The conventional wisdom says the 18th Congressional District is immune to the anti-incumbent tide that appears to be sweeping the nation. It says two-term Republican Tim Murphy will be an easy winner against his Democratic challenger, Chad Kluko, who has neither name recognition nor ample funding.

We don't think much of the conventional wisdom. We assume voters in the district are Americans first, and as such have concerns about the debacle in Iraq and the unresponsiveness in Congress to the nation's needs.

The 18th sprawls across Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties from the state border in the west to Donegal and Ligonier in the east. It includes Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair as well Monroeville and Greensburg.

Rep. Murphy, 54, of Upper St. Clair has his good points, but he's in sync with flawed policies and a party that has abused the public's trust. A child psychologist, he was elected to the state Senate in 1996, where he served until 2002. Then he took his interest in health care to Washington, D.C. Mr. Murphy recognizes the failings of the American health system, but his suggested remedies, although sensible, don't go to the heart of the problem.

His proposals include reducing health-care infection rates, expanding access to community health centers and using technology to improve record keeping. In short, he polishes a broken machine, one that leaves millions uninsured. Mr. Murphy admits himself that, for all his work on health care, some of his Republican colleagues still need persuading.

On Iraq, Mr. Murphy still believes it is a battlefield in the war on terror, not a terrible diversion. When he returned from a trip to Iraq last year, he seemed more bullish about the prospects for success. Now he says he has urged President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to speed up the hand-over of responsibilities from U.S. troops to Iraqis. In short, Mr. Murphy has no more clue than the administration about what to do.

Chad Kluko, 45, of Monroeville offers a fresh alternative. Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, he spent 20 years in Southern California. He worked in executive positions at the Fox Television network and later at Verizon Wireless. Returning to the Pittsburgh area after his father became ill, he founded a small telecommunications and software company.

On health care, he is committed to fundamental change. He thinks the drastic rise in family health-care premiums since the Republicans and President Bush took office is unacceptable and he supports a single-payer system with universal coverage.

On Iraq, he faces up to the reality that the war has been misguided and mismanaged. He favors a withdrawal on the lines proposed by Johnstown Rep. John Murtha, with defined benchmarks and a timeline to force the Iraqis to take up their own defense.

The district is not an island and the 2006 election is bigger than Mr. Murphy. Unless voters send the GOP a message about its policy failures, they can expect more of the same. Electing Chad Kluko is the way to send it.