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We get letters like this about Senator Chafee (R) of Rhode Island almost every day …

Josh,

I have been trying to get a straight answer out of Lincoln Chafee’s office for months on where he stands on Social Security. I have gotten nothing from them. I have written two letters. No response. I called his office and was promised a callback, but heard nothing from them. As far as I am concerned, Chafee refuses to give an answer on where he stands on Social Security. I have corresponded with Senator Chafee many times in the past. I have always received a quick and relatively straightforward response, so I can only assume that his refusal to answer is intentional.

Would I vote for Senator Chafee’s re-election? No. I would not vote for anyone who will not unequivocally stand up for Social Security. Combine that with his vote to confirm Alberto Gonzales, which to my mind is a vote in favor of torture, and I simply cannot support him. I will be strongly supporting Matt Brown’s (likely) run for Senate.

We also get letters like this one …

Dear Josh-

Thank you for everything you are doing to shatter and dispel the falsehoods coming out of the administration about Social Security. I’m a 53 year old who began working at age 16. My mom, widowed at age 36 with 3 young kids, brought us up to believe that in America, you could strive toward your dreams and carve out your own future. She returned to work, of course, but could not have kept our family together without the benefits she received from Social Security and my Dad’s veteran’s benefits – he was a U.S. Marine who fought on the beaches of Iwo Jima.

I chose a path that allowed me independence in my life. I’ve been an independent contractor in my profession throughout my career, as has my husband. We pay our own health insurance premiums (currently $967 / month Oxford Health Plans, dig that!) make yearly contributions to our own IRA’s, own our house, pay our taxes, and willingly pay our SSA contributions.

Mr. Bush wants to denigrate the service and the sacrifices of my father and my mother by saying their children don’t deserve to have the social contract America made with us honored. I know deeply and personally how life can change in an instant, and if anyone wants to talk to me about it, I’ll be glad to give them my two cents.

We are facing a galvanizing moment in America as we decide if we are to be a country that understands and lives the humanistic concept of being one’s brother’s keeper, or if we decide instead to adopt a ruthless, me first, sink or swim approach to dealing with our citizenry.

I pray with all my heart we choose the former.

Me <$NoAd$> too.

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