National Republican Congressional Committee Candidate School, Washington D.C.
Last week's trip to Washington, D.C. was very worthwhile. I was treated to three straight days of presentations by some of the most notable and respected voices in American politics. Strategists, experts, members of Congress, media trainers, fundraising specialists, pollsters, writers, Ranking Republicans and White House staff, all sharing their vast campaign experiences with a room full of congressional wannabes like myself. The experience was at once overwhelming and enlightening. I will attempt to share a few snapshots with you…
The 2006 election was very much about corruption and bloated government. The Republicans did themselves no favors on either front with the embarrassing behavior of a few, and the fondness for earmarks of many. In the end, the public held the Republicans and many an establishment politician accountable. The results translated into a growing negative sentiment toward bureaucracy and career politicians. Voters simply do not trust Washington, and rightfully so. Polls show that only four percent of Americans feel that politicians put the public interest before party politics… four percent! In other words, if you have been in government, worked for government, even been near government, chances are good that the average voter is skeptical about your motivation for running for office.
The same polling reveals that most Americans feel we should not be taxed more than 33% on our total income. The way the current budget battle has gone, the Majority Democrats do not seem concerned with those polls. Overarching theme for 2008: less government, less corruption and lower taxes. Is that too much to ask? When is the last time our government offered up some new ideas? Bottom line: it's a good time to be an outsider in modern American Politics.
Doctors Are Small Business Owners
Democrats continue to suggest that Republicans are against this or
against that. It is the same argument we hear in Augusta when reasonable restraints on government growth are proposed. “The Republicans want to throw grandma out in the snow!” comes the hue and cry from the Democrats. The same emotional play is being waged in Washington, most notably on the forthcoming SCHIP legislation. SCHIP, or State Children's Health Insurance Program, is the first step of many that Democrats are parading through Congress, presumably in a sort of pre-game before the next attempt at federalized Hillary Care.
The SCHIP legislation raises the ceiling and lowers the floor of Medicare and Medicaid qualification for children. Children living at up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines will now be eligible for government-funded health care, regardless of their insured status. The Democrats suggest that anyone standing in opposition to it is against protecting the children. More Washington-speak... Don't fall for it. The American human heart is large and generous. Washington and Augusta politicians take advantage of this generosity to get what they want, government growth.
I can't think of one single American who would deny a needy child health care. I would like to see a plan that is intelligent enough to know the difference between the needy and the simply greedy. The current solutions do not. Certainly the universal-ization solutions will not be able to discern the differences. While in Washington DC last week I spoke to one very irate individual. He was irate because I told him I was against so-called “universal” health care solution. This gentleman drives a nice car, lives in a nice home and has a country club membership. Yet he wants “free” health care. His needs are different than those of people in trying to survive Appalachia or the poorest of the poor in Maine. An effective and efficient system will make sure that those who are really in need get the sort of care they require.
I maintain that we have the greatest health care system in the world. We also are a nation of givers. I want to develop a solution that marries both these qualities without having to hire more bureaucrats in government. There is another way besides the Washington, D.C. way. Let's implement modern technology, not ancient bureaucracy. Let's bond our benevolence with innovative and entrepreneurial solutions. We must first address those factors that account for most of the cost of health care - medical malpractice insurance, technology solutions, and tax deductions for small business. Yes, doctors are small businesses.
IDEAS
It is very clear to me that to be successful in any endeavor you must have some ideas. That point was reinforced all week.... It is increasingly evident that something happens to the part of the brain that produces ideas once someone becomes part of the establishment, be it Washington establishment or Augusta establishment. When was the last time private enterprise borrowed an idea from Washington, D.C.? Ever? Washington doesn't even abide by the generally accepted accounting principles that apply to us!
New ideas are the lifeblood of our nation's future. That's the foundation of my candidacy - new ideas regarding education, the environment, the economy, health care… It seems everyone else who has expressed an interest in the 1st District seat is part of the establishment of few ideas.
MAINE SUMMERTIME
One of my favorite things about Maine is the summertime. I know that doesn't make me unique, but being in the Washington heat this week makes me long for lazy days of my youth at York Harbor Beach. I practically grew up on the cozy cove. My family, all seven of us kids, spent the day tossing the football and playing in the surf. I made friendships there that would last a lifetime.
When I moved away from Maine after college it was those sort of things I missed most… the natural beauty, the four extreme seasons. It is that sort of visceral connection that called me back. I appreciate it more now that I see the next generation of Mainers, my kids, developing that same bond with their home state. It is that very way of life I want to conserve and protect.
Tax and Spend-ocrats
Democrats are on the verge of rolling back eight straight years of tax cuts. The democratic majority is raising taxes and spending more. While it is true that the increase in spending under the Bush administration was out of character for a Republican majority, you should each know that the Democrats would have us spend EVEN MORE! They are on the verge of rolling back the marriage penalty tax, child tax credit, among many others. Current estimates are that the average working family will pay an increase in taxes of more than $3,000 per year under the Democrat's budget. It's getting pretty expensive to have government of the government, by the government and for the government. It's time for the rank nd file of the citizenry to get involved!
Potato, Po-tah-to
The more I look at the numbers the more encouraged I become. Democrats and Republicans have produced little to no change and the American people know it. The two political parties are like oil and water. I am reminded of the old George and Ira Gershwin song that my grandparents probably danced to on the OOB pier, "Let's Call the hole Thing Off”… “You say potato I say po-TAH-to... let's call the whole thing off!” The only thing they seem to agree on is the size of government can always be increased. We have been led to believe there are only two solutions to each problem... ours or theirs. Well, it's time government listened to YOUR ideas!
On Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN)
“Sure I'm conservative… but I'm not angry about it!" I have to thank Mike Pence, one of the featured speakers last week, for sharing that attitude with me. You might hear me saying that from time to time on the campaign trail. I anticipate the day when the media and the new liberal leadership of the Democratic Party start challenging me on the basis of my being conservative. Well, sure I'm conservative, but I'm not angry about it.
Congressman Pence had many other ideas that I will continue to study because I find them to be very "next generation” in their approach to current problems. I'll share some with you:
1) Congressman Pence is very vocal in his opposition to the most recent immigration bill that granted amnesty to illegal aliens. As he pointed out, Americans overwhelmingly desire a solution, but that is clearly not it.
Pence quoted Reagan on border security, “A nation without borders is not a nation.” He noted that we need “operational control of the border.” The border security component of the last bill was expected to stop only 12% of the current amount of illegal alien traffic. Congressman Pence reminded us of the fact that border security has serious national security implications. Coyotes, as smugglers of human beings are called, will take anyone, ANYONE across the border. They accept anywhere between $1,500 and $50,000 a head. The congressman bets “dollars to donuts” that there is a terror cell in the country that came across our southern border. His preference is that nothing else occurs until the border is secured. I agree.
2.) Pence urges us all to reject amnesty. To reward 12 million illegal immigrants, each of whose first act in our country was to break the law, is an insult to every law-abiding citizen.
3.) The congressman suggests “Ellis Island Centers” – Commercially operated centers that conduct background checks, health screenings, and other routine steps on everyone attempting to enter the country. A Pence plan would require that in order to gain “guest worker status”, current illegal aliens will have to go outside the country and be processed through one of the “Ellis Island Centers.” Employee verification will then trigger a biometric identification card. Heck, if someone from Columbus, Indiana can go to France and within five seconds have an automatic teller identify him, and dispense him some of his savings, in perfectly converted Euros, let's apply some similar technology to our illegal alien emergency.
4.) Is it unreasonable to require people seeking to live in America to speak English? I don't think so. Anyone seeking a guest worker pass should be expected to pass a standard 8th grade English language test within two years.
I need to continue to investigate his proposals, but on the surface at least, I like what I hear. I will be posting one of his speeches shortly for your review.
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