U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer made a stop at Paine’s Restaurant in
Hollister Monday, rallying San Benito County Democrats support with
only a few months left before the Nov. 2 election.
Hollister – U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer made a stop at Paine’s Restaurant in Hollister Monday, rallying San Benito County Democrats support with only a few months left before the Nov. 2 election.
More than 80 local Democrats came out to support the senator at the private lunchtime affair. While she stood at the lectern for roughly 30 minutes, Boxer talked about why she should be re-elected for U.S. congress.
“It’s important to have a U.S. Senate that is reflective of our country,” she said. “A quarter of the house is made up of women now, and when you have more women in office, there is a greater appreciation for family issues, children’s issues…”
Robert Rivas, chairman of the Young Democrats of San Benito County Club, said her speech was “very uplifting.”
Boxer didn’t bring any proposals to the forefront, instead she focused on issues and “American Values” she feels are important to the Democratic Party, and the country. This could be one of the most important election years in history because of the difference in ideals from both presidential candidates, as well as her challenger, Republican Bill Jones, Boxer said.
“The far right of this country will say anything to win an election, and even things about me,” she said. “My name may be Boxer, but I’m no punching bag.”
While discussing American values, which she believes are taking care of children, veterans, the environment and senior citizens, Boxer also talked about the war in Iraq. The United States currently has 140,000 soldiers in Iraq, according to Boxer. Our biggest ally, Great Britain, only has 8,500, and the next greatest ally, Italy, only has 3,500, she said.
“That is not burden sharing, and we’re climbing up to 1,000 of our young people being dead,” Boxer said.
Rivas found those numbers astonishing.
“They’re numbers people don’t usually get to hear because the government doesn’t want us to know,” he said.
Another concern of Boxer’s, is taking care of the veterans when they come home from war.
“It’s one thing to say ‘oh if you join this war, we’ll give you all these benefits,’ and it’s another to keep that promise,” she said.
Because the Republican party’s candidates have extremely different views on these issues, Boxer said, every vote counts this year.
Longtime San Benito County resident Tony Ruiz agrees.
“I’m 67-years-old, I’m a retired history professor and I’m completely convinced that this is the most important election I will ever participate in my life,” he said.
Boxer encouraged Ruiz, and everyone who came out to see her, to continue getting the word out in San Benito County through a “grassroots” campaigning strategy.
“Clearly you need enough money and ads to win an election, but you also have to have grassroots,” she said. “We need people driving others to the polls and making sure they have enough information.”
Jones’ campaign did not return a call by press time.
