Recent poll shows Ackerson and Buyer race to be tight

Excerpted from Lafayette’s Journal & Courier | September 14, 2008

Commenting on the Journal & Courier’s survey results, McCann said he found the results in the District 4 contest between Republican Congressman Steve Buyer and Democratic challenger Nels Ackerson to be the most surprising.

Of 1,338 respondents who answered the question, 38 percent chose Buyer, 36 percent chose Ackerson, and 26 percent said they were undecided.

“I would have expected a bigger gap,” he said. In the 2006 election, Buyer garnered 53 percent of the Tippecanoe vote compared with 47 percent for his nearest rival. Districtwide Buyer won by a 62-38 margin.

“It’s a rough year to run as an incumbent Republican, and Ackerson has more resources than some of the earlier challengers to Buyer,” McCann said.

Clarks Hill resident Sharron Parker said she’s voted for Buyer in the past but thinks it might be time for a change.

“I think most people in the United States are thinking that,” she said.

See entire article.

One debate isn’t enough for 4th District

Lafayette Journal & Courier, September 2nd

Only one debate for a congressional district covering more than 4,000 square miles is just plain wrong.  But that’s what incumbent Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Monticello, is insisting upon for the 4th Congressional District of Indiana.

Earlier in the campaign, Buyer had been reticent about debating his challenger, Democrat Nels Ackerson.

Buyer and Ackerson, an attorney who lives in Zionsville, did agree to a debate. The event, which took place at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds in Danville, drew an audience of about 100 people on Thursday night.

Ackerson has pushed for more dialogue between the candidates. Specifically, he has asked Buyer to debate in each of the 12 counties the wide-ranging district encompasses.

But Buyer quickly quashed that notion early during the first debate, alluding to a rule infraction by the Ackerson camp.

For his part, Ackerson described the alleged infraction as a “mystery” and offered an apology.

Debate organizer Dave Wyeth told Journal & Courier reporter Dorothy Schneider that Buyer must have been referring to a news release from Ackerson that was distributed Wednesday.

Wyeth said there was no written rule about not sending out releases, but said Thursday’s debate was intended for only Farm Bureau members and the leadership.

Clearly, looking at the makeup of this district, there are a wide variety of important topics to the voters. The candidates touched on issues vital to their audience in Hendricks County.

But what about others in the district who want to hear directly from the candidates? As constituents, they have earned the right to hear the opinions from candidates vying to represent them.

What about those interested in learning the candidates’ views on higher education? Surely that’s an issue of great importance to members of a district covering West Lafayette and bounding the outskirts of Bloomington.

Or working families?

Or retirees?

Or veterans?

As of the 2000 census, there were more than 675,000 residents in the 4th District.

While it is not practical to create a series of debates to reach every single person, it is inexcusable to limit the forums to a single event for 100 people.

Ackerson Issues Debate Challenge

Press Release – Nels Ackerson Issues Debate Challenge to Steve Buyer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2008

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – Nels Ackerson believes that voters in the 4^th district have a right to know how their representative stands on the issues that affect their lives. Sixteen year incumbent Steve Buyer believes he can continue to avoid any debates, having recently declined to respond to yet another invitation to participate in a debate. The most recent invitation is the sixth request that the Buyer Campaign has ignored or refused to schedule.

In response Nels Ackerson has issued a broad challenge: He wants to debate Steve Buyer in each of the twelve counties in the 4^th District. “Steve Buyer is choosing to play Washington spin games to avoid facing the people and discussing the facts of his voting record,” said Ackerson. “We have constituents regularly calling us and we have accepted every invitation to debate. We have agreed to just about any format, any date, and any location. But Steve Buyer refuses to commit to any specific public debates. I think it’s time he offered the people of this district more than photo ops. Steve Buyer has five weeks of vacation away from Washington this August that could be used to meet with constituents for debates.”

The organizations that have offered to host debates and are awaiting confirmation from Steve Buyer include:

• WILO Frankfort
• Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
• Frankfort Times
• The Purdue University Student Government
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, Crawfordsville
• Hendricks County Farm Bureau
• Disabled American Veterans, Lafayette

Issuing his broad challenge, Ackerson noted that accountability and communication are fundamental to democracy, and that voters have a right to a representative who is willing to listen to them and to keep them informed of what he’s been doing in Washington. “There are a lot of conflicting stories about his record, particularly on veterans’ benefits. There are a lot of questions about the facts. Given his record on the declining economy, the 16 year absence of any cohesive energy policy, and his proposed veterans’ tax, I think it’s critical that we discuss the issues with our constituents.”

Ackerson, Buyer spat about VA

From the Bedford Times-Mail

Ackerson, Buyer spat about VA

By BOB BRIDGE bob@tmnews.com
July 31, 2008

BEDFORD — A small group of city officials, media representatives and Nels Ackerson supporters shared umbrellas Wednesday afternoon outside the Lawrence County Courthouse as the Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 4th District Congressional seat addressed issues associated with military veterans.

Speaking in front of the limestone monuments dedicated to fallen soldiers, Ackerson criticized GOP incumbent Steve Buyer for his failure to serve America’s veterans and offered a four-point pledge to treat veterans fairly if elected to Congress in November.

“I will keep our promises to protect veterans,” he said. “I will support the families of soldiers and veterans. I will fight to provide better job transition and assistance for returning veterans, and I will work to protect and honor the American flag.”

Ackerson’s words did not fall on deaf ears. While several citizens applauded his 15-minute address, Buyer’s camp quickly responded to the criticism via a press release.

Buyer spokesman Jon Clark described Ackerson’s claims as absurd.

“It is unfortunate that he is using veterans’ issues for political gain,” he said. “Mr. Buyer’s opponent has no record of service to veterans. Today, he rolled into town and attacked one of the nation’s leading advocates for the military, veterans, military families, and survivors.

“Congressman Buyer helped stop the Veterans Administration clinic from moving off the grounds of the Soldiers Home in Lafayette, and he is committed to working with the VA and Gov. Mitch Daniels to expand and improve the health care services being provided at the Soldiers Home.”

Clark said under Buyer’s chairmanship of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, the VA’s budget increased by more than $8.3 billion, approximately a 10 percent increase. He claimed Buyer improved life insurance protections, transition services for service members, and access to health care services for rural veterans, among other benefit improvements.

Clark also noted Buyer recently voted in favor of a historic increase for veterans education benefits via the new GI bill.

Ackerson argued Buyer had not been a friend to veterans and his rhetoric didn’t match his actions. He said veteran organizations will confirm that reality.

“It’s time veterans in Indiana had an honest advocate,” he said. “I think people are tired of political leaders who say one thing when they’re at home and then vote a different way when they go to Washington. People want accountability. They’re tired of double talk.”

Ackerson claimed Buyer was appointed chairman of the VA committee only after he pledged to cut benefits.

“He repeatedly voted to limit benefits, even voting in the minority of his own party,” Ackerson said. “He denied service organizations from presenting their legislative agenda during House-Senate hearings, a move that was blasted by the American Legion and other service organizations.

“Under his oversight, the VA experienced repeated scandals, financial mismanagement, and unauthorized medical testing of Gulf War veterans.”

Ackerson reiterated his plea for a face-to-face discussion of the topic.

“We obviously disagree,” he said. “Let’s have a debate. Let’s have a clear airing of these views. Let’s see who is right, and who is wrong.

“We’ve been invited to six debates throughout this district, and we have accepted them all. He has not. I welcome a debate.”

Ackerson said party politics should not play into the issue of veteran affairs.

“Our men and women in service did not go to war to fight for us as Republicans or Democrats,” he explained. “They did so as Americans. I’m not speaking today as a Democrat, though I’m proud to be a Democrat. I’m speaking as an American with a personal pledge to the people I plan to represent.”

Bedford Mayor Shawna Girgis, an independent, greeted Buyer when he came to Bedford to detail his energy plan. She also introduced Ackerson to Wednesday’s gathering.

“I want to welcome Nels Ackerson to our community,” she said. “It’s good for us to hear what all the candidates have to say.

“We have a lot of veterans in our community and a lot of folks who are currently serving in the military.”

Times-Mail Staff Writer Bob Bridge welcomes comments at 277-7282 or by e-mail at bob@tmnews.com.

Ackerson Announces Pledge to Veterans

Nels Ackerson Announces “Ackerson Pledge” on Veterans Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2008

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – Nels Ackerson believes that the 4^th District deserves a Congressman who will fight for Veterans rights.  Today he announced the “Ackerson Pledge to Veterans”, a series of concrete initiatives to honor America’s commitments to Veterans.

“My opponent, Steve Buyer, has been in Congress for 16 years.  While claiming to support our serviceman and women, he has consistently voted against the interests of Veterans.  Whether cutting promised Healthcare budgets, alienating Veterans organizations, or trying to institute a Veterans Tax, Buyer has not been the advocate that our veterans need.  That is why I am announcing the Ackerson Pledge to Veterans.  I want the voters in the 4^th district to know exactly what I stand for and exactly what I will do in Congress.  It’s a matter of principle, of integrity, and of accountability.”

As part of the “Ackerson Pledge to Veterans” Nels has publicly committed to taking action on four initiatives when he becomes Congressman:

· Nels will keep our promises to protect Veterans benefits

· Nels will support the families of soldiers and Veterans

· Nels will fight to provide better job transition and assistance for returning veterans

· Nels will work to protect and honor the American flag

Ackerson was accompanied by members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled Veterans of America at campaign stops in Zionsville, Lafayette, and Crawfordsville.  At each location Ackerson committed himself to four initiatives on behalf of America’s soldiers and veterans.  “The Ackerson Pledge is my pledge to the people of the 4^th district and to our soldiers and veterans that we will honor their service by delivering on our promises,” said Ackerson.

Nels further added that he is committed to being a champion of Veterans and is opposed to the Veterans Tax proposed by Steve Buyer.  Said Ackerson, “Our veterans have given us their best, and they deserve to be treated honestly and to receive the benefits they were promised.  And when I am in congress, that is exactly what I intend to do.”