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In 9th district, retain Shuster
The Tribune-Democrat


— Bill Shuster deserves to continue representing the people of the 9th Congressional District.
He has grown in his five years in the House, and now speaks confidently on issues important to the region. The Republican is also growing in influence, serving on the armed services, small business, and transportation and infrastructure committees – all affecting issues on the minds of local residents.
Shuster’s opponent – Democrat Tony Barr – seems to be an earnest candidate eager to serve the region. But he’s simply not ready, in our opinion.
Barr’s platform of “Why not me?” just isn’t sufficient to send him to Washington.
In a September meeting with the editorial board of The Tribune-Democrat, Barr more often said “I think ...” than “I know ... .” He was not well-versed in numerous key issues, and at times seemed to be making up answers rather than commenting from a position of authority.
In the month since, he has no doubt expanded his knowledge and moved closer to the pulse of the district. But that just isn’t enough.
Barr has repeatedly called for a debate with Shuster. While we understand the political strategy there, we also understand Shuster’s unwillingness to debate. “I’m not going to make it easier on him,” Shuster said.
The representative of the 9th district must relate to a diverse constituency stretched across more than 7,000 square miles. Shuster is in touch with the varying needs of his people, from Chambersburg to Somerset to Clearfield.
Shuster has received high marks from business groups and conservative organizations.
We know his business efforts should be positive for the district, which holds pockets of high unemployment. The exception could be his support of tougher immigration laws, even as he acknowledges that “we need the immigrant population to fill necessary jobs,” including many in his district.
His support of bills to ban partial-birth abortion, same-sex marriages and human cloning seem to be consistent with the ideologies of the people of the region. Certainly his support of gun rights is.
Shuster has aligned himself with President Bush on the Iraq war, a black mark in the congressman’s ledger. “In any war, tactics change,” Shuster told us. “Were mistakes made? Yes. But that is always the case.”
Iraq is a concern Shuster and the rest of Congress must address quickly in the next term.
Ironically, we see Barr as at basically the same point as Shuster was when he was initially chosen to fill his retiring father’s House seat during a May 2001 special election. At that time, Shuster was running his own business and had little political experience other than growing up around a powerful member of Congress.
Barr is a teacher in the Everett Area School District, and entered the race late – “when nobody stepped up,” he said.
If he is serious about a future in politics, Barr will return in two years – or run for a different office – better prepared to tackle the questions of candidacy.
With Nov. 7 fast approaching, The Tribune-Democrat solidly endorses Shuster.

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