Gillibrand

for President
By Jane Gilgun

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat from New York, voted against the recent budget bill because of its consequences for working families, students, seniors, and soldiers while the super rich and corporations get richer. This is what we need in a president: someone who understands democracies are based on fairness. Lets look into Senator Gillibrands fitness for president. Shes far more qualified than todays candidates. About the Author Jane Gilgun is a professor and author who writes on contemporary affairs.

Gillibrand for President

enator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York stood up for principle when she voted against her party and the Tea Party on the recent budget bill. She said I cannot in good conscience support a plan where soldiers, seniors, students and working families must endure trillions in cuts, while oil companies, billionaires, and corporate jet owners are not asked to pay their fair share.

Senator Gillibrand said the bill does not require fair taxes on the wealthiest and does not close tax loopholes for corporations. Many corporations pay no taxes at all. Senator Gillibrand also took a leading role in December legislation that allows gays to serve openly in the military. This kind of standing up for values such as fairness is what we need in presidents. Id like to see Senator Gillibrand run for president. The only way to outsmart the mindless politicians now in charge of the federal budget is to be as committed to the values of fairness as they are to the idea that government is bad. To stand up to them means to stand up for fairness as firmly as they stand up for slashing government. Senator Gillibrand has done this. Wed have to watch her, though. When she was a representative in the U.S., she supported crackdowns on illegal immigrants and did the bidding of the gun lobby. She may have done this to be re-elected. Not a good sign. Other politicians are refusing to pass fair laws for fear that the super-rich will not finance their next campaigns. We do not need another politician, and another president, who does not care about fairness but instead cares about getting elected again. Reference Hernandez, Raymond (2011). Gillibrand, breaking with party, votes against debt measure. New York Times, August 3, p. A19.