Monday Night's Debate in Milledgeville

Elections are about choices. And Monday night's debate in Milledgeville offered voters a chance to meet two very different candidates – candidates who offer two very different approaches to leadership.

I think the Associated Press summed it up best:

"In the first debate of their congressional rematch, U.S. Rep. John Barrow on Monday called himself an independent unafraid to buck the Democratic Party, while Republican opponent Max Burns insisted Barrow's party affiliation matters more than his policy stands."

My opponent seems obsessed with inside baseball in Washington and political party figureheads. Since he can't run on the issues, he's determined to run a "guilt by association" campaign focused on people who were not up on the stage with him; people who will not be on your ballot this fall; politicians who do not determine how I vote on the issues and challenges facing our country.

If you were there for the debate, you would have heard a lot of partisan rhetoric and false negative attacks from Mr. Burns. And I believe that's a dose of what's wrong with Washington right now: Too much blind politics – not enough progress.

In Congress, I've never cared much for the political name calling and infighting. Instead, I spend my time working to try and bring about responsible and common sense solutions to sky high healthcare costs, to fix what's broke with the Medicare prescription drug plan, to solve our nation's energy crisis with a balanced approach to energy development, to bring about fair trade that's a fair deal for American workers, and to fight for real border security – without giving amnesty to illegal immigrants.

I vote with my party when they're right and I vote against them when they're wrong. That's why I'm rated as one of the most independent members of Congress. Because I work for you – not for high-paid lobbyists or the special interests.

The party bosses don’t need another rubber stamp to vote their way in Washington. The people of the 12th District deserve a Congressman who stands up for them. Someone who listens, someone who's independent, and someone who's effective.

– John