From the first day that I decided to make this run for U.S. Representative, I have had the absolute conviction in my heart that 1) this run is the right thing to do and 2) I can win the race. I encounter naysayers on a daily basis. The kindest of them assured me that it would be a difficult task to take the Representative position away from Charles Boustany. The less kind told me that I was wasting my time because I had no political background or high ranking allies in the powers that be. I wasn't deterred then, and certainly am not now.
Now that qualifying is finished, we can clearly see that choices of the Democratic and Republican parties are inadequate to truly represent you, the backbone and future of the 7th District and America. To be frank with you, I would never have chosen this route if we had been given any acceptable choice in representation. I am not running because I wish to be involved in politics. I'm not running because I look forward to going to Washington. I am running because I wish to be represented; I wish my wife and sons to be represented; and, I whole hearted believe that you wish ... and deserve to be represented. I don't recall in my own lifetime ever having been represented by either a Representative or Senator whose main objective was to speak for you and me while in Washington. You can look at their records. Their records speak volumes of where their allegiance lies.
I read in one Acadiana newspaper that "The debate over Federal earmarks, commonly blasted as ‘pork barrel’ spending, is shaping up to be one of this election season’s most contested issues."
Our future should be that simple. Indeed, if the other candidates truly believe that earmarks will be one of the "most contested issues," then they will make my being elected a cakewalk. Will our other two candidates really ever address the important issues facing America and the 7th District today? Time will tell. What I am hoping, however, is that, you, the constituents of the 7th District demand that we tell you what we plan to do about the real problems facing us all today. What will we do about gas prices being over $4.00 a gallon? The answer is out there, and it isn't by finger pointing to the other party. What will we do about banks charging over 141% interest to the poorest and weakest of our state?Ignoring this burden on the poor will never solve the problem. What will we do about foreclosures breaking the ONE MILLION mark? What will we do to curtail Americans losing their dreams? Telling us that everything is just fine is not the answer, it only compounds the problem. What do we intend to do about our over 9 Trillion dollar deficit? Cutting taxes while increasing spending, borrowing and money printing will appease only the wealthiest of this nation. This should be unacceptable to anyone representing you and your children. Americans losing their jobs to businesses outsourcing labor overseas and foreigners buying up America's properties should be unacceptable to anyone representing you and your children.
As your representative, I will never speak to the crowd. The truth is the truth no matter how one tries to repaint it. As your candidate for U.S. Representative, I won't brush off the real issues facing you by telling you simply that they are issues "I will look at." I won't simply tell you what the problems are, as though my recognizing them alone will solve it. I intend to deal with each and every important issue facing us today, and what I believe needs to be done to fix them. I'm not afraid of being labeled a "liberal" or "conservative." Labels are no better than saber rattling, and they fix nothing.
I've said it before, and I'll repeat myself. The issues facing us today are not about "liberal" or "conservative" and are not about "Democrat" or "Republican". It's about right and wrong. Charging poor or desperate people over 141% interest on a loan is wrong. $4.00 a gallon for gasoline is wong. Spending over 560 Billion dollars on a war that never was our war is wrong. An over 9 Trillion dollar deficit is wrong. Murdering over 1 1/2 million babies a year is wrong.
I hope you will take a little time and review the issues I am addressing in this campaign. I also hope you review the other candidates web sites and compare your choices of candidates. After reviewing the issues, I truly believe that you will find me to be the better choice for your future and that of your children.
On November 4th I need your vote, and I need your support now. Simply telling 10 friends about my candidacy and web site will be a tremendous help. This time, in 2008, let's elect a Representative who will owe You his allegiance, not big money.
Thank you for you time and consideration, and thank you for your support.
Peter Vidrine
To help you compare candidates, here are links to their campaign web sites.
Dr. Charles Boustany Jr. : U.S. Congress
Cravins for Congress
Now, let's see if they have the courage to link back to Peter Vidrine's Home Page. We'll see.
