Republican Congressman Chris Gibson often says that he stands up for the best interests of his constituents in NY-19, the rural upstate district he represents. It’s time for him to do so now.
As of this writing, Gibson has been conspicuously silent on Mitt Romney’s infamous “47%” statement, in which the Republican candidate for president dismissed nearly half the country as “dependent” and lacking initiative, and noted that it “was not his job” to care about them. The problem with Romney’s statement—apart from the fact that it is deeply immoral and spectacularly wrong—is that the people he’s written off make up the bulk of Chris Gibson’s upstate district. These are your friends and neighbors. They are retired seniors on Social Security and Medicare. Ex-military personnel (like Gibson himself). Students. And simply people who don’t earn enough, despite working full-time and then some, to pay federal income taxes.
Yet Congressman Gibson has said nothing about Romney’s insulting, divisive remarks. Does his silence imply agreement? We have to assume so, unless he does the right thing and steps forward to renounce Romney’s ignorance and callousness.
I have created an online petition to help Mr. Gibson do just that. You’ll find it here. A great many of your fellow upstate New Yorkers have already signed it—please add the weight of your name to the petition, so Gibson will hear from as many of his constituents as possible.
Thanks. You’ll be glad you spoke up.
