Dear fellow Americans,
Let us introduce ourselves. We are Rob and Robin Lynch (I know but somehow that is just how things work out) and we grew up in the East and were raised Catholic and Republican. Rob joined the Democratic Party as a young man and Robin became an independent and then more recently (18 months ago) became a Democrat. We were married in 1987 and we have two children in their twenties both in graduate school. Neither of us were married previously. We’ve hung in there through some very difficult times as have many of us.
We have been members of The Presbyterian Church for many years and we are middle class economically. We have been deeply, personally affected by polarizing conflicts in our families and we have now come to see the same destructive dynamics grip our nation. While these conflicts have devastated us they have also taught us a great deal about anger and hatred and it has informed our view of the present heartbreaking divide in America. What this boils down to for us is that the GOP and Trump are very selfish, and are not to be trusted. They are the opposite of “Great Americans” and all that are great country stands for.
We all believe in personal responsibility and we believe that being personal responsible means among things resolving problems constructively, through dialogue that respects and appreciates different points of view – not fear mongering and inciting hatred of the other. That this is the parliamentarian way – that is what our fathers fought for – ours were both awarded the Silver Star in WW II – and what your ancestors bravely fought for. Not this, never this. We are Americans – we don’t do this – we don’t support people like Trump.
Your choice for the United States Senate affects us all and we are appealing to you to vote Democratic because they will be a check on the very hurtful policies the GOP want to enact. Among them are:
The ACA or Obamacare will be repealed and with it, its protection for pre-existing conditions: It is a fact that the ACA saves lives yet the GOP has an iron will and they hate the ACA with a venom that is an excellent example of “narcissistic rage.” (Robin grew up with this narcissistic rage around these issues – fortunately through good friends and The Church she saw a better way). They will lie as much as they have to fool you that they are supporting the ACA or Obamacare.
- Senator Collins on March 3rd, 2018: despite dozens of previously-stated assurances from Speaker Ryan, the House does not include Collins’ stabilization measure.
- It is a matter of record that Arizona GOP Senate hopeful, Representative McSally said get this f—— thing done when she literally charged into the rooms of the House of Representatives in 2017 to repeal the ACA. She now says that she will support pre-existing conditions at all cost.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid will be repealed: The GOP calls it entitlements but we believe anyone else would call it your money. The GOP hates Social Security as much as they hate the ACA. The new tax plan is designed to so squeeze our budget that they will decide to cut it and then eliminate it altogether and the fact that they are taking your money will be overridden by their majorities.
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said two weeks ago that “the only way to lower the record-high federal deficit would be to cut entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.”
- They have appointed judges that are going to make this very difficult to reverse.
Yes! The Fundamentals of the Economy are Weak: Between the trade wars Trump has started singlehandedly and the tax bill, the economy is not growing in a way that it stabilizes or develops the middle class or the markets. As noted below we are doing a high wire act without a net – again. Among other risks this does not allow for badly needed infrastructure projects or investment in education.
- https://www.marketwatch.com/story/theres-nothing-strong-about-us-economic-fundamentals-2018-02-26
We are less safe in the world and less safe at home:
- The USA is weaker and less secure from cyber attacks from Putin and from nuclear attack from North Korea This is not hysteria. Trump gave North Korea the opening they have been looking for with South Korea to out maneuver the United States and to make us vulnerable to their attack if we attempt to stop the growth of their nuclear arsenal. We can no longer pressure them from growing their nuclear arsenal.
- Middle East Peace Process – The Trump Administration’s withdrawal from the Iranian Nuclear Deal increases the risk of a nuclear conflict in the region. The Administration’s whole-hearted support of the Saudi regime has led to an expansion of the war in Yemen and increased regional tensions among the Arab states and with Iran.
- International Trade – The Trump Tariff program will only benefit a small minority of workers and businesses; all Americans will pay higher prices and farmers will lose access to emerging markets. Relatedly, quitting the Trans Pacific Partnership harms American companies and was the only stop on China becoming the dominant world economy.
- The Second Amendment and Gun Control: The GOP is owned by the NRA and never challenge them, making protecting our children and our citizenry simply impossible.
- Senator McConnell said it just a darn shame . . . this epidemic…we can’t do much but appropriate funds for school safety.
The Environment, our food and medical supplies: The deregulation of one puts at great risk the safety and security of all these essentials. We are less prepared for the increase in extreme weather which we have contributed to by deregulation and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords and we are increasing the risk of disease and of an unsafe food and medicine supply through deregulation and the increase in extreme weather.
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-31/trump-s-cdc-director-steps-down-amid-tobacco-stock-scandal
National Discord has disabled our states’ and our nations’ ability to deal with problems of pressing importance
The Trump Administration is rife with scandal and corruption. It has conducted itself with complete disregard for the dignity of The Office of the President and respect for the United States of America:
- From illicit affairs to illegal and immoral business deals
- to profanity and racist rants
- to putting a person on the Supreme Court who:1) is under investigation from his peers for his judicial conduct, 2) had no less than three women make formal accusations of being attacked sexually by him, and 3) who the President of Harvard University forbids him to teach at Harvard
This President is thumbing his nose at us all as he appears to be getting away with it.
Your vote for a Democratic senator may be our only check on this.
-God bless you all and God bless the United States of America
Thank you,
Rob and Robin Lynch
