Your Opinion: Congressman and poll numbers

Dear Editor:

Representative Luetkemeyer tells us in his Feb. 1 News Tribune opinion piece he does not believe in polls. Well except when they tell him President Obama's approval ratings are down. Plus, he is disappointed the president did not accept all the great Republican ideas for America. Well, there is only one, tax cuts for the rich, and the president did not mention that.

It is not hard to see why our representative does not like polls. As a member of Congress, the legislative branch is at historic approval lows. Rep. Luetkemeyer was disappointed in the president. He should be really disappointed in the body of work he and his co-workers are doing. Rather, that is mostly not doing.

The president was taken to task for not creating jobs or helping those in poverty. Instead we are told Republicans have a bold plan for tax cuts (again for the rich), want to end Obamacare (it is not ending) and take health care away from millions. In addition, Rep. Luetkemeyer touts more austerity and reduction of government spending. None of this helps those in poverty or provides jobs. Is this bold?

Our bold representative has voted against Obamacare 47 times minimum. Read his comments on his web site. It's the standard litany of Republican outrage against Obamacare. Obamacare is already a failure and it will destroy America. What does the representative suggest? Try tort reform. That is a popular idea with physicians who vote Republican. It does not provide health care to you or me. It limits liability of physicians who might do something harmful.

The bold representative says he is willing to work with the president if our president will get on board with Republican ideas. The president's real critics think that is all he does. Unlike our representative, the press widely reported after the State of the Union that the president was most cordial and low key in his dealing with Republican obstruction.

Our representative voted for the current farm bill this past week. Devious in design it cuts food stamp assistance in mostly Democratic states. It does that by tying food stamps to heating assistance. "Heating or eating" is how one representative termed it. This is the kind of bold leadership Republican legislators say their constituents demand.

President Obama may be as low in the polls as Ronald Reagan at this point in his presidency. Rep. Luetkemeyer is deservedly lower.

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