Softer Foster tone what district needs

There are plenty of reasons for 14th District voters to be skeptical about Jim Oberweis. His stated policies on illegal immigration pander to xenophobes and bigots rather than seeking realistic and humane solutions.

His calls for more tax cuts despite hundreds of billions of dollars in war debt and trillions in unfunded Social Security and Medicare liabilities are hollow and irresponsible.

And his willingness to make a virtually unqualified and open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq represents neither the national interest nor the wishes of most Americans.

During the primary season, the Oberweis campaign launched a series of vicious and unprincipled attacks on fellow Republican Chris Lauzen.

This style of campaigning speaks loudly about the candidate's character and the attitudes he would bring to the U.S. House of Representatives.

At a time when this nation longs for statesmanship and leaders who can build consensus to solve the endless stream of crises that we face, we cannot afford to have another inflexible and polarizing voice in Washington.

Party affiliation is irrelevant if the individual we send cannot work across the aisle in a respectful and collegial manner.

Fortunately, in Democrat Bill Foster we have an alternative that represents a moderate and reasoned approach more appropriate for these troubled times. Foster's experience as a successful businessman and respected scientist certainly qualifies him intellectually, but his soft-spoken, positive approach will help to set a different tone in Washington.

William S. Hicks

Carpentersville