Activist group airs concerns to Nugent

Brian Moore and six members of his NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice met Monday morning with U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent to express their opposition to the country's involvement into Libya and other economic-social issues.

They presented the newly minted Republican legislator with a list of their concerns to get him, as Moore said, to "consider more seriously their progressive and liberal points of view."

Moore said after the meeting that Nugent listened attentively to his group's concerns and respected any difference of opinions.

"He agreed with us in general that we have similar concerns," he said. "But he didn't really give us much specifics in regards to his positions on the issues or solutions."

Nugent agreed the meeting was cordial and it is always productive to hear different viewpoints.

And they agree on one issue: "We shouldn't be in Libya," Nugent said.

The U.S. is already fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and there is no need for a third, Nugent said.

But Nugent said there are fundamental differences between himself and Moore: "He's a progressive liberal and I'm a conservative," Nugent said.

So obviously, there will be a difference of opinions, he said.

For example, Moore said he wants former President George Bush's tax cut extension repealed for the wealthy.

"Define wealthy," Nugent said.

Because it was a constituent meeting, Nugent's representatives did not allow media inside the meeting.

However, Hernando Today met with the group in Nugent's office anteroom prior to the meeting as members discussed concerns during their 50-minute meeting with the congressman.

Clay Colson, from Land O'Lakes, especially wanted to know if Nugent's opposition to the Libyan intervention by the president is because Obama initiated the air strikes and he is against all-things Obama or is genuinely concerned about the fiscal repercussions.

Joe Lemieux of Spring Hill praised Nugent's spending practices while he was Hernando County sheriff and said he fought for his department.

But Janice Deal of Zephyrhills said Nugent "is playing in a bigger pond" now and is responsible for an entire Congressional district and its needs.

"We want to give him our perspective," said coalition chairman Moore.

Specifically, the activist group wanted to discuss with Nugent the purpose of American involvement in the Middle East. First it was Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and now Libya.

The group is opposed to the cost, expense and loss of life in those countries and their impact on America's budget, deficit, social services and infrastructure.

Other concerns brought before Nugent include:

• The Crystal River nuclear power plant and its planned expansion into Levy County.

• The preservation of Social Security and not turning it over to the private sector.

• Support of collective bargaining for all workers, public and private.

• The reduction of U.S. Defense Department costs and expenditures in domestic and overseas military bases and the reduction of weapons purchases.

Moore has repeatedly said that all troops in the Middle East need to come home and has criticized Nugent's Republican predecessor Ginny Brown-Waite (as well as President Barack Obama's) record on foreign policy.

His coalition holds periodic anti-war demonstrations, the most recent being this past Saturday.