Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney who beat the ultra-offensive Richard Pombo in California's 11th CD delivered the radio address for the Democrats today. He hit on the two key issues that moved voters to dump the GOP in November -- ethics and Iraq:
"In this election, the American people clearly called for change," Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "As our first responsibility in fulfilling the mandate of this critical election, House Democrats will restore integrity and civility in Washington in order to earn the public trust."The Democratic caucus is really promoting the new members. That's a good strategy because we'll need them back in 2008.
The effort to build that trust will include bans on gifts from lobbyists, lobbyist-funded travel and use of corporate jets, McNerney said.
The incoming congressman also promised "a new direction in Iraq" and said Democrats would resist any plan to deploy more U.S. troops there. "The Iraqis need to understand that the responsibility for the future of that country is theirs," he said.