In a recent editorial, the Bangor Daily News argued that Maine Democratic Party efforts to distinguish the records between Senate candidates Chellie Pingree and Susan Collins amount to “accusations” rather than “distinctions over policy.” The BDN further accused the Maine Democratic Party of “shooting blanks,” and failing to provide “substantial differences” between the two U.S. Senate candidates.

We would strongly disagree.

The differences between Susan Collins and Chellie Pingree on a host of issues couldn’t be more clear. Perhaps it’s illustrative to use the example given by the BDN – providing a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. As the Democratic Party and the Pingree campaign have pointed out, Collins talks the prescription drug talk while in Maine, but while in Washington, she voted against the creation of a real prescription drug benefit under Medicare on nine separate occasions. Nine times. Pointing out that Collins has repeatedly opposed a policy she claims is a centerpiece of her campaign is hardly a “personal attack,” and it’s certainly not an insubstantial point.

Last year, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana introduced an amendment whose purpose read, in its entirety: “to establish a prescription drug benefit under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, without using funds generated from either the Medicare or Social Security surpluses, that is voluntary; accessible to all beneficiaries; designed to assist beneficiaries with the high cost of prescription drugs, protect them from excessive out of pocket costs, and give them bargaining power in the marketplace; affordable to all beneficiaries and the program; administered using private sector entities and competitive purchasing techniques; and consistent with broader Medicare reform.”

The amendment was hardly controversial, and seemingly something that Collins would jump to support. But she didn’t. The amendment failed – 50/50. One more vote would’ve led to real prescription drug reform. Susan Collins voted “no.” Chellie Pingree, needless to say, would have voted “yes.” Collins has no excuse for voting against that bill, and she has no excuse for any of the other votes.

She has no excuse for opposing another amendment from Sen. Charles Robb of Virginia, which made prescription drug coverage priority over relieving the “marriage tax” penalty. Olympia Snowe supported the amendment, which ultimately failed by a single vote. Susan Collins voted “no.” Chellie Pingree would have voted “yes.”

The list goes on. These aren’t “procedural” votes. They aren’t nitpicky, nuanced interpretations of issues. These votes are a fair illustration of where Susan Collins stands on the issues she claims to care about. Collins chose to make the so-called “marriage tax penalty” permanent even before we had a balanced budget, enacted a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, or protected Social Security. Those are her priorities. There’s no “spin” involved in that.

It’s the same story on education, the environment, and jobs. Collins is a candidate that claims to care about the environment, but receives abysmal ratings from leading environmental organizations like the League of Conservation Voters, and who votes against legislation for cleaner water and faster Superfund cleanups. Collins stages photo-ops with laid-off workers, then votes consistently for Fast Track legislation that sends Maine’s jobs to foreign workers. Collins’ biggest deliverable to Maine teachers was a tax credit when they paid for school supplies out of their own pockets. Excuse us for asking, but does Susan Collins expect teachers to pay for classroom supplies out of their own pockets?

Campaigns are about defining the differences between candidates. The differences between Chellie Pingree and Susan Collins are clear and important. The BDN and the Collins campaign fail to understand that the questions we’re asking, and will continue to ask, are questions expressly on the issues. Questions about a candidate’s congressional voting record are not just fair game; they’re the primary basis we have to judge our elected officials.

The Collins campaign shouldn’t be angry about that. Instead of hiding behind a litany of excuses for not voting for a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Susan Collins should be willing to tell us where she really stands on the issues.

Gwethlayn M. Phillips is chair of the Maine Democratic Party.