Sunday, October 22, 2006

"Mr. Simmons voted to go to war in IRaq and, despite the subsequent debacle, characterizes Democratic criticism with hackneyed warnings about "cutting and running." ....He has voted reliably to extend Bush administration tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and deepen the deficit....(cut)..... Mr. Simmons argues that his district would lose influence if it sent Mr. Courtney to Congress, especially if his party maintains control. That argument loses its power when the question of which party will have the majority is so uncertain. More to the point, his district, on the whole, does not agree with the ultra-conservative House Republican leadership whose power Mr. Simmons has helped perpetuate by regularly endorsing it.
.....(cut).....

Mr. Courtney has solid credentials. A lawyer, he served four terms in the General Assembly. His arguments are well-reasoned. He believes that the administration's tax cuts have disproportionately helped the wealthy and that Congress should pay more attention to middle-class concerns. He wants the Medicare drug benefit modified to help the elderly more and drug companies less. He calls the Iraq war a disaster and favors pressuring the Iraquis to share power more effectively.

He should rethink his opposition to the No Child Left Behind Act. That small reservation aside, Mr. Courtney would be an effective and astute Second District congressman, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy."

[Link to NY Times Endorsement]
[Source: http://www.myleftnutmeg.com ]

Hartford Courant

"During four terms in the state's General Assembly, Democrat Joe Courtney, 53, a lawyer from Vernon, distinguished himself as a hard-working, effective and respected lawmaker and leader on health care reforms. That ethic, combined with Mr. Courtney's compassion and integrity, makes him a better candidate than the three-term incumbent, Republican Rob Simmons, in a district that covers half the state."

Link: Hartford Courant

Providence Journal Endorses Joe Courtney

"While Mr. Simmons's voting record in Congress is not objectionable, we do not care for campaign ads that misrepresent the reasons opponents had to make hard decisions. That and Mr. Courtney's impressive record of service at the state level make him our preferred candidate to represent Connecticut's Second district."

Link: Providence Journal Editorials