Letter: The Courage To Buck The Party
Jim Miller
April 21, 2008
Star-Ledger
Much has been made about Rep. Rob Andrews' decision to challenge Sen. Frank Lautenberg for the Democratic Senate nomination. The state's other Democratic representatives offered a terse letter portraying Andrews as a traitor to his party. Although Andrews sat with the others in October to express support for Lautenberg, he now says he be lieves New Jersey Democrats de serve a choice.
It isn't the first time Andrews has crossed his colleagues. Nine years ago, he reacted in direct opposition to the entire state congressional delegation. My late wife, Cheryl, suffering from MS, visited the members' Washington offices while confined to a reclining wheelchair, able to move only her head. Andrews was the only one unwilling to ignore Cheryl's request for an appointment, including her own congressman, James Saxton. It's not the fact that Andrews changed his position on medical marijuana after meeting Cheryl that impressed us. He saved Cheryl from being totally ignored.
Listen carefully to the Democratic Party's complaints about Andrews, for they are in fact the reasons you should support him. He is willing to shake things up and put the people before his party.
Jim Miller, Toms River
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