Blogging for Max

Since we’ve been open for business, we’ve received a couple of e-mails from “concerned voters” of the 12^th District and I hope we will receive more. If you have an e-mail you would like to send us, please send it here and we might post it for you. Here is the first of what we anticipate will become a series that – for now anyway – we’re calling the “Dear John Letters.”

Dear John Barrow:

I voted for you, and you let me down.

I am a mother of three, a graduate of Armstrong Atlantic State University, and a former educator. And until recently, I was a lifelong Democrat. I like to think I’m a level headed, moderate to left-of-center voter; against abortion but against the death penalty; in favor of tax reform, but opposed to privatized social security; for free trade but for school vouchers.

During your first year in office, you were insignificant but tolerable. But this year you did something I couldn’t believe. In April you voted against the College Access and Opportunity Act.

I was astonished, frustrated and hurt. Our Congressman, our “Great Representative,” the man “on our side,” showed that he was nothing more than a lawyer catering to his own financial interests. That I voted for you and even – yes, I’ll admit it – campaigned for you, against my better judgment, is something I deeply regret.

The College Access and Opportunity Act – which passed, no thanks to you – offers the dream of college education to millions of kids who otherwise cannot afford it. As a single mother who works very hard to support her children, I thank God every day that we have a system in Georgia that will assist my children’s generation with tuition.

But not all Americans have access to programs like HOPE and have to rely on weak programs like Pell Grants and individual student aid programs. So the College Access and Opportunity Act aimed to strengthen those programs and open the doors of higher education to anyone who wanted in. As someone who voted for you, I am ashamed that you would deny others that all-too-necessary right.

You and other Democrats told us this act would “raid student aid.” But it was a lie. It didn’t touch student aid but rather it strengthened Pell Grants and other essential programs for those who cannot otherwise afford tuition.

And even worse, the act helped non-traditional students – like military veterans – meet individual needs in their pursuit of higher education. Again, why would you deny our HEROES this opportunity?

John Barrow: I voted for you, and you betrayed me. You turned your back on Georgia and I’m done with you. You voted against me. You voted against Georgia. You voted against our future.

Katherine T.

Garden City, GA

*Note: all letters are edited for punctuation and some grammar. Links are added by BloggingforMax.com.