Candid Candidates
Candidates for Congress in the coming election are speaking their minds in a more candid way than has been common for politicians. While politicians have been criticized for concealing their true feelings behind bland boilerplate, here are some Republicans who let us know the truth about their gut-feelings, and it is not always pretty:
1. Ron Johnson, endorsed by the Wisconsin Republican Party for US Senator (1)
Regarding the USAPATRIOT Act, Johnson told the Rock River Patriots that "I certainly share the concerns on civil liberties now that you have Barack Obama in power....I wasn't overly concerned with George Bush in power." (2)
Even if you believe that Republican presidents can be safely entrusted with intrusive power over individual Americans, but Democratic presidents cannot, when you vote to increase presidential powers, you do so for all future presidents, unless and until the law is repealed or amended. Johnson admitted to the group that he is not a scholar of the Constitution. Fortunately, incumbent Senator Russ Feingold (Harvard Law, 1979) is one, and voted against the overly-intrusive bill.
2. Sharron Angle, Republican nominee for US Senator from Nevada
Former Nevada State Rep. Angle is a big fan of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. Not only does this provision of the Bill of Rights protect the rights of Americans to use guns for hunting and self-defense, but she considers it the ultimate shield against oppressive government, like the present federal government.
She told radio interviewer Bill Manders in January of this year that "I'm hoping that we're not getting to Second Amendment remedies. I hope the vote will be the cure for Harry Reid problems." In case you think she was kidding or misspoke, Angle told the Reno Gazette in May that "They're afraid they'll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment ways....If we don't win at the ballot box, what will be the next step?" (3)
It appears that Sharron Angle will not accept defeat graciously, as I have several times. Like the Weathermen, Malcolm X, Rap Brown, Stokely Carmichael and many others, Angle is warning that if her faction cannot achieve its political agenda at the ballot box, they will turn to violence. In other words, "The Fire Next Time." Like her predecessors on the Left, she is personally opposed to violence (although she does carry a gun, legally), but will be unable to prevent others on her side from resorting to it. Perhaps her slogan should be "Vote Republican, or else!"
3. Rand Paul, Republican nominee for US Senator from Kentucky
Shortly after winning the GOP nomination for senator, Dr Paul told TV interviewer Rachel Maddow that he believes that business owners should not be coerced by the federal government into serving people (i.e. minorities) they do not want to serve. This libertarian position is precisely that taken by US Senator Barry Goldwater (R, Arizona) when he voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (4) After this quote "hit the fan", Paul modified his remark by asserting he was against racial discrimination and does not advocate repealing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Given his staunch libertarian stance, I believe that his first statement represented his real feelings on the matter, and that he backpedalled to conform to the contemporary Republican consensus. Sure, he does not advocate repealing what has been settled law for 46 years, but if a bill were introduced today that would limit the rights of business owners to discriminate against some group, I would bet that he would be against it.
Although his biological father is US Rep. Ron Paul (R, Texas), he is an ideological son of Barry Goldwater.
In this highly politicized year, no rumor is too outrageous or absurd to be sent around the Internet at the speed of light. No lie is too vicious to tell. But at least these politicians have told us openly where their hearts are, and if they win, their constituents will get exactly what they bargained for.
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(1) He is opposed in the September primary by Dave Westlake of Watertown. Johnson's party endorsement and his vast wealth (over $10 million) are expected to garner the official nomination. Westlake is opposed to the Patriot Act.
(2) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 17, 2010, page 5B.
(3) Las Vegas Sun, June 17, 2010.
(4) Goldwater was the Republican nominee for President in 1964, and lost to incumbent Lyndon B Johnson. His opposition to the Civil Rights Act spurred many southern white Democrats (such as Senator Strom Thurmond) switched to the GOP. Of the six states carried by Goldwater, only Arizona and Louisiana had ever previously voted Republican in presidential elections. Since then, most of the electoral votes of southern states have gone to the Republican nominee.
1. Ron Johnson, endorsed by the Wisconsin Republican Party for US Senator (1)
Regarding the USAPATRIOT Act, Johnson told the Rock River Patriots that "I certainly share the concerns on civil liberties now that you have Barack Obama in power....I wasn't overly concerned with George Bush in power." (2)
Even if you believe that Republican presidents can be safely entrusted with intrusive power over individual Americans, but Democratic presidents cannot, when you vote to increase presidential powers, you do so for all future presidents, unless and until the law is repealed or amended. Johnson admitted to the group that he is not a scholar of the Constitution. Fortunately, incumbent Senator Russ Feingold (Harvard Law, 1979) is one, and voted against the overly-intrusive bill.
2. Sharron Angle, Republican nominee for US Senator from Nevada
Former Nevada State Rep. Angle is a big fan of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. Not only does this provision of the Bill of Rights protect the rights of Americans to use guns for hunting and self-defense, but she considers it the ultimate shield against oppressive government, like the present federal government.
She told radio interviewer Bill Manders in January of this year that "I'm hoping that we're not getting to Second Amendment remedies. I hope the vote will be the cure for Harry Reid problems." In case you think she was kidding or misspoke, Angle told the Reno Gazette in May that "They're afraid they'll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment ways....If we don't win at the ballot box, what will be the next step?" (3)
It appears that Sharron Angle will not accept defeat graciously, as I have several times. Like the Weathermen, Malcolm X, Rap Brown, Stokely Carmichael and many others, Angle is warning that if her faction cannot achieve its political agenda at the ballot box, they will turn to violence. In other words, "The Fire Next Time." Like her predecessors on the Left, she is personally opposed to violence (although she does carry a gun, legally), but will be unable to prevent others on her side from resorting to it. Perhaps her slogan should be "Vote Republican, or else!"
3. Rand Paul, Republican nominee for US Senator from Kentucky
Shortly after winning the GOP nomination for senator, Dr Paul told TV interviewer Rachel Maddow that he believes that business owners should not be coerced by the federal government into serving people (i.e. minorities) they do not want to serve. This libertarian position is precisely that taken by US Senator Barry Goldwater (R, Arizona) when he voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (4) After this quote "hit the fan", Paul modified his remark by asserting he was against racial discrimination and does not advocate repealing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Given his staunch libertarian stance, I believe that his first statement represented his real feelings on the matter, and that he backpedalled to conform to the contemporary Republican consensus. Sure, he does not advocate repealing what has been settled law for 46 years, but if a bill were introduced today that would limit the rights of business owners to discriminate against some group, I would bet that he would be against it.
Although his biological father is US Rep. Ron Paul (R, Texas), he is an ideological son of Barry Goldwater.
In this highly politicized year, no rumor is too outrageous or absurd to be sent around the Internet at the speed of light. No lie is too vicious to tell. But at least these politicians have told us openly where their hearts are, and if they win, their constituents will get exactly what they bargained for.
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(1) He is opposed in the September primary by Dave Westlake of Watertown. Johnson's party endorsement and his vast wealth (over $10 million) are expected to garner the official nomination. Westlake is opposed to the Patriot Act.
(2) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 17, 2010, page 5B.
(3) Las Vegas Sun, June 17, 2010.
(4) Goldwater was the Republican nominee for President in 1964, and lost to incumbent Lyndon B Johnson. His opposition to the Civil Rights Act spurred many southern white Democrats (such as Senator Strom Thurmond) switched to the GOP. Of the six states carried by Goldwater, only Arizona and Louisiana had ever previously voted Republican in presidential elections. Since then, most of the electoral votes of southern states have gone to the Republican nominee.
Labels: "Rand Paul", "Ron Johnson", "Sharron Angle"
posted by Gerald S Glazer at 10:10 AM
4 comments
