earmark system either, but will not "martyr" his district by turning down money. With the nation facing bulging budget deficits, an expensive war and inflating food and energy costs, we believe Hackett's principled stance against wasteful spending is an excellent beginning. We support his anti-earmarks position, especially if he fulfills his promise to stand firmly against the system with dozens of other members of Congress who have made similar pledges.
Hackett is a principled, determined candidate and the one we support for the Republican nomination in the 10th Congressional District. He will be a strong challenger to Carney and will bring clear conservative positions to the general election battle.