Dear citizens of Bend — and all voters within Oregon’s 5th congressional district:

I urge you to vote for Janelle Bynum for Congress!

Representative Bynum is a winner. Throughout her experience in business and state government, Janelle has proven she understands the everyday issues that Oregonians care about. As a state representative, Janelle has an impressive record of legislative success — and she is the best Congressional candidate to bring Oregon the things that Oregonians want the most.

Housing and infrastructure; safe streets; economic security; safety and education for our children; mental health support; police accountability; broadband implementation; clean energy jobs.

Representative Bynum is a problem-solver — she listens, reaches across political divides, and gets things done. Janelle will not rubber-stamp the partisan chaos we currently see happening in the U.S. Congress. Janelle Bynum will govern for the people and will serve the public interest.

There is nothing amateur or inexperienced in Janelle Bynum: Janelle Bynum is all-pro. Like all great political leaders, Janelle is a skilled and principled leader, with solid policy stands and legislative ability. She is a gifted communicator who exudes knowledge, compassion, and commitment. And —importantly — Janelle is easy to like. It is worth noting that when you are extremely likable, you are also extremely electable!

For effective representation — for the people — of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, I urge you to vote for Janelle Bynum for U.S. Congress in 2024.

Thank you!

— Jim Likowski, Bend

Mr. Nasser stated in his recent submission the International Court of Justice found the assertion by South Africa that Israel was committing genocide “plausible.” This means it was not inherently frivolous and therefore the case could be heard. The Court did not call for a ceasefire and found Israel was not committing genocide, but reiterated their duties under the convention. If they had found that Israel was committing genocide, they would have demanded a ceasefire.

Mr. Nasser incorrectly employs the term genocide to describe civilian casualties of a war provoked by Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel in which it murdered, tortured, incinerated, raped or kidnapped every Jew it could find. Genocide is defined as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Hamas’ founding charter calls for Israel to be “obliterated” and for Muslims to kill Jews as they “hide between stones and trees.” This, Mr. Nasser is genocide. Israel’s response is intended solely to defend itself and eliminate Hamas, not to eliminate Palestinians. Hamas is illegally and barbarously embedding itself among Palestinian civilians, using them as human shields. Hamas’ goal is to kill as many Jews as possible, no matter the collateral damage of innocent Palestinians.

Words matter. By misusing the term genocide in an incendiary manner as Mr. Nasser has incorrectly labeled Israel’s response to Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack, he invites hatred and does absolutely nothing to further the cause of peace.

— William Brant, Bend

How appropriate that you would print an historical editorial in today’s edition about spineless politicians just 5 days prior to the interview with Congressman Bentz.

Cliff Bentz is a feckless coward who, on January 6, 2021, just one day after swearing in on his first day in Congress, an oath to uphold the Constitution, voted against certifying the electoral college vote for Joe Biden.

Since then, in his 3 years in Congress, he has consistently voted with the far right MAGA wing of the Republicans while portraying himself as a moderate.

The Republican-controlled House is failing the American people and jeopardizing the security and future of this country. It would only take a few truly moderate Republicans to develop a backbone and do the right thing. Obviously, we can’t expect Cliff to be one of them.

— Mike Cutting, Bend

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