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BY JACQUELINE SMALL

In print | Published September 30, 2010

Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate for Congress from the 7th district of Pennsylvania, made an appearance on campus last Friday afternoon at four p.m. to speak to a crowd of approximately 30 students. In a talk that lasted only about 10 minutes, he encouraged them to register to vote, and even to join him on the campaign trail the next afternoon.

Natalie Litton ’12 and Harry Aposteleris ’12, president and vice president of the College Democrats, arranged the visit. Aposteleris interned with Lentz over the summer, and the politician had visited Swarthmore several times before, including once last semester. “We asked him if he wanted to give a campaign speech on campus, and he said, ‘yeah,’” Aposteleris said. No professors were directly involved with bringing Lentz to campus, but several political science professors advertised the talk in their classes.

In his speech, Lentz stressed the importance of the election in securing the Democratic party’s control over Congress and called this election one of the most important races in the country “and not just because I’m one of the most important people in the country,” he said. The Democrats wish to employ a firewall strategy for the states between New York and Ohio, and this district in Pennsylvania is one of few where their success is uncertain.

Lentz emphasized the differences between his policies and his opponents, saying that although conservatives claim they want to “repeal and reform” the new health care measures, they do not have a plan to truly reform health care.

Instead, he claims they want it to return to the way it was before the recent reforms. He described that system as “discriminatory” against the ill, and pointed out that the current health care system, which allows children to remain on their parents’ health care plan up to age 26, is beneficial to many college students.

He also accused Republicans of being apathetic to the environment. “If you care about the environment, you won’t vote for them,” he said.

Lentz said that Republicans’ lack of concern about being environmentally friendly is apparent in their disinterest in reforming public transportation. He said although America is a world power, it has a second-rate transportation system.

“Their transportation plan is just more cars, more roads … but you can prevent them from being in charge,” he said of the Republicans.

The campaign planned to go door to door at approximately 4,000 homes in the area, and needed 100 volunteers to do so. In addition to Swarthmore, Lentz spoke at several other local colleges and universities in order to secure votes from students and garner volunteers.

“We had a party of about 10 students go out the next day,” Litton said. The students included College Dems and students who had been at the talk the day before. “The goal was to hit 4,000 doors, and we got about 4,300. And it was a hot day, I might add,” Litton said.

Lentz suggested that people who were unsure about who to support should go to PA2010.com to watch clips of his debate with Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate. “Anyone who watches that debate will vote for me and not him,” he said.

The speech was followed by a question-and-answer session. Adam Bortner ’12 asked about Lentz’s support for the Swarthmore Inn Project, expressing concern because of the controversy surrounding the project, which Bortner fears will be unfair to workers. Lentz said he is in favor of the project because it will create jobs, and added that he is endorsed by “every labor union there is.”

He also expressed his opposition of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, saying, “I’ve been in the Army, and all that matters is that you can shoot straight, not if you are straight.”

With election day coming up in just under 5 weeks, the College Democrats urge students to register to vote. “The deadline to register is October 4th,” said Aposteleris. “You should vote for Lentz.”

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