Coldwater Daily Reporter - "Schauer takes aim at Walberg"

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Coldwater Daily Reporter - "Schauer takes aim at Walberg"

State Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, took aim at U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, in a town hall meeting at local Democratic headquarters next to Dally Tire downtown Tuesday night.

He also sought to assess through election workers how the Democratic campaigns are going in Branch County as the November election comes into view on the horizon.

Asked Schauer, "Do you think people are ready for a change?"

"I think people get that," said Terry Reen, who indicated his displeasure with Walberg voting against Head Start.

Local Democratic Chair Jerry Fair said there are a lot more people coming into Democratic headquarters than in other years.

"After Barack Obama was in Battle Creek, a lot of people came back here, really excited," he said. "I've seen people I've never seen before walk in here. People seem concerned to move this country in a different direction."

"That's why I decided to run for Congress," Schauer said. "Walberg is one of Bush's most loyal supporters — twice (Vice-President Richard) Cheney has been here (in support of Walberg), and (Sen. John) McCain has supported Bush 90 percent of the time."

Citing Walberg "attack" ads and mailings, Schauer fired some salvos at the freshman Congressman.

He noted Walberg's free market emphasis as per the Club for Growth, noted Walberg's vote against foreclosure help, and said "We're seeing how the marketplace is doing."

"In my career, I've worked to connect with the community, then work in a problem-solving way," he said "I don't see problems as Republican or Democratic. I'm ready to take it on."

He said trade policies need to be examined, and called for support of the auto industry, noting recent successful efforts to secure jobs at a Homer industry that had considered locating elsewhere.

"We need people who will fight for jobs, fight for businesses," Schauer said.

"There has to be a wakeup call for this country."

As for energy, he acknowledged there needs to be more drilling, but it needs to be a bipartisan solution with more attention given to clean and renewable energy.

"There are a lot of jobs in that technology, and it's a tougher one to outsource," he said. "Tim Walberg's energy policy is really about oil, about money. He still doesn't believe in climate change."

Schauer cited Walberg's vote against help for Amtrak and as for the latter's opposition to releasing oil reserves, "That would have brought prices down."

He also said Walberg has continued to link Iraq and the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedies, although President George Bush has said, and a Congressional investigation has shown, otherwise.

"We never should have taken our eye off the ball and gone into Iraq, instead of after Al-Qaeda," said Schauer.

He encouraged his troops in Branch County, saying "We need to take these next 49 days and make it happen."

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