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CONGRESS | 15TH DISTRICT | Some will assert a political moderate is merely someone who doesn’t believe in anything, a Cafeteria Catholic picking and choosing positions within a clearly defined doctrine designed to be followed as a whole and not by its individual parts.
In December, Rep. Eric Swalwell took a hit from some in his congressional district when he voted for a bipartisan budget plan that failed to extend unemployment benefits to over 1.3 million Americans. In a statement made through his bipartisan caucus of freshman moderates, Swalwell noted the bill was not perfect, but he also failed to specifically acknowledge leaving unemployment benefits on the table as one of its downsides. “No legislation can be all things to all people, but we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” said the statement.
Swalwell and other Democrats up for re-election this year, however, get another stab at rebuffing challengers who may used the vote to negatively portray them as inconsiderate to those currently in economic hardship. The U.S. Senate discussed the issue last week before Senate Republicans squashed the bill on Tuesday. Swalwell made statements indicating he was now firmly in favor of extending benefits, but is he really or not totally sure?
Curiously, also on Tuesday, Swalwell sent an email to constituents plainly asking, “Should Congress extend unemployment insurance?” They are then urged to click yes, no or don’t know. However, the email makes it clear Swalwell already favors extending benefits this time around. “It’s the right thing to do for millions of Americans who are trying to support their families, and it is the right thing to do for our economy,” he said.
Swalwell used a similar tactic late last year when he asked voters whether they wanted to allow cell phone use on domestic flights. On this issue, Swalwell, a self-promoted frequent flier, also declared opposition beforehand to the proposed Federal Communications Commission plan. No nearby passenger yammering on their cells. However, can we be sure he doesn’t also support crying babies across the aisle in Seat A3?
ebcitizen.com 
Shame on Swalwell for cutting off benefits for 1.3 million Americans. The extension of federal benefits was started by Bush and continued by both parties when the unemployment rate was this high.
It's about real people, people with families struggling to meet mortgage payments, struggling to put food on the table, to make ends meet, and includes 200,000 military veterans among those folk who are losing their benefits.
This is why my friends and I will be voting for Ellen Corbett this year….she has a heart and cares about the 90% of us who aren't rich too.
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Keep it real Steven, because the Swalwell staffers, like anon above, are crapping in their pants. This family of five will be voting for Ellen
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Thank you, congressman.
This household of three females will be supporting you–again!
Woo hoo!
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I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett—Thank you Steven
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Good man and right on issues.
He's got my vote!
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Amen to the above post—–Keep it real Steven, because the Swalwell staffers are crapping their pants.
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Tavares has a good track record .. unlike Swalwell
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a “damning story about Swalwell”? Is it like all the other ones you've posted here? I wait with baited breath!
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Thank you Steven . Keep posting the truth. All the major newspapers in the Bay Area are owned by ultra-conservative right wingers. None of them have independent journalists. They all follow the company line and do what they are told to do.
4:50 and 9:36 is definitely a Swalwell staffer. Come Jan 1st of next year that staffer will be out of work and looking for unemployment benefits. Our new Congresswoman will be Ellen Corbett, and most of us can't wait for the progressive change.
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By the way, that's a Swalwell staffer above doing damage control. The point of the stories is to call out Swalwell for obfuscating his stance on unemployment benefits, an issue that illustrates compassion and without little gray area. I don't see the same wavering on the issue with Rep. Lee.
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The Swalwell team using the tactic that I'm not a journalist. However, the paychecks I receive say differently. Their intent is to downgrade what I report while continually avoiding my questions. In about a month, we will see a damning story about Swalwell. They will avoid me and I will report no comment. When it is published they will talk to Josh Richman at the Tribune and attempt to smear me and provide a false narrative or misdirection. The truth hurts and sadly, Swalwell knows the local MSM will have his back.
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I'm 9:36 a.m., and I can assure you that I'm no Swalwell staffer, nor in any way, shape, or form employed by him or his campaign. I don't even work in politics — it's a hobby.
Your first mistake, 4:57 p.m., is relying on any “journalism” published on ebcitizen.com — or perhaps you're Steven Tavares himself? That would be the only explanation for relying upon such shoddy reportage.
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Good to know Swalwell staffers read the EB Citizen! Hope you kids are getting your resumes ready!
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Shame on Swalwell for cutting off benefits for 1.3 million Americans. The extension of federal benefits was started by Bush and continued by both parties when the unemployment rate was this high.
It's about real people, people with families struggling to meet mortgage payments, struggling to put food on the table, to make ends meet, and includes 200,000 military veterans among those folk who are losing their benefits.
This is why my friends and I will be voting for Ellen Corbett this year….she has a heart and cares about the 90% of us who aren't rich too.
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The Swallwell staffer above should reread Dec 12th article in the Citizen. The Ryan/Murray budget which Barbara Lee blasted and Swalwell praised. This was part of the story.
CONGRESS | BUDGET | Rep. Barbara Lee had tough words for the bipartisan budget bill passed Thursday by the House, which leaves over 1.3 million Americans without unemployment checks early next year, while fellow Alameda County Rep. Eric Swalwell boasted over its the conciliatory nature.
“We are talking about 1.3 million people who will lose unemployment benefits during this holiday season,” said Lee. “It is cruel. It is morally wrong, and it is economically stupid.” She added, “The least we can do for the millions of long-term unemployed who are struggling just to get by during this holiday season is to pass this three-month extension.”
In a letter in support, Swalwell, along with 12 members of a bipartisan freshman caucus, said the budget deal is an example how working across the aisle can move the country forward.
I hope the Swalwell staffer who made the above post did not use taxpayer money or time to try and defend his weak congressman.
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Congressman Swalwell supports extending unemployment insurance. Full stop. The above email serves a couple purposes: (1) allows him — and other members who sent out similar issue poll emails, such as Rep. George Miller on immigration reform — to tout broad district support for something they favor; and (2) measure how many people receiving the emails read them. That's it.
As per usual, “journalist” Steven Tavares misrepresents the text and context of the email to make a political hit on Congressman Swalwell with no basis in fact. The House never had the chance to vote on extending UI because Speaker Boehner never brought up a clean extension for a vote. And as a freshman member of the minority party, Congressman Swalwell — nor even Nancy Pelosi herself — could force such an up-or-down vote. Them the House rules.
The only Democrat to “blame” for the failure to extend UP — and this is a stretch — is U.S. Sen. Patty Murray from Washington State, who negotiated the budget deal Swalwell and nearly every other Democratic member in the Bay Area voted to approve.
But those are facts — or strangers to the reporting by this sad “journalistic” enterprise.
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Swalwell just do the right thing! You don't need a poll.
I recently watched a movie about a boy who was on a ship that started to sink. Luckily for him, there was a lifeboat he could scramble onto; otherwise, he would have drowned. But what do you do when you’re on a sinking ship—and there is no lifeboat?
Unemployment insurance benefits have been a lifeboat for millions of families in an economy that often feels like it’s sinking fast. Rather than extend these benefits, House Republicans made the choice to jump ship and go on holiday break, letting these vital benefits expire for our neighbors, friends and family members who have lost their jobs. We can’t just watch from afar while fellow Americans struggle to stay afloat. We have to get them that lifeboat.
Check the box and tell Swalwell to extend unemployment benefits.
I’ve been unemployed. And I can tell you from experience, the bills don’t stop just because you’re not getting a regular paycheck. These benefits make sure job seekers can keep the lights on and, just like a lifeboat, keep them afloat until they find employment.
Our job market still is bearing the weight of the Wall Street-induced financial meltdown. We’ve seen workers losing their jobs across the board—from health care and education to construction and government—through no fault of their own. These are the men and women who make America work and now they’re drowning. Shouldn’t we give them that lifeboat?
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Thank you Steven Tavares for the articles pointing out Mr Swalwell's incompetence, mistakes and heartlessness. This flip flopping neophyte is an embarrassment to our congressional district. I didn't like Stark and voted for Swalwell and now apologies are in order. Ellen Corbett has my vote in 2014 and I am a declined to state voter.
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Shame on Swalwell for cutting off benefits for 1.3 million Americans. The extension of federal benefits was started by Bush and continued by both parties when the unemployment rate was this high.
It's about real people, people with families struggling to meet mortgage payments, struggling to put food on the table, to make ends meet, and includes 200,000 military veterans among those folk who are losing their benefits.
This is why my friends and I will be voting for Ellen Corbett this year….she has a heart and cares about the 90% of us who aren't rich too. Shame on Swalwell.
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Good man and right on issues.
He's got my vote!
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I thought the assumption is our representative should already know what we want. It's his job to vote and if we don't like it, then we vote him out. That's how it works, sweetheart.
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This is precisely why people don't trust him. He says different things to different groups. You never really know where he really stands on issues. Is he for something one week and against it the next? You never can be sure with this “have no principals” doofus. Ellen Corbett is starting to look better and better. At least she has principals and you know where she stands on issues even if I don't agree with everything she does. Jesus Christ Swalwell take a stand and stick to it. We elected you to be a leader and not a follower. As of now I'm voting for Ellen. You make me sorry I voted for you last time.
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