12th District deserves an independent voice like Congressman Holt

The virulent personal attacks on Congressman Rush Holt’s character are an insult to voters.

Smears are used to deflect voters away from facts, perhaps because the facts show that Congressman Holt has effectively represented the 12th District by being an independent voice — crossing party lines to vote against the marriage tax, working with Republicans to expand Medicare, shoring up Social Security and protecting the privacy of our medical information.

It must be tough for his opponent, whose own record in Congress showed that he walked in lock-step with a Republican leadership focused on undermining or blocking those very programs.

The 12th District needs a representative like Rush Holt, who cares about health care, education, Social Security and privacy; not a sycophant of rich pharmaceutical companies or Fortune 500 businesses.

Smears reflect only the character of his opponent. We deserve better.

Bruce Brickman

Manalapan