In Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district ten-term Republican
incumbent Curt Weldon is seeking re-election. Rep. Weldon is the
longest-serving Republican in Pennsylvania's congressional
delegation, and is being challenged for his seat by Democrat Joe
Sestak. Sestak was a career Naval Officer, who recently retired
after 31 years of service after having achieved the distinguished
rank of Vice Admiral.
Curt Weldon has been a staple in the 7th district for twenty
years, but in many ways is facing his first truly competitive
election this year. Sestak has proven to be a formidable campaigner,
and has kept pace with the incumbent in terms of fundraising and
cash-on-hand.
This election is one of clear contrasts, with the two candidates
taking conflicting stances on many key issues, including the war in
Iraq and abortion.
Here's some more information about how the two candidates stand
on key issues of importance to the Jewish community.
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Joe Sestak (D. Challenger) |
Curt Weldon (R. Incumbent)
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| Israel |
- Strong supporter of Israel.
- Statement
regarding recent crisis: ?Hezbollah and Hamas are
responsible for this current crisis. They have
pledged Israel's destruction and continue to take
actions to that end."
- Sestak also said, ?Israel is a sovereign nation
that has a right to defend itself and respond to the
terrorist threat."
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| Iraq |
- From his website:
"One of the primary reasons I entered this
election is that I believe invading Iraq was not the
right decision."
- Read Sestak's complete
position paper on Iraq and U.S. foreign policy.
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- Rep. Weldon has been an outspoken supporter of the
War in Iraq and of Pres. Bush's foreign policy.
- Read about Rep. Weldon's bizarre plot to uncover missing
WMDs in Iraq.
|
| Reproductive
Freedom |
- Pro-choice:
"Regardless of my religious beliefs, the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade that --- as a
nation --- the United States should offer every
woman the right to have a legal and safe abortion,
if that is her choice. I support that decision."
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- Rep. Weldon has consistently advocated a pro-life
position during his years in Congress.
- In fact, Rep. Weldon has voted with the National
Right to Life Committee 94%
of the time on key abortion legislation since
1999.
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| Stem Cell Research |
- Policy
statement: "Stem cell research may mean
that there is a potential cure for over 3,000 U.S.
citizens who die each day from diseases such as
Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, heart disease,
diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury,
and stroke, as well as serving as replacements for
cells or tissues obliterated by radiation and
chemotherapy in cancer patients. I support federal
government promotion and funding of this
research."
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- Rep. Weldon has a contradictory
voting record on recent legislation dealing with
stem cell research.
- In May 2005, Rep. Weldon voted against H.R.
810, which sought to repeal federal restrictions
on funding stem cell research.
- However, when the bill came back to the House
floor in July 2006 to attempt to override Pres.
Bush's veto of the act, Rep. Weldon voted in favor
of the bill, leading some critics to speculate that
the switch
was based on political strategy, rather than
ideological beliefs.
- See MSNBC
article.
|
| Separation
of Church and State |
- Excerpt from an interview:
"I believe in the separation of church and
state. For example, I disagree with Curt Weldon, who
voted for a defense bill back on May 11 that would
allow chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus at
public military ceremonies. I believe chaplains
should have the freedom to invoke God at these
occasions, but should do so in a non-sectarian
way."
- More: "Do I believe that religion is
an important value? Absolutely. I learned the value
of belief in God as grew up in my family, but I also
learned that I cannot impose my religious beliefs on
others."
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- Rep. Weldon has voted against NJDC recommendations
on every key piece of legislation dealing with the
separation of church and state since 1999.
- This includes votes allowing federally-funded
religious groups to practice discrimination
in their hiring practices; a vote
against H.R.
2863 amdt. 328, which sought to end
proselytizing and religious discrimination at the U.S.
Air Force Academy; and a vote to allow religious
organizations to take part in partisan political
activities and retain their tax-free status.
- Weldon voted in
favor of a 1998 constitutional amendment in
support of school prayer.
- In addition, Rep. Weldon voted in favor of
government intervention in the Terri
Schiavo case, and also voted in favor of a proposed
constitutional amendment seeking to ban same sex
marriages in the U.S.
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| Additional Links |
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