Fattah’s foe says it’s
time for real change

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Adam Lang believes his opponent, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, is taking the race for granted.
Fattah (D-2nd dist.), first elected in 1994, represents an overwhelmingly Democratic district.
The district includes portions of North, South and West Philadelphia and the neighborhoods of Lawndale, Northwood and Frankford.
The congressman did not dispute his Republican opponent’s assertion that his focus is elsewhere. He acknowledged spending "one-hundred percent of my time" helping Barack Obama win the presidency.
"The only way I can be more effective is to have a Democratic president," he said.
A network engineer who lives in North Philadelphia, Lang serves on the board of directors of the Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association.
Lang is running for office for the first time. He entered the race in the summer after the GOP’s original candidate, Michael Livingston, dropped out of the race because he did not believe the party was helping him enough.
On the campaign trail, Lang has knocked on doors and attended meetings.
When he meets voters and tells them he is a Republican, he acknowledges that most voters are not happy. But, he said they become even more unhappy when they hear the name of his opponent.
The district has not improved in the last 14 years, according to Lang.
"It’s time for new ideas and change," he said.
A supporter of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Lang has heard Obama supporters argue for change. He’d like those voters to also support him.
Lang faults Fattah for voting twice for the bailout of the financial industry. He blames Congress for pushing companies to offer risky loans and now making taxpayers foot the bill. He labels it a redistribution of wealth.
If elected, Lang would work to lower taxes, shrink the size of government and eliminate waste in programs. He wants to streamline the tax code to help businesses stay in the country and provide more resources for workforce training and to prosecute repeat violent offenders.
Lang favors school choice programs. He’d provide money to parents to send their children to private schools if they believe those schools are safer and provide a better education. The proposal has been a popular one as he speaks to voters.
"Unless you’re in a teachers union, you like the idea of school choice," he said.
Fattah predicts long lines at polling places on Tuesday. He said Democrats will expand their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate but will need a president of their own party to make real change. He thinks an all-Democratic government will be good for Philadelphia and the country.
Specifically, he hopes Obama is able to end America’s dependence on foreign oil in the 10 years he has promised. He sees solar, wind and nuclear as new forms of energy.
On the economy, he expects an Obama administration to cut taxes for the middle class and create and retain jobs, with a focus on helping small businesses.
"That’s where the job growth is," he said.
Fattah said the U.S. has a great opportunity to do good things at home by using money that is now spent in Iraq.
"We need to get out of this war," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com