End Grassley’s tenure, vote for Conlin

The Tea Party calls for ending the tenure of long-serving politicians in Washington. Others say it's time for a woman from Iowa to serve in top government.

Both of these noble initiatives toward election reform could be achieved by one act - voting for Roxanne Conlin to replace Chuck Grassley in the Senate.

Conlin is tough, talented, fights for average folks and would be the first women elected to Congress from Iowa. Only Mississippi shares this distinction of never having had a woman in Congress. Shameful.

Grassley is an aging old bull of the Senate. If re-elected, he will be 83 when he completes his term and will have been in Congress a whopping 42 years and on the political payroll 58.

The impact of age is increasingly evident as Grassley's handlers shield him from public debate with Conlin out of fear he might not keep up.

So, Tea Party faithful - why have you not weighed in on this entrenched professional politician sitting in Congress so long? Have you seen where he gets his money? Is your self-righteousness on the demand for turnover in Washington actually quite selective?

David Hellman

Salem