In your Feb. 15 interview, “Walz: Paul Ryan made a decent effort,” our 1st District representative portrays himself as a calm, deliberate moderate. However, Rep. Tim Walz could better be described as a chameleon, because he sure can change colors depending on his environment. In D.C., he’s the bluest of the blue, voting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi 96 percent of the time. Back in town he turns red, saying he “admires” Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and by pointing out his military record and his NRA membership. This is only to avoid discussing his voting record.

Why didn’t you ask him about his votes for the health care monstrosity, for cap-and-trade, for the failed stimulus package, for federally funded abortions? Why did he vote to kill offshore drilling, which could help us achieve the energy independence he desires, while ignoring that China is buying up oilfields around the globe and bringing new coal-fired generation plants on line at a rapid rate?

He and Ryan couldn’t be any farther apart in their ideas and vision for the future. Rep. Walz votes for more of the same: debt, spending and big-government programs that demand expanded bureaucracies, rules, regulations and mandates. Ryan proposes free-market solutions. Ryan’s plan addresses health care, Social Security, Medicare and tax reform by offering real change. The voters are becoming wise to politicians who talk out of both sides of their mouth and should send Walz back home to Mankato this November.

Larry Forster

Riceland Township