Gary Stein

Everybody talks about a real change in our politics this year.  A little history can be made right here in South Jersey because we have an unusual third choice in the O8 elections for our congressional seat.  I'm running, I'm unknown, I'm middle class, and the middle class is mad as hell and not going to ....You know the line.  I've met all the requirements and I'll be on the ballot.  Between now and  November there will lots of time to describe events over the last several years that embolden me to take on the seven term incumbent Republican, and his Democratic challenger.*  We can get noticed, and that can be a small step at breaking Washington gridlock.  The audacity of this thing can be a wake up to Trenton as well.  I'll certainly have to rise to the occasion folks because basically I have no experience as a politician, but when politicians are performing so poorly, what's wrong with new blood.  I hope this introduction of myself and the insurgent campaign I'm initiating on this web page is a blueprint for change, right now, and for future candidates.

My name is Gary Stein, I'm 51 years old, and I'm running for Congress of the United States in New Jersey's 2nd district as a barebones 3rd party, independent candidate.  And no one will ever accuse me of being a well heeled out of touch elitist.  That's a word we've heard thrown around by candidates this year as they parade around one of us "regular folk" for the cameras.

How ordinary and average am I?  My wife and I operate a very small office cleaning business in Atlantic County for the last 18 years.  Believe me we "feel the pain" along with you and the rest who seem to be existing month to month.  How it is the politicians are just waking up to this middle class squeeze?!  Did it have to take a housing and energy crisis to rouse these careerists?  And how are they handling this emergency?  With more partisan bickering.

If I'm elected and seated as an independent, partisan party leaders have no undue influence, and lobbyists can take a walk since I'm not raising any money for this campaign and there not offering.

I'd describe myself as very reserved but I've always been very passionate about  politics.  In my early 20's I was registered as a Democratic, but even before I was old enough to vote I was campaigning door to door for George McGovern for President.  I gradually felt more comfortable with fiscal policies of conservatives and switched parties in 1980.

Having thought like a Democrat and thought like a Republican I can disapprove of Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 911(my father asked me to see it with him) yet be very open to, and moved, on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary by Moore's impassioned endorsement for Barrack Obama.  (Phil Donahue's new documentary on the Iraq war is harder for me to ignore.)

So what good ideas would make you enthusiastically tell 10 people, like a chain letter, to vote for this "real change" candidate?  This guy with no campaign money and no intention of raising any?

Start with the rising gas prices....

Pursue all energy alternatives of course, but we must drill for new oil....

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Steinforcongress.com   (site is a complete mess and you're welcome to go there)