Saccone’s no liberal, but he’s just what we need

Rick Saccone should have the near-unanimous support of our Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community because he has the expertise and experience to champion those issues most important to us.

Saccone is staunchly pro-Israel. His platform supports the renegotiation of the Iran nuclear deal and endorses the U.S. Embassy’s move to Jerusalem.

On domestic issues, it is clear that Rick is a thoughtful and educated conservative, supporting religious freedoms, educational and family values, lower taxes, a stable business climate and a simplification of government regulations. Rick’s six-plus years of experience in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, specifically his voting record and bill sponsorship, manifest his commitment to these important issues.

Rick Saccone’s qualifications are impeccable. He served in uniform and civilian capacities in both South and North Korea, as a counter-intelligence officer. He holds a Ph.D. in international affairs and graduate degrees in national security and public administration. Rick had a distinguished military career and an equally impressive civilian Foreign Service career.

Saccone has both an academic and working knowledge of foreign affairs, especially in the Korean theater. Rick’s advanced education and training will enable him to have an immediate impact in Congress.

He studied in Egypt and Africa, has written scores of articles on foreign affairs, and traveled to 75 countries. Rick taught English as a second language and was a political science professor at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, where he has continued to teach since becoming a state representative.

He has authored nine books, two of which deal with North Korea. His knowledge of domestic affairs of importance to Pennsylvanians has been honed through his service in the legislature. He will represent us well in D.C.

It is true that some of Rick’s positions are at odds with a strictly liberal platform. His opponent, however, has taken extreme far-left positions on the matters most important to us.

More alarmingly, Conor Lamb runs away from his positions, most notably suffering selective amnesia over comments he made about the Israeli Defense Force being a “terrorist organization” while a student at the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. The key for our Jewish community is deciding which aspect of a candidate’s platform is most important to us.

Like most American Jews, I personally embrace a liberal social agenda, a position common to those of us who make up the families of survivors of the horrors of the Holocaust and its assaults on basic freedoms, property ownership and life itself.

But we also support a commonsense economic and political agenda. We recognize the requirement that rogue nations and their dictators be kept in check; that Israel, the Jewish nation state, be supported; and that a strong economy and military be in place to effect the same.

Social issues can be addressed through religious, eleemosynary and community programs, but important economic and security matters can only be addressed by our national government.

While there is some allure presented by a young handsome candidate, it only makes sense to elect the most qualified individual to promote our collective agenda, the person with the requisite wisdom garnered from advanced education, military and political experience.

Our district needs a strong, unwavering voice in the House; a person who has the training and experience necessary to understand and interpret correctly the issues before him, and to promote the interests of his constituents. Rick Saccone meets all of these criteria and has a documented track record unmatched by his opponent.

Rick Saccone supports the issues of importance to our Jewish Community that can only be addressed at the federal level. His platform is aimed at providing the security and prosperity we need so that we are able to champion the social issues that are important to us. PJC

Jon B. Tucker, M.D., is the chief medical officer and chief strategist of Tucker Independent Medical Experts.

Opinion