THE COURAGE TO BUCK THE PARTY

Much has been made about Rep. Rob Andrews' decision to challenge Sen.
Frank Lautenberg for the Democratic Senate nomination. The state's
other Democratic representatives offered a terse letter portraying
Andrews as a traitor to his party. Although Andrews sat with the
others in October to express support for Lautenberg, he now says he
be lieves New Jersey Democrats de serve a choice.

It isn't the first time Andrews has crossed his colleagues. Nine
years ago, he reacted in direct opposition to the entire state
congressional delegation. My late wife, Cheryl, suffering from MS,
visited the members' Washington offices while confined to a reclining
wheelchair, able to move only her head. Andrews was the only one
unwilling to ignore Cheryl's request for an appointment, including
her own congressman, James Saxton. It's not the fact that Andrews
changed his position on medical marijuana after meeting Cheryl that
impressed us. He saved Cheryl from being totally ignored.

Listen carefully to the Democratic Party's complaints about Andrews,
for they are in fact the reasons you should support him. He is
willing to shake things up and put the people before his party.

- -- Jim Miller, Toms River

The writer is co-founder of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey.