Frank Lautenberg: “I, like millions of Americans, see what is happening on television, listen to what is happening on radio, and hear…”

“I, like millions of Americans, see what is happening on television, listen to what is happening on radio, and hear campaign commercials that are being submitted on a fairly regular basis. I listen to them and wonder, what is the message to our country? What is being said? What is the message we want to give to the American people? What do we want to tell them about our concern for their needs? Do we want to talk about lower prices for prescription drugs? Do we want to talk about educating our children? Do we want to talk about health care generally? Do we want to talk about bringing the troops home? Do we say enough is enough? When we look at the record and see what is happening, the killing continues in Iraq. Since we have gone over to an Iraqi interim government, the rate of death has not diminished from the time before we turned this government over to the Iraqi interim government. Today, we heard news of a terrible explosion that killed a bunch of Iraqis and injured American soldiers. The toll continues to mount. I believe the American people are concerned about that. I hear it from parents who say: My son's term has been extended. He thought he would be home by now. Now he has to serve 3 more months. Or, my daughter has to stay there far longer than she expected. Not only are they emotionally torn apart, not only are there family problems from the absence of dad or the absence of mom from the household, but financially it is a disaster.”