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butterbean · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 2271

Hostettler touts his experience
August 16, 2006

Speaker chair Steve Bohleber, left, jokes with Congressman John Hostettler after Hostettler finished giving his speech to the Rotary Club at The Coliseum in Evansville Tuesday. Hostettler touched on illegal immigrants, the war in Iraq, preventing a tax hike and high gas prices during his speech.

For 40 minutes, Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., drew upon his congressional experience and seniority to brief the Rotary Club of Evansville on such issues as illegal immigration, alternative energy sources and tax relief.

The six-term House member did not mention his challenger in one of the nation's most competitive and closely watched congressional races, Democrat Brad Ellsworth.

Then, in response to a reporter's question, Hostettler suggested that Ellsworth has offered nothing more than vague generalities.

"I've been in office for 11½ years," he said. "There are a lot of people that understand where I am on the issues, and as the campaign continues ... we'll have an opportunity to do that.

"We'll have an opportunity especially to do that when my opponent decides that he has a stand on these various issues."

Ellsworth's campaign released a written statement in response, including a list of 21 positions he has taken.

Hostettler told the Rotarians he hopes Ellsworth, who is Vanderburgh County's sheriff, will discuss issues in a substantive way when he appears before them Aug. 29.

"At this time, all that we really know about is his record as sheriff," Hostettler said. "And we think that that's important enough to talk about, as well."

Ellsworth's list of issues includes entries that say he "called for passage of the Pledge Protection Act," "opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants and supports the House-passed immigration reform plan," "supports eliminating the estate tax," and "opposes abortion."

Another entry says, "Ellsworth supports traditional marriage and supports a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage."

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/aug/16/hostettler-touts-his-experience/