Republican candidate Jeff Lamberti says his opponent, Democrat Congressman Leonard Boswell, has a “weak” record on national security issues. “The most important issue facing America and this state is national security and the war on terrorism,” Lamberti says. “I think the people of the third congressional district want somebody who is going to be consistent and strong and will send a message to the terrorists that my first priority is to defend America.”
Lamberti says Boswell has opposed reauthorizing the so-called Patriot Act which gave law enforcement greater authority to conduct wiretaps and comb through financial records. Lamberti also accuses Boswell of “flip-flopping” on border security issues and Lamberti faults Boswell for vote to cut nearly five billion dollars from the program to build a new U.S. missile defense system.
“In light of what’s gone on in North Korea in the testing of a nuclear device, I will support funding for a missile defense system and continued efforts to get that up and running,” Lamberti says. Boswell retired after a career in the military and Boswell cites his military experience and his membership on the House Intelligence Committee during campaign events when national security issues are discussed.
Lamberti says he respects Boswell’s military service, but his votes in Washington on national security issues have been wrong. “It’s not about questioning somebody’s patriotism,” Lamberti says. “It’s about who’s going to be consistent on fighting the war on terror and protecting America and what I’m looking at is solely his actions and when you vote to cut $4.7 billion from missile defense at a time when North Korea is testing a nuclear weapon, that’s wrong.”
A Boswell campaign spokesman says having Jeff Lamberti talk about national security “is like having Paris Hilton talk about the minimum wage.” Boswell has voted to commit over 60 billion dollars to the missile defense program, according to his campaign staff, and Boswell “has consistently voted” to provide the equipment, training and support American troops need in the field.