For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 7, 2006

David Sanders Announces Candidacy for Congress 2006
Tuesday, March 7, 2006--Dr. David Sanders, announced his candidacy for the office of U.S. representative for the 4th Congressional District of the State of Indiana at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the Tippecanoe County Democratic Headquarters, 320 Main Street in Lafayette.  He was the 2004 Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District of the State of Indiana having won a contested primary.

     He began by asking for a moment of silence to remember the Americans who have died or been wounded serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He discussed his campaign themes of fiscal responsibility, national security and veterans’ rights, protection of Medicare and Social Security and their sustainability, and integrity for elected officials.

    With regard to fiscal responsibility, Dr. Sanders stated,  “I will not support tax and spending policies that bankrupt America.  I will vigorously oppose pork-barrel spending for corporate special interests.  I pledge that during my first term in office my votes will promote a net reduction in the expenditures by the federal government.”

    “National security has been jeopardized in numerous ways by the current administration.  The United States continues to be unprepared for the crises that face us.  The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina reinforced the fact that National Guardsmen have an important job to perform here in the United States, and they all should be allowed to return to America now.”

     “We should focus on proven methods of fighting weapons of mass destruction.  I have had the privilege of participating in a program to prevent the spread of biowarfare agents and expertise from states of the former Soviet Union.”

     “It is a disgrace that at a time when our men and women are risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan that attempts are being made to exclude veterans from medical care and to silence their voices before Congressional committees.  Support for those who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families as well as for those who have served in the United States military must be a top priority.”

     “The Medicare drug benefit bill was deliberately designed to promote maximum confusion among the elderly who were supposed to be its beneficiaries.  Its real goal was to enrich the corporate interests that are Republican campaign donors and to destroy the sustainability of the Medicare program.  I will fight to reform and simplify Medicare so that it can provide for the health of the elderly for many years to come.  I will also oppose the privatization of Social Security and will work to ensure its viability now and in the future--for current retirees as well as for those who are just entering the workforce.”

     Dr. Sanders described the current Administration and Republican Congress as embodying “the three C’s—Cronyism, Corruption, and Contempt.” 

     “People are put into positions of authority not because they have the appropriate expertise, but because they are campaign workers, or someone’s relative or college roommate.  Congressmen use political funds to pay family members.  Other family members obtain jobs from political supporters.”

     “Much recent focus has been placed on lobbyists and their corruption of the political process.  If I am elected to Congress the game will be different.  Lobbyists are paid to influence legislation.  I believe that Congressmen are paid to say “No!” to lobbyists.  My door will always be open to constituents, but it will be closed to those who are paid to promote corporate special interests.”

     “Individuals hop back and forth between jobs as lobbyists and jobs in Congressional offices.  They illegally work on campaigns while they are paid with taxpayer money.  Congressmen and their staffs accept special interest money to travel around the world.  Some Congressmen see the public trust as something to be abused for their private profit.”

     “As the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 4th District I did not take a single dollar in PAC money.  As your Congressman I will not knowingly accept campaign contributions from anyone who has business in front of any Congressional Committee upon which I serve.”

     “The Administration and the Republican Congress have shown contempt for veterans and the elderly.  They have shown contempt for teachers and students by trying to reduce education to the process of filling in ovals with a #2 pencil.  They have shown contempt for civil rights and our treaty obligations.  They have shown contempt for future generations of taxpayers by their irresponsible taxing and spending policies.  They have shown contempt for the truth and for the intelligence of the American people.”

     “One of the other Democratic candidates has pledged not to engage in negative campaigning.  I similarly pledge that I will not attack or attempt to impede the other Democratic candidates.  I believe we have a common goal—to ensure that the 4th District has an honest Congressman who is committed to serving his constituents and promoting the interests of Indiana and the United States of America.”

     Former Tippecanoe County Democratic Chair, Nora Jarmon, stated, “David Sanders will be a Congressman who is responsive to the needs of his constituents.  I anticipate that he will be a leader on health care and national security issues.  He has a demonstrated commitment to political independence from special interests.”

     A graduate of Yale University and the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Sanders conducted research at UCSF and the Whitehead Institute (affiliated with M.I.T.) before joining the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University where he is now an Associate Professor.  David Sanders’ three boys, Honi, Akiva, and Yinnon Sanders attend the West Lafayette public schools.

http://www.sandersforcongress.org

Dr. Sanders’ connection with Purdue University is mentioned for identification purposes only and does not imply University endorsement.