http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1120930.html

Stenberg blasts Nelson, says GOP forgetting its roots
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Connie Jo Discoe

By CONNIE JO DISCOE
Regional Editor

Fed up not only with the Democratic party's theory of "blame America first," but with Republicans who have abandoned basic Republican principles, former Nebraska attorney general Don Stenberg announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Democrat and McCook native Ben Nelson.

Stenberg made his formal announcement at stops across Nebraska on Tuesday, including one at McCook Regional Airport at 2:45 p.m.

Stenberg said his 12 years at Nebraska's attorney general established him as a proven conservative and earned him the reputation of doing what was right, not just "going along to get along." He pointed out, also, that he successfully operated the AG's office on the third smallest budget in the United States.

Stenberg said changes are overdue in Washington in both the Democratic and Republican parties.

"The leadership of the national Democratic Party has been captured by the 'blame America first' crowd who wants to take America in the wrong direction," Stenberg said. This crowd, he said, opposes the war on terror, the development of energy resources and lowering the tax burden on Americans, and it wants liberal judges to impose gay marriage, abortion, flag-burning and non-religion on America.

"Sadly, Ben Nelson has been working to put this 'blame America first' crowd in control of the government of the United States," Stenberg said, citing Nelson's support of liberal Al Gore's campaign for president and of liberal Democrat Tom Daschle for the majority leader of the Senate; and, through his political action committee, Nelson's funding of ultra-liberal Democrat Barbara Boxer's campaign.

"Nebraska is not well-represented by a man who wants liberals like Al Gore to be our president and Tom Daschle to run the United States Senate," Stenberg said.

On the other hand, Stenberg bemoans the loss by his fellow Republicans of basic Republican principles -- smaller government, restrained federal spending and local control of education. "Republicans in Washington need to be reminded why they were sent there in the first place," Stenberg said.

Here are some Stenberg stands:

* On the war on terrorism -- Stenberg pointed out that the war on terrorism since Sept. 9, 2002, has resulted in the overthrown of the Taliban, the death or capture of much of the Al Qaida leadership, the defeat of Saddam Hussein, a new Iraqi constitution, free democratic elections in Iraq, the surrender of nuclear development in Libya, hospitals and schools built, rebuilt and/or reopened in Iraq and electric power production in Iraq returned to pre-war levels.

"Most important to our families here at home, is the fact that the strong and decisive U.S. response to the radical terrorists has prevented any further terrorist attacks in the United States for more than four years," Stenberg said.

"Leaving Iraq before we finish the job," he said, would result in terrorists gaining financial assets and radical new supporters, both of which could be used to bring about terrorist acts rivaling those on 9/11.

"President Bush is right when he says that we must take the fight to the terrorists wherever they're found," Stenberg said. "If we don't, the terrorists will surely bring the fight to us -- just as they did on 9/11."

He continued, "Our highest responsibility is the defense of the nation -- to protect the lives and safety of our families and our neighbors," Stenberg said. "I am proud to stand in unwavering support of our men and women in uniform."

* On gas and diesel prices and the development of ethanol and bio-diesel -- "One of the major reasons our gas and diesel prices are so high today is that, for about 30 years, our national energy policy has been dictated by radical environmentalists," Stenberg said, blaming them for blocking or limiting the development of energy resources in Alaska and off American shores, blocking the construction of oil refineries and opposing the development of facilities to import liquefied natural gas.

Stenberg said the country urgently needs to promote renewable fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel -- both of which can be produced in Nebraska. "With today's technology, all of this can be done without damaging the environment," Stenberg said.

* On liberal federal judges -- Stenberg is opposed to judges who impose their personal, liberal ideology that is contrary to the U.S. Constitution. Glaring examples, he said, include: partial birth abortions as a constitutional right; taking the Ten Commandments off courthouse walls; same-sex marriage in Massachusetts; taking private property for non-governmental use; endless criminal appeals; removing "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance; and allowing the burning of the American flag.

"As Nebraska's next United States Senator, my test for voting on federal judges, in addition to their ability and honesty, will be whether they will respect the Constitution and be law enforcers, not law makers," Stenberg said.

* On taxes -- "In order to strengthen our economy and leave more money available to meet the needs of our families," Stenberg said, "we must make the President's tax cuts permanent."

Federal spending has skyrocketed, he said, even under a Republican Congress and a Republican president. "Even as the Republican tax cuts have stimulated the economy and brought in record levels of tax receipts, the deficit has grown dramatically because of unrestrained federal spending," Stenberg said.

The answer to the problem, Stenberg said, will not come from Democrats, but from fiscally-responsible Republicans.

Stenberg advocates cutting $25 billion from the federal highway budget and providing a Medicare prescription drug benefit for truly needy senior citizens for billions less than the current plan.

Stenberg said he was appalled by the $60 million in hurricane relief approved by Congress before assessing needs and making thoughtful plans.

* On local control of education -- Stenberg blames the current Republican Administration and Ted Kennedy for increases in federal spending and new mandates on local school districts. The federal government controls local education, he said, by taxing local taxpayers and then offering to give those tax dollars back to local schools only if they follow federal mandates. Returning local control may be a way to reduce the federal budget, he said.

"Federal control of education is bad policy," he said. "The one school district the federal government completely controls is the District of Columbia, and it is among the worst and most expensive in the country."

* On immigration -- "On immigration, there appears to be no federal policy," Stenberg said, "except to look the other way." Stenberg advocates strengthening border security to prevent terrorists, weapons of mass destruction and illegal immigrants from entering the country.

* On agriculture -- "We need a multifaceted farm policy to improve market prices and provide a basic level of income assurance when market prices are inadequate," Stenberg said. This includes, he said, the expansion of ethanol and bio-diesel production, opening foreign markets and prohibiting export embargoes on food.