Charles R. Shetron: Denham not reliable in supporting GOP agenda
Re “Denham walks line to follow his beliefs” (Front pages, May 22): Reporter Michael Doyle has stumbled upon the answer to “Why Trump?” and, on a more local level, the grassroots effort to elect Robert Hodges to Congress.
Doyle points out Rep. Denham supported the Republican Party leadership in the 90th percentile. This is where the rub comes in. It must be pointed out the Republican Party platform supports smaller, less-intrusive government, free enterprise, strong national defense, the Second Amendment to the Constitution and individual freedom.
These principles are also a major factors in the conservative Heritage Foundation’s basis for their evaluation of the legislative positions taken by the House of Representatives and its members. Overall, as of May 12, Republican members of the House are rated at a 63 percent average in support of these principles. Rep. Denham is rated at 34 percent.
This anemic support for their own platform has, I believe, resulted in the rejection by the general membership of the leadership of the Republican Party, and has caused the ascendance of Donald Trump. As to Congressman Denham, that has yet to be determined.
Charles R. Shetron, Oakdale
This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 1:13 PM with the headline "Charles R. Shetron: Denham not reliable in supporting GOP agenda."