I thought the purpose of PAC endorsements was to help members know who to vote for. Endorsing several in one race? It seems like NARAL took the easy way out. And if their volunteer of the year can’t get their endorsement, who can?

No one wonder the right to lifers continue to make this an issue every election cycle. A lack of conviction by the organizations who support choice. You won’t give a sole endorsement to the “Volunteer of the Year”
Get a spine NARAL and make a CHOICE!

I dont think NARAL is a big issue here. I agree that they seem to support everyone, so that kind of nullifies them. At least for me.
I was impressed with Stelzer’s background, and that he actually has witnessed how good public health care can work when he lived, taught and went to university in Germany. He also has an impressive background and is a very intelligent man. Which makes one wonder why he wants to go into politics. But it was only after I volunteered to help once, and they he contacted me a couple times saying he wanted to stop by and talk to me about it, but then never showed up, that make me start to think he might treat everyone the same if he is elected. We dont need another person who wont keep promises and wont listen to the people. I just dont know.

Is he really pro-choice, or even pro-choice enough to be an effective advocate for choice? For that matter will he any kind of advocate or just keep his mouth shut, just vote present on anti-legislation. Even worse will he seek to tread the slippery slope, give up ground? If he wasn’t, he it seems he would have responded to the NARAL questionnaire and actively sought NARAL’s endorsement. It’s too easy now for him to raise his hand and declare that he is, without being subjected to the interview process, a determination by NARAL and Planned Parenthood. Hasn’t Mayor Slay endorsed him, tell me if I’m wrong, and tell again but isn’t the Mayor quietly anti-choice? Whatever, Stelzer doesn’t have NARAL’s endorsement. Is there an opportunity for him to seek it now though? Why doesn’t talk to NARAL? They seem to give them out to all candidates that can demonstrates their bona fides on the issue.

For him to say he is pro-choice absent NARAL’s endorsement leaves just too much to question. Too much to question for people on both sides of the issue. Stelzer, man, you can’t sit this fence. How does your study-abroad experience, your “witness[ing]good public health care” advise on him on the issue? Studying and teaching abroad, jeesh no biggie - not impressive at all for anyone involved in academia even at the post graduate level, he ain’t teaching law here his, he taught overviews of the American legal system to foreign undergraduates (this is no great legal mind here, it is a mind that has been on a permanant vacation). No NARAL endorsement is a real big issue!

I wrote the previous post about how I was disappointed when Rob Stelzer did not show up on the occasions he said he would . It was only a few days afterwards did he show up. We sat and talked for close to an hour, and I really go to know him, and found out why he did not make it. It is only his family and some friends who are his campaign team, and he refuses to take money from organizations or businesses because he does not want to be beholding to anyone except the good people who would elect him to his office. I found out his is Pro Choice, but with some limits which I agree with, and he is Pro people and he has some great ideas for our city schools, and for our city and state. I came to understand that Rob is wanting to encourage growth in our communities, city ,and state by working with businesses.
I have to say I was very impressed and we talked very candid about several subjects. I also appreciate how he has traveled and lived in other parts of the world and has a very solid knowledge about the rest of the world and has seen how some things works and some things don’t. Be it getting healthcare back for those who need help with it, to making sure the government doesn’t over tax businesses and owners , to just getting the streets fixed or the schools back in control of the people who actually pay for the schools, I was very impressed. I did not feel he was lying to me in anyway, and I fully understand why he did not show up. Doesn’t excuse him for letting me wait and not calling, but I understand and I like what he says, and I for one, believe him. Out of all the candidates, I think he is the person who is not going to be owing corporations , organizations or other people and groups with specific wants that expect to be repaid for their donations. He will be the only one who is doing this for the people of St. Louis and Missouri only, and not for special interest , spending his time in office with paybacks that may hurt us more than help us. I think that his views and that he is able to stand back and look at the whole picture, is something no one else can say or do in this election. At least not that I can see.
That is my opinion of our long conversation , just Rob and me one on one on the front porch. I like him, and I for one will vote for him. I take back my earlier post now that I know more about him.

Dan Hamilton

To Um Ugh Um Yeeaah, Ya See , and everyone else.

I think that his seeing how universal style healthcare can work, is good. He knows that people do not travel to the US because they cant get treatment at home. They come here because they dont wish to wait. Here they can pay, and get it. If they did not have the money, they would have to wait unless it is emergency. Just like we have here with our insurance system. I too have traveled abroad and have seen myself that universal healthcare can work great. But I am sure if it can be messed up, our gov can figure out how to do it, with the help of the insurance industry and others who have vested interested in keeping the status quo.

As for him not knowing about schools, I do believe one of his parents was a public school educator here in St. Louis and is still involved with it. He knows what is going on. He grew up here and went to school here. I think he knows what is going on. Also, his father is an Alderman, so he may even has some insight others dont.

I also consider it a plus that he was out of country for a while, teaching at a University in Germany. Being raised here and living here, as well as living and experiencing abroad, He has the ability to look at our problems from the outside in a clear way without all the preconceived opinions others have don’t. He can also see things from the inside being a citizen and life long resident of St. Louis. I don’t think because someone was over seas doing a job is anything to disqualify or lessen his abilities to run for this office. If it go by your logic, then you would have to discount anyone who served in the military over seas as well. Maybe if he lived over seas for 20 years and just returned home, and barely lived here in the past, you might have a point, but he didn’t. I also feel that because he is not beholding to any groups, organizations, companies or corporate campaign contributions, he will not own any favors to anyone except the people who elect him. Which is the way it should be.

I think he is much better than anyone else running. The others have vested interest and will owe organizations or companies many favors. And that is how we came to be in this economical mess we are in now. So many political favors to everyone except the American people does not good in the long run. He is not on the board of any organization that is paying for or endorsing him, so he wont owe them because he wont be bought and paid for. He is not a big time company attorney, and he sees things from the street views, the view of the people. I would say right there he is much better than most of the other choices. And as for not having a great mind, can you speak several languages fluently? Could you teach overview of American law to foreign students?
He is a smart man, and he has morals, common sense, and is an ethical person from what I know of him. He isnt going to be another paid puppet doing the bidding of large contributors to his campaign. He really is different. But of course , many people prefer to leave things as they are, and for those people, I would say vote for any of the others.
But if you want to try to get things to change for the better, well, I would suggest finding out more about Rob Stelzer than a couple sound bites or others opinions. Do a little research, or just talk to the man. You might change your mind. I sure did. More of the same, or real difference that will lead to real progress for people. To me it’s not a hard decision. I don’t work for the man, and Ive never went out of my way to show support for anyother politician in all the years I could vote (over 30 years now) which reminds me of another thing. He is on a shoe string budget as he doesn’t accept corporate or special interest money. Its just his family and some friends because he doesn’t want to owe others except the people of Missouri . That’s the way it should be and I like that. Someone who will fight for you, not just for your vote and then fight against you so some organization or corporations can get their way all the time.

Dan Hamilton