Chet Reads & Writes*

Senator Cornyn,

I am currently residing in Lincoln, Nebraska as my fiancé begins earning her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska. Despite my change of location, Texas is in my heart. I love the cities of my home state and the people. I do my best to keep up with the political tides in Texas. Paying keen attention to who is, or is not elected to represent our great state in congress. Personally I feel that it is important for citizens to pay attention to whom they have elected to office, and when a particular action taken by an official deserves questioning, it is not only the right but the duty of said citizens to contact that official. With that said I would like to start with a bit about myself.
I was born and raised in the Great State of Texas. I grew up in a small South-East Texas town, where I learned to love the land and its people. I went through grade school, and graduated as valedictorian of my class in 2006. After which I attended Sam Houston State University where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations in August 2009. I am a first generation college graduate, and I feel proud everyday when I think about everything I’ve accomplished at the mere age of 21. Throughout my life I’ve had many people, events and readings influence my personality and beliefs. However unfortunate it is for you as an elected Republican official, I am far more liberal than most people in Texas, outside of Travis County, would care for me to be. Many of my political beliefs are based on what I believe is better for all of the people in our country, and not just particular classes or their cohorts.
However this letter is not to question your political beliefs, or your total ability to judge what may or may not be appropriate for the people of the United States. Your judgment doesn’t appear to be too terrible as you’ve now been elected to two terms. No this letter is about something a bit more severe than your political beliefs. Here I intend to call out your moral fortitude, to see if you are willing to explain your reasoning behind a recent vote you casted. A nay vote which has thus far surpassed my ability to comprehend how you could, as a logical and educated human being, vote in support of such ridiculously heinous loophole. I feel that it is safe to assume that you, or whichever staff member may be reading this, know what I am asking about. That’s right, SA 2588 on HR 3326, or Senator Franken’s amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill.
In lieu of your recent decision to vote against Senator Franken’s amendment, I am forced to ponder where exactly your moral compass lies. As stated above, I am only 21. I have several years less experience on this planet than you, but even I know that rape is wrong. I also know that covering up rape is wrong. I realize that the employees willingly signed their contracts, and whether or not they read through the arbitration cause is up to them. However I do know that there is a point when an organization needs to take responsibility, and agree that there is a point when private arbitration is not enough to successfully bring about reasonable justice, much less any kind of compensation.
So with that laid out, why did you vote nay? I’ve witness the Jon Stewart report on this amendment, and I have to agree with a lot of what he has to say, though you seem like more of a Fox News fan. I’ve even seen the responses from Senator Sessions, but his claims that the amendment is not the place of congress, or is a political move (As a side note, would you mind demonstrating a piece of legislature that is NOT a political move?) are not substantial enough for my inquisitive nature. I’d really like to hear directly from you, what your motivations to vote nay were, and be honest. Also, please avoid replying via form letter with your signature stamped across the bottom. This nod at your receiving of my letter, will not be appreciated as much as an actual response will be.

Thank you for your time,

Chet Gassett
Patiently Pondering your Motives.