Some Things To Consider Before You Vote

MORE ON THE MYTH OF THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN

Washington Post columnist Harold Myerson makes a great argument today on why voting for a so-called moderate Republican is the same as voting for Bill Frist.

I won't do justice to Myerson's exquisitely written piece by paraphrasing. Instead I urge you to read it in its entirety here before pulling the lever for any self-proclaimed moderate or independent Republican in November.

IS YOUR CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION REFORM?

Has your candidate signed the Voters First pledge?

Common Cause and a consortium of other citizen-action groups have asked congressional candidates to sign a pledge that the groups think will lead to fairer elections of candidates that are less beholden to special interests.

The pledge has three parts:

1. full public financing of congressional elections.

2. meaningful restrictions on elected officials taking gifts and travel from lobbyists.

3. full internet disclosure of lobbyists' gifts and fundraising for members of Congress.

To check which congressional candidates from New York state have signed the pledge click here.

For those of you who live in New York's 17th through 20th Congressional Districts, I'll save you some time. The only two candidates - major or minor party - to sign so far are John Hall , the Democrat in the 19th and Kirstin Gillibrand, the Democrat from the 20th.