The Sheldon Facade

Sheldon has been kind enough to refer to me as a hardworking and very likable fellow; however, that won't stop me from addressing what needs to be said about this primary when our lives have been so immeasurably altered in the five years since 9/11. Sheldon's advisors say "stay out of the ring". But he's going to give Rhode Islander's only one peek under the tent with a debate on public television for a whopping 30 minutes. Contrast this with the four debates between Senator Chafee and Mayor Laffey. The reason why you’ll only see one debate is because there's always the chance that after spending about $2 million in ads his carefully groomed, DC-advised image might show the spots and stripes are right where they were before, during and after his gubernatorial primary defeat to Myrth York in 2002.

Our middle class is feeling the economic squeeze from misplaced special interest loyalties and bad government. As a business owner and a candidate from a middle class family of five, we've also been impaired by high energy prices and property taxes, not to mention health insurance premiums.

Sheldon's decisions do not coincide with statements of concern for everyday folks. It's not just comments about the U.S. Senate seat being his legacy or deciding to run because his $350 an hour high-end lawyer position was boring. It's because 80% of his contributions are $1,000 and higher. About 70% of these folks are from out-of-state. They're attorneys and executives from the energy, insurance, banking and defense industries who've donated over $4 million so they can keep prices for insurance premiums high, banking fees high and interest rates high, energy prices high and continued taxpayer paid military R&D investment.

They're not feeling "the pain" but will have no concern if we get squeezed further. Remember when big business donors were the domain of GOP candidates? I do not know how he squares this with union management funds and endorsements whose rank and file are impacted as their income stagnates. Have they or many of us seen a real increase in adjusted take home pay in five or more years?

You strip away the patrician background and inherited wealth and you have a DC plastic politician who is setting the public up for a one night stand and then sticking us with the bill.

Sheldon's foreign policy is inconsistent and our troops' and their families' lives are in the balance. He claims he would have used diplomacy in Iraq, but military force in Iran. He stated he supported Bush's Israel use of disproportionate force that displaced and killed more civilians than Katrina did. This is the classic privilege mindset that lets our working and middle class die in battles that he and his will never encounter. As a U.S. Marine combat officer I would never ask others to do the duty I myself was unwilling to perform.

Sheldon's policies are poll tested; having gone from stay the course last year to "rapid and responsible" withdrawal to "about four to eight months before withdrawal." If Iraq is in the midst of a civil war that is expected to potentially last for years, where are the fresh troops and equipment supposed to come from other than a draft after the elections? Is this what our families want? I'm hearing they want adequate health care and funding for education and a stimulated economy. Sheldon can't say he provides both. It's an empty promise.

Sheldon has conveyed he is strong on law enforcement, but has made clear he does not hold Bush accountable even if some of his acts have clearly been shown to have exceeded his executive authority according to our Constitution. If Sheldon is unwilling to defend our laws (he certainly was loose in their enforcement while AG) why would he represent our rights in Washington? There is a reason why Sheldon has not made political hay of his time as state attorney general.

Undoubtedly, if Sheldon wins our primary, the RNC/RSCC will put the Democratic Party through a buzz saw risking a possible win to Stephen Laffey. They might ask where Sheldon was for the four years after his defeat against Myrth York, because he certainly did not back her run against Governor Carcieri. Is this disloyalty? They may ask why his commercials do not mention that he's running as a Democrat. The media has not asked these questions.

Instead the media has been focusing attention on the more contentious GOP U.S. Senate primary race. There's certainly more money to be made in caustic television and radio ads there. Our commercials http://www.carlsheeler.com/video_plastic.htm and faith in working families’ kitchen table concerns are what we believe in. We need a public servant who sees the U.S. Senate seat as belonging to Rhode Islanders. That would be my working job... not a legacy of privilege. We have seen what those unaffected can do to our country. It's time WE the people take it back. Too many people have died before and since 9/11 to just have it bought by the highest bidder again.