With so much of this year’s political debate revolving around energy, we can’t lose sight of the fact that this is only one of the economic issues on which the American people are counting on elected officials to fight for them.

When Americans sit down at their kitchen tables and talk about their concerns, those concerns include health care costs, job security, paying for their children’s education, and in some cases, keeping their home. These are all part of the economic picture we’re struggling with today. And people in my district – Minnesota’s 2nd – like all Americans, are seeking real, achievable, practical solutions that move us forward on the challenges we face – not ideologically driven discussions where the only proposed answers come from the “left” or the “right” and politicians are unwilling to give ground in the middle.

During my campaign for Congress, I’ve conducted more than 30 listening sessions with people looking to see these concerns addressed. I’m about to embark on another round – a “Kitchen Table Tour,” where I’ll join Minnesotans in their homes to talk about these issues.

This year, my opponent has spent much of the congressional recess in Washington talking to the empty House chamber about oil drilling. This might make OK political theater, but it doesn’t solve any problems or advance the debate… and it’s especially transparent coming from a politician who has taken more than $118,000 from oil and gas interests. No doubt he and his colleagues will be pounding home the same drilling message during the upcoming RNC in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The fact is, this is an issue on which many GOP representatives with records to run from think they can score a few political points.

But this is a year when the American people really want to know who is listening to them about all their concerns and who’s committed to working for change. Many will be tuning in to the two national conventions to see what each party has to offer. These events are important pieces of getting parties’ messages out to the people. But ultimately, nothing can replace going straight to the people and talking to them about getting things done on the many issues they’re concerned about.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized .