A Community Dinner in Johnston

A Community Dinner in Johnston
Written by Sheldon
Monday September 25, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Category: Sheldon on the Road

I'm of the firm opinion that we've got to become a country that listens - a country where a senior who's worried about hitting the Medicare Part D donut hole and a mother who wonders how she's going to afford to get her daughter through college are both able to raise their voices, share their stories, and know that someone is listening who cares about addressing their concerns. But the Bush administration and the Republicans in Congress just aren't listening, and they'd rather put the welfare of the special interests above the welfare of American families who are struggling to get by.

That's exactly why I invited Johnston residents to one of our series of community dinners on Thursday night. I'm sure our famous pasta-and-meatballs were a draw, but the over 200 people who packed into the standing-room-only Postal Workers Union Hall certainly didn't just come for the food. They came together to talk with me about their frustration with what's going on in Washington, and ask me tough questions about what I'm going to do for them when I'm elected.

One man who took the microphone shared with me that his son is scheduled to go to Iraq for another tour of duty. He said that while his son is already set to be deployed, for the sake of other families and servicemen and women he wanted to hear my proposals for bringing our troops home. Another man gave another perspective on Iraq: he's a longtime Democrat who didn't support going in, but is worried about what's going to happen when we leave. I shared with them my belief that only one solution remains, and that is to tell the world we are bringing our troops home. Only when we rapidly and responsibly get out can other countries play a role in bringing stability to the region.

This constructive, back-and-forth discussion about the issues facing our families is what my community dinners, and my campaign, are all about. Every single story I hear from Rhode Islanders helps me understand - personally, emotionally, and directly - why we so desperately need change in Washington.

As the dinner was wrapping up, one woman asked me how long after the Democrats take control of the Senate will she and her friends in Johnston start to experience the difference in their day-to-day lives? As I told her on Thursday, I can't answer for sure. But one thing I know for sure is that turning this country around is going to take hard work, and a real commitment to change. I have that commitment. And if I'm elected, I'm going to work my heart out to ensure that your voices and your stories are heard in Washington.

http://www.whitehouseforsenate.com/?p=317