PAC Works Toward a Global Majority in November

Election Day, November 7, is right around the corner. Midterm Congressional elections often lack excitement and intrigue. Not in 2006; not by a long shot.

For several months, political analysts have noted there are more competitive U.S. House and Senate races than at any time since 1994. What is even more exciting is the genuine chance to elect men and women that believe in the United Nations, support the International Criminal Court, condemn new nuclear weapons development and aim to address climate change. New, visionary candidates want to return the U.S. to its leadership role in resolving global problems. They have an opportunity to rid Congress of some of its most outspoken critics of cooperative U.S. engagement with our allies.

For more than a year Citizens for Global Solutions’ Political Action Committee (Global Solutions PAC) has engaged in this election cycle. The volunteers on the PAC and countless members in states and districts across the country devoted time to select the following great candidates. Without our members’ help, we would not have such a fine list of candidates to endorse.

These candidates universally believe a cooperative U.S. foreign policy needs to be implemented. Candidates across the political spectrum are committed toward this goal - from Democrats in Montana, South Carolina and Arizona to Republicans in southern California, New York and Indiana and Independents in Vermont and Minnesota. Working with friends and allies around the world is not a partisan issue, at least not according to these men and women.

When Election Day is over and all the ballots have been counted, Global Solutions PAC believes there will be an invigorated, globally-minded voting bloc in both chambers of Congress. With this team in place, the 110th Congress will be on its way to a globalist majority. For more information, visit www.globalsolutions.org/elections.

Representative Don Payne, (D-NJ District 10), has consistently scored high on our Congressional Report Card. He has been a leader on the crisis in Darfur and introduced a resolution in the House that labeled it genocide. Subsequently, he sponsored the Darfur Genocide Accountability Act that directed the Bush administration to implement actions to help halt the violence. As a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, Rep. Payne pursued every opportunity to advocate for more intense U.S. involvement in Sudan, and push administration officials on the next steps for action.

Senator Richard Lugar, (R-IN), is a true statesman and frequently steps above the partisan fray to provide leadership on the U.S.’s role in the world. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Lugar has been a long-time advocate for internationalism. He has worked across the partisan divide on nonproliferation issues with former Senator Sam Nunn, (D-GA), and current Senator Barack Obama, (D-IL). He recently cosponsored climate change legislation with Senator Joe Biden, (D-DE). Citizens for Global Solutions has also worked closely with Senator Lugar to ratify the Law of the Sea treaty.

Representative Frank Wolf, (R-VA District 10), represents Citizens for Global Solutions’ values on global democracy and U.N. reform. Rep. Wolf has introduced legislation to advance and strengthen democracy globally through peaceful means. He received special recognition from Citizens for Global Solutions for his outspoken advocacy on the genocide in Darfur. He chairs the appropriations subcommittee in charge of the State Department budget and co-chairs the Congressional Human Rights Caucus with Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA District 12).

Claire McCaskill, (D-MO), is Missouri’s State Auditor. She is challenging Senator Jim Talent (R) who has consistently performed poorly on our issues in the Senate. McCaskill strongly believes in addressing climate change and promoting alternate energy sources. She backs a cooperative U.S. foreign policy and plans to focus on global health issues.

Jon Tester, (D-MT), is the President of the Montana State Senate and an organic farmer. He is running against Senator Conrad Burns, (R-MT). Tester has an excellent shot in this race. He is a powerful advocate on health, climate change and energy issues. He also understands the importance of the U.S. returning to its leadership role in world affairs and believes we need to engage cooperatively with allies and work with international institutions.

Betty Sutton, (D-OH District 13), is running for Democratic Representative Sherrod Brown’s open seat in Ohio. After eight years in the state legislature and serving on county and city councils, she continues her social justice advocacy in the private sector by practicing labor law. She believes that U.S. foreign policy should not operate outside the world, but that it should work with the international community. If elected, Sutton will tackle global health concerns, address climate change and work with the U.N. on peacekeeping and other matters.

John Sarbanes, (D-MD District 3), a lawyer and strong social justice advocate, is running for this open seat in central Maryland. Throughout his campaign, Sarbanes has been outspoken on the need for the U.S. to return to its leadership role on the environment, international justice, global health and cooperation with friends and allies around the globe.

Contributing Writer: Drew J. Asson

Updated October 10, 2006