Susan Collins never defends her votes to support the Iraq War, to extend tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans, and to seat Supreme Court nominees Alito and Roberts. In both speeches and ads Collins – like Sarah Palin – dodges tough questions as if they pale beside her perfect voting record and her alleged bipartisanship. However admirable her attendance record, surely it matters much more what she has voted for. Similarly, being bipartisan with independent Sen. Joe Lieberman matters little when Lieberman also campaigns for John McCain.

Characteristically, Collins now concentrates on safe issues: funding hospital cardiac equipment and expanding deductions for schoolteachers’ out-of-pocket supply purchases. She never explains how someone supposedly in favor of women’s right to decide about abortions supported those two avowedly anti-abortion Supreme Court justices. Nor does she explain why someone supposedly against government waste and mismanagement refused to hold hearings on the Halliburton and related Iraq operations scandals while her party controlled the Senate.

Collins’ predecessor and mentor William Cohen risked political suicide by voting to impeach fellow Republican President Nixon while a junior member of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. Does anyone seriously believe that Collins would have done so?

Similarly, Collins’ idol Margaret Chase Smith courageously denounced fellow Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Does anyone fantasize that Collins would have done that?

Susan Collins is a decent, hardworking politician without any distinction or any badge of courage. Maine can do a lot better by replacing her with Tom Allen.

Howard Segal

Bangor