If one should step back and take an objective look at the 2012 presidential election, it would seem rather obvious that Barack Obama will lose and lose by a substantial margin. It’s the common sense conclusion, right?

Let us count the ways…

1. Obama has alienated many in the Catholic Church, of which he carried 54% of the vote in 2008, by directly challenging their religious freedom with his contraceptive mandate.

2. It is no secret that Obama has a strained relationship with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and that many Jews feel Obama has ‘‘not been a friend of Israel’’, as was stated this week by a lawmaker from the Israeli prime minister’s party here in the United States promoting his book. Obama carried an overwhelming 78% of the Jewish vote in 2008.

3. Wall Street, led by Goldman Sachs, supported Obama by a wide margin in 2008, yet, with the exception of JPMorgan Chase & Co., are now firmly behind Mitt Romney financially.

4. Business is lining up against Obama in increasing numbers as we heard from Steve Winn, CEO of Wynn Resorts, who said yesterday;

“I’m afraid of the president. I have no idea what goofy idea, what crazy, anti-business program this administration will come up. I have no idea. And I have to tell you that every business guy I know in the country is frightened of Barack Obama and the way he thinks.”

And Westgate Resorts founder and President David Siegel issued a letter via email to his employees that suggested that if President Barack Obama is re-elected, he may be forced to cut jobs;

“You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities.”

5. The ‘War on Coal’ being waged by the Obama administration is cutting into what has been reliable support in coal country – states such as West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Lest we forget, there were the protest votes during the 2012 Democratic primary where a convicted felon won 42% of the vote against Obama.

6. A growing trend among employers shifting away from full time employees to part time as they try to minimize the impact of new requirements imposed by the Affordable Care Act is slowly getting the attention of American workers, who understand the last remaining hope to kill ObamaCare is to vote for Mitt Romney in November.

7. African American preacher E.W. Jackson filmed a video where he makes a strong call for blacks to end their “slavish devotion to the Democrat Party” and is calling on his fellow black pastors “to make a decision between supporting Democrats and embracing Jesus.” Fully 96% of black voters supported Obama in 2008.

8. A newly formed nonprofit group of African-American faith leaders, God Said, unhappy with Obama’s support of same-sex marriage, have announced a campaign aimed at stripping 25 percent of the black vote that went to Obama in ’08.

On top of these factors is a failed economic record that continues to give us high unemployment, skyrocketing gas prices, record numbers on food stamps and not a single economic indicator to suggest things are going to get better anytime soon.

So despite the polls showing a close race and a complicit media doing all it can to protect and reelect ‘their guy’, there’s little doubt the ‘magic’ of 2008 is sorely missing this go-round and that, at least in a sane world, Barack Obama has little chance.

‘These proceedings may at first seem strange and difficult, but like all other steps which we have already passed over, will in a little time become familiar and agreeable…’

After all, it’s only common sense.

Cross-Posted at FPP

Rick Santelli's infamous rant

The Cato Institute did a recent policy analysis titled, Libertarian Roots of the Tea Party, that states “the tea party has strong libertarian roots and is a functionally libertarian influence on the Republican Party.”

The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C. that was originally founded as the Charles Koch Foundation in 1974. David Kirby, vice president at FreedomWorks and an associate policy analyst for Cato, and Emily Ekins, director of polling at Reason Foundation and a research fellow at Cato, did the analysis.

Kirby and Ekins conclude that “roughly half the tea party is socially conservative, half libertarian”, defining libertarian with a broad stroke of the brush; fiscally conservative, but socially moderate to liberal. That “these voters’ libertarian beliefs distinguish them from liberals and conservatives, even if the word ‘libertarian’ may be unfamiliar to them”. In a sense, you’re libertarian even if you don’t know it.

In their own words, the following summary is offered;

Libertarians led the way for the tea party. Starting in early 2008 through early 2009, we find that libertarians were more than twice as “angry” with the Republican Party, more pessimistic about the economy and deficit since 2001, and more frustrated that people like them cannot affect government than were conservatives. Libertarians, including young people who supported Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign, provided much of the early energy for the tea party and spread the word through social media.

Unlike the Cato analysts, I will not be using data analysis techniques of political science to offer a rebuttal, but the simple experiences of a layman. And when I speak of libertarians, I refer to Ron Paul supporters and others who intentionally align themselves outside the two party system because I fail to see how you can separate one from the other.

I submit that the average tea party member bristles at the notion that Ron Paul and his supporters started the tea party, which is heard often from libertarians. As noted in the Cato piece, that “Paul was tea party when tea party wasn’t cool.”

I also suggest that the Cato piece is an attempt to re-write history, if you will. At this point, there can be no denying the influence the tea party has had on modern day politics. Very few expected this phenomenon to still be around at this stage and it’s pretty much a given that the tea party has left an indelible mark on this country’s political history. Something political strategists, scholars, and journalists are reluctant to acknowledge.

As for it’s fiscally conservative libertarian influence on the Republican Party, the tea party may have changed the terminology in use, but the effect has yet to be felt when it comes to actual government spending.

The Cato analysis states that “evidence shows that the first waves of tea parties had a decidedly libertarian flavor. Many young libertarians played key a role as organizers, spreading the word through social networks built during the Ron Paul campaign of 2008.”

Of course, when you juxtapose libertarian with fiscal conservative, it becomes much easier to make such claims. Yet, this is not entirely consistent with what I experienced.

Having been there from the very early days, I recall the first tea party rallies I attended in March and April of 2009. The rallies did not have a political air about them, in the sense of Republican or Democrat. It was we the people taking a stand against government.

By this time, G.W. Bush had ushered in T.A.R.P. and Obama followed with the Stimulus Bill and Americans were scared, frustrated and angry. As they watched their life’s savings and retirement income disappear before their very eyes, they were also fed up with the spending and government intervention with no efforts being made toward accountability.

All of which was captured in the ‘rant heard ’round the world’, when Rick Santelli, standing on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade, railed against not only the spending but against “promoting bad behavior”. Suggesting that government should instead “reward people that can carry the water, instead of drink the water.”

That moment was the birth of the tea party movement.

And I vividly recall, as thousands of average, everyday Americans took to the street to express their frustration, the political class and others engaged in the political process, to include most Ron Paul supporters, watched from afar. Bemused by the spectacle before them, not quite sure what to make of it, but very cautious about aligning with it.

Sure, there were some libertarians that were quick to embrace what was happening, but to suggest this was the standard is just not so.

I further submit that as the tea party began espousing free market principles and calling for more limited government, and began looking to our founders as a blueprint to a more perfect union, it was at this moment that libertarians began to see commonalities and move toward the tea party.

Even then, with premeditation… not unlike the politicians. All seeking to discover just how to harness this incredible energy to advance individual agendas. In the end, though, the tea party failed the ultimate litmus test for any self respecting libertarian – Ron Paul and the Republican Party.

This marriage of convenience between libertarians and the tea party quickly led to separation when most tea party members failed to embrace Paul’s 2012 presidential run, however, the tea party’s response to the Republican Party already had the nuptials on shaky grounds.

It is fair to say that, in the early days, most tea party members where skeptical of both political parties. At the same time, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the Republican Party more closely resembled the values held by most. Nancy Pelosi? Harry Reid? Hello?

It was accepted early on that, America being a two party system, any chance of realizing change in this country would be better served through the Republican Party – the challenge of reshaping the values of the GOP being less daunting than going the third party route. Of course, looking in the rear view mirror three years later, that may have been a false analogy, but, then, hindsight is 20-20.

Yet, in failing the true measure of libertarianism, the stark differences between the tea party and libertarians could not be clearer. While there is no doubt that libertarians have broadened the scope of the tea party movement with a focus on individual liberty, there remains more that separates the two than unites them.

The tea party has always had great respect for authority and the rule of law, as opposed to looking for reasons to challenge it. It has always sought to be a part of something bigger than itself rather than to stand apart. It sees the greater good in America and looks to emphasize this, rather than dwell on it’s historical failures. In the end, the tea party desperately wants to feel optimistic about our future, instead of wallowing in pessimism over the many shortcomings that currently beset us.

The Cato analysis talks about how “most tea partiers have focused on fiscal, not social, issues — cutting spending, ending bailouts, reducing debt, and reforming taxes and entitlements — rather than discussing abortion or gay marriage. Even social conservatives and evangelicals within the tea party act like libertarians.”

While I agree that the social issues continue to diminish the resolve of this great awakening and the need to fall back on the fiscal libertarian issues cannot be more apparent, this alone is not the definition of the tea party or libertarians. And while the solutions to the challenges we face as a nation may eventual center around a third party, I can assure you it will not be a party that devotes most of it’s time and energy looking for reasons to exclude others.

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

The one issue that his hired ‘attack dogs’ and other misguided supporters continually fall back on is that the Adams campaign advertises on my web site.  That is true and the financial dealings are public record.

In the time that I’ve been running the ad, I have posted 12 articles focusing on John Mica’s actions and record (Adam’s opponent in the August primary).  IF I were being paid to go at Mica, which I am not, that’s the best money Sandy Adams ever spent and on this fact alone, which again is not true, you should want her representing you in DC!

To put this in perspective, overall, I have posted 33 articles critiquing Mica, with the first being posted on Jan. 14, 2011, and there have been countless other mentions in other posts.

So why do I focus on John Mica with such enthusiasm?  I could go on and on trying to explain why, however, everything I would like to say is captured in two articles I posted almost 1 1/2 years ago.

In reading the two articles below, and please pay attention to the date of each, one must look past the issues being discussed to truly capture the meaning and spirit of what is being said.  Those who choose to disregard this message will simply say that was his staffer speaking, not him, or purposely get lost in the rhetoric of the issues.

This loyal staffer has been with John Mica for almost 20 years now and I submit that he not only represents his boss, but ‘channels‘ him when he speaks.  I’ve also had the occasion to meet with Mica several times since this early encounter, and I have seen nothing to indicate otherwise.

Ultimately, I am a tea party activist, not a journalist – witnessing the actions and decisions of many in the movement, I am beginning to feel like a tea party of one, but that’s a different topic for a different day – and when you get down to it, it’s all about the spending!

As noted below, when John Mica first took office in January ’93, our national debt stood at $4.4 Trillion, today it stands at $15.8 Trillion.  For reasons documented below, you are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem.

As for me, I have already determined where Rep. Mica falls in that equation.

*I penned the letter below on behalf of tea party leaders throughout the state, of which, 33 signed onto it in a show of support…

An Open Letter To John Mica

By Tom Tillison
March 14, 2011

The following letter was hand delivered to Rep. John Mica, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee on March 1, 2011.  This took place at a meeting he requested with a Florida tea party leader who was in Washington, D.C. speaking at a House Tea Party Caucus hearing.

Mica was asked to respond to the letter…13 days later, no response has been received.

-

To The Honorable John Mica
Congressman, Florida D7

“If the tea party wants to oppose Mica over a single issue, then, so be it.”

Your District Rep. Dick Harkey, in uttering the above words to a leader of the tea party movement, unknowingly stumbled upon the fundamental difference between what has come to be seen as the ruling class in Washington, D.C. and we the people.

You see, Congressman Mica, from the tea party’s perspective, it has little to do with high speed rail and everything to do with the continual spending that is threatening the very stability of our great country.  We can debate the practicality of ‘investing’ in high speed rail until we’re blue in the face, however, at the end of the day, that’s akin to debating whether to add another room or not while the house is on fire.

When you were first sworn in as a freshman Congressman in January ’93, our national debt stood at $4.4 Trillion, today it stands at $14.1 Trillion.  In your first year in office, our national debt represented 66.1% of GDP.  Today it is at 95% of GDP.  The interest payments alone will soon be unmanageable.

What a shameful burden this is that we pass on to our children and grandchildren, who’ll be servicing this debt long after we have passed from this earth.  When examining the motivations of the average American citizen involved in the tea party, the one consistent theme is an overriding determination not to be the first generation in American history to pass on to the next a country worse off than what we inherited.

Yet, we find ourselves on that path…and too many of our elected officials continue to perpetuate the actions that put us on this unsustainable course.

With all due respect, sir, when do things reach a crisis point in your mind?  What calamities must befall us as a country and a people before our elected officials grasp the reality of the situation?  Will it take the collapse of our already weakened dollar?  Will it take unrest in the streets of the multiple cities and states across America that are currently on the verge of bankruptcy?

Is this to be the legacy of our generation?  Your legacy as an elected official, when posterity accurately records that these things occurred on your watch? Where is the foresight, sir?  The responsibility to act?

If we saw the same urgency and innovation to address the debt in this country as we now see in the effort to undermine Governor Scott’s decision to reject the federal money for high speed rail, we dare say that we would not find ourselves standing at the very precipice of disaster.

Furthermore, we find ourselves a bit dismayed at your dogged determination to continue pursuing the HSR project in complete disregard for the will of the people.  It brings back unpleasant memories of the Democrat Party shoving healthcare reform down our throats.  Adding to this distinction is your choice to publicly align yourself with Sen. Bill Nelson in this attempt to circumvent the Governor of Florida, a fellow Republican.

Sen. Nelson has been, from the very beginning, dismissive of the courageous actions and endearing sacrifices of the hundreds of thousands of Americans that make up the tea party movement.  He is a man who arrogantly refers to himself as “the mainstream of Florida politics”, all the while, supporting the far left progressive agenda 100% of the time.  We assure you, Congressman, this alliance is not the impression you want conservative voters to have in their head when they think of John Mica.

We also find ourselves puzzled at your request to meet with a leader of the tea party movement in that just two short weeks ago, one of us reached out to your office to secure just such a meeting, only to be told by Mr. Harkey that there really was no point in the two sides meeting.

One thing you can be certain of, Mr. Mica, the tea party movement in Florida is among the most active and most organized in America.  There is an extensive communication network in place and a synergy that formed early on in 2009 that continues to this day.  When all is said and done, sir, the American people are simple folks looking for simple solutions.  We in the movement have become immune to the spit and polish of professional politicians and just look for tangible results that make a difference.

We take this opportunity to call on you to see the errors of the ways of old and to join, while there’s still time and while it matters, with brave men like Gov. Scott who are taking the bold and necessary actions to secure a better tomorrow for America.

While speaking with Mr. Harkey, he made it a point to say that if the tea party were willing to vote against you on a single issue that “we accept that”.

We the undersigned duly inform you that we will indeed vote on a single issue.  That issue being a secure future for our children and grandchildren, so that when our time comes to be called Home, we can rest assured in the knowledge that they will continue to enjoy the same blessing from Providence that we have enjoyed.  The blessing of living in the most free and prosperous nation in the history of all the world.  Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“If The Tea Party Wants To Oppose Mica, We Accept That”

By Tom Tillison
February 16, 2011

Republican Congressman John Mica (FL7) held a ‘meet and greet’ this past weekend in his district office in Maitland that was attended by a half dozen local tea party leaders, including myself.

Somewhat surprisingly, the event was held in the lobby of the building, which equated to a long hallway with small openings at each end.  The turnout was very respectable and the hall was more or less full from one end to the other.  As Congressman Mica arrived, folks were asked to stay put and told that Mica would work his way toward everyone, which he did, working the crowd much like a reception line.

The tea party was present to discuss the rail issue with Mica.   To his credit, upon reaching our entourage, Mica did spend considerable time with us explaining his vision of rail.  We were under the assumption that the event would be more of a traditional town hall where questions could be posed and, even though we were able to ask a few questions, it was loud and difficult to hear.

Sizing up the situation, I could see that this was not a productive environment and I proceeded to pull one of his aides aside and, identifying myself as a member of the tea party, I politely asked to have a meeting set up with the Congressman so we’d be able to discuss rail in a more appropriate environment.

I did not catch the aides name, however, she was very attentive to my comments, asking questions and taking notes as I spoke.

She then took me to the other end of the hallway and introduced me to John Booker, identified as a ‘Special Projects Coordinator’ on the business card he produced.  Again, Mr. Booker was very cordial, and upon repeating my request for a meeting, he assured me that I would be contacted.

Well, John was true to his word as I was contacted today by District Representative Dick Harkey.  The conversation that ensued left me dumbfounded upon it’s completion.

Having interacted with dozens of elected officials and their staff by this point, I’ve come to learn that respectful, productive dialogue is critical if you hope to have your concerns heard.  Being very conscience of this, I was quick to defer at all times throughout the conversation, giving Mr. Harkey every opportunity to do the right thing.

Upon identifying himself, he inquired as to what I was hoping to achieve in having a meeting with Congressman Mica.  I explained that the tea party was interested in discussing the rail issue, as a considerable gap existed between Mica’s position and the majority of those who make up the tea party movement.

In paraphrasing the conversation, Harkey seemed to be more intent on deflecting this meeting than he was on actually scheduling it.  He stated several times that he did not see what there was to discuss as we were on the opposite side of the issue as Mica and “that’s not going to change”, all the while being very careful to suggest that the meeting could still take place.

Harkey said, “He’s (Mica) spent 15 years working on this, it’s moving forward and we’re just waiting on the Governor to make his decision.  I’ve been with him for 18 years and I know him and he’s not going to change his mind.”

I attempted to sell him on the idea that a dialogue with the tea party could be a positive step for the Congressman, suggesting that with his knowledge and experience, perhaps he could help us better understand why rail is a good idea.  His response was to refer me to a web site.

He made several comments that led me to believe Mica does have somewhat of an understanding of where folks stand on rail.  He acknowledged that Sun Rail will not pay for itself and that it will require government subsidies.  He also said, “we realize a lot of people don’t support rail.”

At the same time, he was quick to point out that there was a unanimous vote for commuter rail and that “if you get enough people to vote for it, you win.”

I asked him to clarify this vote and he referenced the votes by the elected officials in the four counties that Sun Rail will cover.  Upon suggesting that this did not necessarily represent the will of the people, he replied that we have a “representative democracy”.

I reminded him that the Democrats had the votes to pass ObamaCare, but that did not represent the will of the people.  He replied, “yes, and the Democrats were voted out”.  Not sure if that was a suggestive comment on his part or not.

It would be untrue to say that Mr. Harkey was rude or condescending, however, he was very candid and matter-of-fact in his demeanor.  He was quick to point out that “there’s always two sides to every issue, that’s politics”, adding that if we did not support Mica’s position on rail that we could “vote for someone else.”

He also added that if the tea party was going to vote based on a single issue, without taking into consideration Mica’s over all track record, “then so be it”.

I attempted to deflect any notion that the tea party’s goal was to oppose Mica, just to present our position on the issue, upon which Harkey replied that Mica won his last election with 70% of the vote and that “if the tea party wants to oppose Mica, OK, we accept that.”

I mentioned earlier that this conversation left me dumbfounded.  I say this because I was at a loss as to how to respond constructively to an elected official who gives the impression, through his staff, that he doesn’t care if you agree with him or not, that he has the power and doesn’t think there’s much you can do it about it’.

I wanted to inquire as to how much influence the lavish amounts of money that flows into Mica’s campaign coffers has to do with the rigidness of his position, but felt it would have been a waste of time.

It’s worth mentioning that, as a member and now chair of the Transportation Committee, Mica has been a magnet over the past four years of PAC donations related to the industries the committee regulates. That includes $40,000 from BNSF Railway Company, $33,000 from Union Pacific Corporation, and $25,000 from CSX Corporation.

I’m sure upon hanging up the phone, Mr. Harkey dutifully crossed the task off his list, feeling confident in his ability to maintain a tight perimeter around his boss and protect him from awkward encounters with unseemly opposition.

I hung the phone up feeling that another small part of the Constitutional Republic our Founding Fathers bequeathed us died today…

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

Gallup just released Barack Obama’s job approval rating for the first half of 2012 and the news is not encouraging. His approval rating is below 50% in 37 states, ranging from a 26% rating in Utah to a 49% rating in Michigan.

But Obama rules in Washington, D.C. – literally and figuratively – where he enjoys his highest job approval rating at an astonishing 83%.

And why shouldn’t they love Obama? This is the age of big government in America and under his tutelage big government is having another stellar year.

POLITICO has a new report on the wide disparity between the D.C. economy and that of the real world, taking a look at the yawning gap between the American people and D.C.’s elite when it comes to their economic reality — and their economic perceptions.

Having just returned from three days in Washington, where I attended Americans for Prosperity’s annual ‘Defending the American Dream‘ summit, I can attest that there are few signs of economic distress in hotels, restaurants or stores in the D.C. metro area.

In fact, the town is vibrant. A veritable boom town, as POLITICO suggests. Unemployment is just 6%, well below the national average and you’ll even see construction cranes dotting the skyline – a rare sight these days in the hinterland.

When Obama said the private sector is doing fine, that’s a result of what’s happening all around him inside the ‘beltway bubble’.

And when he said “you didn’t build that, someone else did it”, Obama is referencing what he sees from his front porch at the White House – the D.C. economy is a direct by-product of the U.S. Government.

It’s hard not to feel proud of America when you’re in our nation’s capital, being surrounded by reminders of it’s great history, yet, at the same time, you can almost feel the bleeding of the U.S. Treasury.

Interestingly, the Far Left continues to push the class warfare narrative, yet, may not realize just how accurate they are. There really is class disparity in America – between the governing class and the average American citizen.

As I read the POLITICO article, it brought to mind a conversation I had last year with a staffer of consummate Washington insider Rep. John Mica. He was speaking at length on Mica’s long range visions for rail and I asked if they ever gave any thought to a potential economic collapse brought on by all the spending. His response was that they choose to be optimistic about America’s future.

Or completely out of touch. In closing, POLITICO states;

It doesn’t take polls and studies to know that much of America thinks very little of the Washington governing class.

Indeed, one of the defining characteristics of this election cycle has been the rise of anti-establishment political power in key races — fueled by a belief that this city just doesn’t get it. The old perks of power, such as chairmanships and pork, are often liabilities as voters turn to tea party candidates and newcomers opposed by the establishments of both parties.

The disconnect between D.C. elites and the general public is stoking the growth of more direct popular movements like MoveOn and [the] tea party,” said Mark Penn, who helped conduct the poll. “The D.C. elites are largely isolated from the economic downturn, and this means that they can easily fail to understand the depth of dissatisfaction out in the country.”

Disregard the shameless plug for MoveOn.org, which existed well before the economic downturn, and this could have been a direct reference to Florida’s CD7 primary between John Mica and freshman Rep. Sandy Adams.

Yes, Washington and the political elite are doing “just fine”… on your dime. Meanwhile, America continues to struggle.

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

Let’s be clear, Rep. John Mica DID NOT not say Majority Leader Eric Cantor has “failed us”.

HOWEVER, in an ad targeting his opponent in the contentious CD7 Republican primary, freshman Congresswoman Sandy Adams, Mica outlines 6 votes on budget and spending bills that she voted against.

“Sandy Adams talks about reducing the deficit. Given the chance, she failed us,” a narrator in the commercial says.

The problem is, Eric Cantor sided with tea party favorite Adams on all four of the six votes for which he was present.

So it stands to reason, if Sandy Adams “failed us”, so too did Eric Cantor, does it not?

For the record, on three of the six votes, Adams voted with the majority of Republicans, including one in which she sided with 195 other Republicans against 38 others including Mica. So is Mica saying that the majority of Republicans have “failed us”?

Furthermore, the Adams campaign released a statement saying the Mica ad accuses her of voting against legislation, H. Con. Res. 34, which is Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposed budget, in which she voted AYE. The bill passed the House by a vote of 235-193.

The ad in question is just the latest effort by the 20 year incumbent that has been found to be misleading or blatantly dishonest.

As previously covered, FactCheck.org took issue with a Mica mailer sent out a few weeks back, as did the Orlando Sentinel on a separate mailer and the local ABC affiliate WFTV on his first commercial aired in the race. In all three cases, the content presented was found to be “misleading”.

“Over the past 20 years, Washington insider John Mica has mastered the art of manipulation,” said spokeswoman Lisa Boothe. “Facing the toughest primary challenge of his political career, Mica is desperately scrambling to rebrand himself as a conservative”

With his sizable financial advantage, Mica has little trouble getting this fabrication in front of voters, and seemingly less trouble with the total lack of honesty and integrity.

Cross-Posted in Florida Political Press

The verdict? “Misleading.”

In the campaign mailer, Mica claims that Adams was someone President Obama “counted on” to “approve” stimulus spending. Not really. Sandy Adams, is a freshman who arrived in Washington nearly two years after the stimulus passed into law.

The flier’s evidence – in fine print – is Adams’ record in the Florida legislature. She voted to approve two state budgets as a state representative, which contained federal stimulus money.

The mailer’s flip side misleadingly claims Mica was the only Republican in the race to vote against the stimulus. He was the only one who had a chance. Adams – the only other Republican on the primary ballot – was still in the Florida statehouse.

FPP recently covered the stimulus issue, along with several other charges HERE.

Whether he’s advocating for a tax increase, all the while saying he’s not, or accepting the title of ‘mentor’ for the freshman class, even as he disparages these freshmen as being “amateur hour” in need of “help finding the bathroom”, it’s clear Mica is willing to push the limits on how far he will go to reach voters.

The FactCheck.org analysis is just the latest finding of Mica playing fast and loose with the truth. From two local media sources regarding another mailer and a TV ad;

Orl Sentinel - Mica Mailer About I-4 Tolls Called Misleading

/

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

I apologize beforehand for any lack of clarity in my comments. I am currently wrapping my head with duct tape with one hand to keep it from exploding, as I type with the other hand.

As I now openly support freshman Congresswoman Sandy Adams, I realize any criticism directed toward her primary opponent, 20 year incumbent Rep. John Mica, will be taken with a grain of salt. Understandable.

In fact, I committed to easing away from critical pieces on this man for that very reason. Yet, his very own actions refuse to allow me to follow through. Someone has to call attention to the hustle that’s going on here.

While perusing through the news this morning, I come across an article in Politico titled, John Mica relishes role as mentor to House freshmen, and I almost fell out of my chair. He ‘has a soft spot for the freshman class’? Really???

You see, I know that not to be true. That is, if you can take John Mica at his word.

In following the ‘Orrin Hatch’ playbook on how to minimize the impact of the tea party, Mica’s staff reached out to the local movement back in March to secure a meeting. I happened to be at that meeting, having set it up.

It seemed that Mica’s goal in requesting the meeting was to impress upon the Tea Party just how effective he is in getting things done in Washington and how his 20 years in Congress are actually a plus.

In making his case, he referenced the 2010 freshman class, sometimes referred to as the Tea Party freshman.

Mica then made a very dismissive comment that when it comes to these freshmen, “we’re talking amateur hour”. He added, to drive home his point, that “they need help finding the bathroom.”

With 10-12 other people in the room who heard the comments, this is not speculative. It’s not opinion. It happened.

So back to the Politico article, is John Mica telling the truth when he says he relishes his role as mentor? Do we take him at his word now, or back when he dismissed these same individuals as little more than being in the way?

And in his quest to win this primary, is there such a thing as a bridge too far for John Mica?

Naturally, his campaign will ignore this article, or if they do comment, it will be with some play on words to justify what he actually meant. After all, I’m just a rube who would naturally struggle to understand such a man as John Mica.

Although, it seems John Mica is pretty good at couching his comments when he so chooses. Just as he did this past week when he traveled to Atlanta. While speaking to the Urban Land Institute and the Center for Quality Growth, he told those gathered that he was not there to tell them to raise taxes, then proceeded to tell them they need to raise taxes.

And right on cue, when Mica was called out for advocating for a tax increase, his campaign fell right back to his opening comment in dismissing the criticism.

At the conclusion of the March meeting, I said to a colleague, “based on Mica’s attitude toward the freshman class, I can just imagine the atmosphere they are having to deal with in Washington”.

Yet, now that it’s campaign season and John Mica finds himself in what is most likely the toughest battle of his political career, he has an epiphany and is now their greatest ally?

Who’s buying this???

And why didn’t Politico reporter Adam Snider do any follow up on the content of his story, instead of just recording Mica’s comments as little more than a stenographer. It’s not like the information is not out there, it can be found Here and Here.

Note to Mr. Snider; ‘Google can be your friend’.

Or is Mica simply calling in all his ‘chits’ with the media, using his position of power to feed this cycle of need that exists where the media need access and politicians need coverage. There was certainly no journalism taking place in this fluff piece.

Another arrogant disregard for the truth is a campaign mailer Mica just sent out taking credit for blocking toll lanes on I-4 after he just steered legislation through Congress allowing toll lanes to be added to I-4!

And on top of this, the Mica camp releases another internal poll this week that shows him now up 38 pts, never mind that he doesn’t release the full methodology, making the results meaningless. So long as the media runs with the headline, which most eagerly do, that’s all that matters.

Again and again we see the hypocrisy, deceit and deception coming from Mica’s campaign. It is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is counting on the ignorance of the electorate to not do their homework and accept his tripe at face value.

Or, in other words, politics as usual. If for no other reason, this alone is enough to retire this man on August 14th.

Cross-Posted at Florida Political Press

At the same time, his most recent jab at Adams makes the following claims;

Voted to Spend Barack Obama’s Stimulus
Requested over $129 Million in Earmarks
Voted to Raise the Debt Ceiling
Playing Politics with Your Transportation Bill

So, playing along with the established theme of the Mica campaign, let’s take an honest look at what is rhetoric and what is actual results. I will source as much of the information as possible to address the inevitable claims of an agenda. The real agenda is an attempt to arrive at the truth.

Voted to Spend Barack Obama’s Stimulus

The Florida House approved the state’s $66.5 billion budget in 2009, which included more than $4.5 Billion in stimulus money, by a 75-43 vote. It was a strict party line vote with every Republican member, to include Sandy Adams, “voting to spend Barack Obama’s stimulus.”

A process that was repeated in all fifty states that year, with the possible exception of one or two. So, if Mica is pointing to this as a derogatory action, one would naturally assume that he was opposed to the spending of the stimulus money. Right?

As reported in Politico, nine GOP House members from Florida, to include Rep. John Mica, all of whom voted ‘No’ on the stimulus bill, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all of whom voted ‘Yes’, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.

As reported in the NY Times, just hours after voting against the stimulus, Rep. John Mica sent out press releases lauding the designation of $8 billion for high-speed rail projects, including one in Florida.

“I applaud President Obama’s recognition that high-speed rail should be part of America’s future,” Mica said on Feb. 13, 2009.

“The timing couldn’t be better,” Mica added in reference to the Central Florida Commuter Rail project SunRail.

And in the video below, you will find Rep. Mica on the House floor in July 2009 complaining about the slow release of stimulus funds;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptDUFKIXXyA&feature=player_embedded

Requested over $129 Million in Earmarks

What is critical in evaluating this charge is determining what is an earmark. As a Congresswoman, Adams has not requested any earmarks. In fact, she is leading an effort to galvanize rank-and-file members to declare their public support for a permanent earmark ban – 57 members were willing to go on record in support for a permanent ban in the form of a letter to House GOP leadership.

John Mica is not one of the 57 members… he has actually made overtures that indicate he is interested in a return to earmarks.

So the claim that she “requested $129 million in earmarks” can only be based on her 8 years in Tallahassee as a state representative. The problem is, technically, there are no earmarks in the Florida legislative process.

An earmark is a spending measure that is inserted into a bill, air-dropped may be a more accurate description, and is done so with little to no discussion or oversight. The purpose of earmarks are to ‘sweeten’ a piece of legislation to help garner the needed votes to pass it. ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ come to mind?

In the state of Florida, members submit Community Budget Issue Requests (CBIR) that go through an extensive process before being signed into law. There’s transparency all the way through the process, as well as total oversight.

A CBIR generally starts when a request is made to a county delegation by a not for profit or for profit business or local government entity. The request is discussed in a hearing by these members and then moves on to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, where it must survive a vote before being inserted into the budget. These requests can be tracked and are open to the public for review all the way through the process.

Most importantly, CBIR’s are placed in the budget as line items, meaning the Governor can veto them individually. In Adams case, as the chair of the Volusia, Seminole and Orange county delegations at different times, she would have submitted CBIR’s on behalf of the delegation members, or may have been part of a group submitting a CBIR. All of which would be included in the $129 million referenced by the Mica campaign – over an eight year period.

So did Adams actually “requested over $129 million in earmarks”? Not exactly.

As for Mica highlighting this action as derogatory, one would naturally assume he is opposed to earmarks. Right?

Mica, who was named ‘Porker of the Month’ by Citizens Against Government Waste, said in July 2008, “There’s no way in hell I would support banning earmarks“. In his 20 year career, it is estimated that Mica has requested upwards to $4 Billion in earmarks. That’s billion with a B.

Voted to Raise the Debt Ceiling

Rep. Adams did vote in favor of raising the debt ceiling last August. However, it would be remiss not to note that for the first time in U.S. history, corresponding spending cuts were tied into the increase. A measure that was a direct product of the freshman class elected in 2010, to include Sandy Adams. The agreement called for up to $2.4 trillion in savings over the next decade.

Once again, Mica points to Adams “voting to raise the debt ceiling” as a derogatory action, so we must assume that Mica voted against the increase. Right?

Uhm… no.

Mica also voted to increase the debt ceiling. Interestingly, he touts in his TV ad that he voted twelve times against a debt ceiling increase, yet fails to mention the multiple times he voted for an increase (I count 5 times, but sourcing is spotty). All in all, Mica voted a straight party line, voting against Democrat led increases and supporting GOP led increases. Not quite as fiscally revolutionary as he leads you to believe.

Ultimately, the numbers show that when John Mica was first sworn in as a freshman Congressman in January ’93, our national debt stood at $4.4 Trillion. Today it stands at $15.8 Trillion and counting.

Playing Politics with Your Transportation Bill

This claim is undoubtedly based on comments Adams made on the passing of the transportation bill that she voted against; “Congress needs major reforms, and my opponent’s decision to author a budget busting bill that spends more than it takes in flies in the face of the dire financial situation facing our nation.”

If Mica’s claim is true, then we must ask if Sen. Marco Rubio is also “playing politics”? Rubio too voted against the bill and said upon it’s passing;

“…while it contains some policies I support and that are good for Florida and our nation, as a whole, the bill spends too much and relies on budget gimmicks as spending offsets that will ultimately lead to a federal bailout down the road.”

In addition, the highly respected Heritage Foundation stated; “The bill spends too much, and to pay for this overspending, it contains transfers from the general fund, which are themselves paid for through new revenue streams. Some of the policy changes that yield new revenues are unacceptable, but beyond that, new revenue should not be used for new spending.”

The bill allocates $105 billion in transportation spending over two years, while the measures designed to pay for it are stretched out over ten years – assuming all future Congresses leave everything intact.

A little mentioned fact about this bill is that it includes a tax increase. Yes, a tax increase via more government regulation on the ‘roll-your-own’ cigarette industry. So large it threatens to eliminate the industry all together.

The Sun-Sentinel reports that interest in roll-your-own smokes has grown since ’09 after a federal excise tax on tobacco rose dramatically, affecting the price of packaged cigarettes. Roll-your-own shops use loose pipe tobacco, which was less affected by the tax hike.

“This bill is going to put a lot of people out of work,” one owner said. “And now there’s going to be even more empty retail space in shopping centers.”

So is Adams playing politics here, or is she remaining consistent in her convictions to oppose excessive government spending and over-regulation that continues to harm our economy?

AND, Mica took part in the signing ceremony at the White House on Friday, the only Republican lawmaker providing a willing backdrop for Obama, then releases a statement AFTERWARDS condemning the ceremony HE PARTICIPATED IN.  So who’s playing politics here?

Summary

In analyzing the four charges against Adams, it’s clear that the Mica campaign is playing fast and loose with the facts. While I openly back Adams in this race, the evidence supporting this is right here for all to see.

Mica presents select information on himself and distorts the facts on his opponent, comfortable in both his position as a ranking elected official and in his sizable financial advantage of pulling it off.

While some will say this is just politics, I submit it is a disservice to the residents of CD7. Put the truth before the voters with the understanding that voters are smart enough to discern for themselves who best represents their interests.

Or is John Mica so caught up in the status quo that defines the political class in America that he’s counting on voter ignorance to carry the day. We’ll find out on August 14th.

Cross-posted at Florida Political Press

Much to chagrin of the Mica campaign, and with some degree of satisfaction, I’d guess, based on a seemingly ever present need to pat themselves on the back for being right, in this case on their claims of my bias in this race – although, I’m not sure that I ever denied such a bias.

It’s not like this new development somehow disavows any previous reporting. After all, facts are a stubborn thing. Nonetheless, as a card-carrying member of the Tea Party, it was my duty to put action to words.

With the Adams campaign having a precinct walk scheduled Saturday AM, this seemed to be a fitting venue to act on my new public stance. Having been accused time and again by the Mica camp of being “duped” by Adams, I also fell for the line that walking a precinct on her behalf would be a “pleasant surprise”.

With a willing attitude, plenty of water and a hand towel to collect my sweat equity, I reported for duty bright and early on an already sweltering summer morning. After a few words of inspiration from Adams herself, my very capable walking partner and I gathering our marching orders and were off.

We were walking a well maintained middle income neighborhood in the Longwood area and our first surprise was that a lot of folks were answering the door. It didn’t take long to realize that the Adams’ claim of the experience being a ‘pleasant surprise’ was right on the money.

Most were aware of who John Mica is, yet I heard time and again how these voters were not overly impressed with him as a representative or felt that he had been around “a little too long”.

I was also pleased to learn that I was not the only one who found his never ending TV commercial very irritating. In fact, after hearing some of the comments, I encourage Mica to keep running it. On it’s own, this commercial may tip the balance to Adams!

Typical of many in this country, most of the folks we spoke with were not paying a lot of attention to the race and were somewhat undecided on who they would eventually support – which is why these precinct walks are so important.

I was encouraged to hear more than one person bring up our national debt and voice their lack of faith in Congress to actually do something about it. Folks seem to understand what the real problem is in this country. A good sign.

In a little over 3 hours, we encountered just three Mica supporters; only one of which openly acknowledged his support, the other two weren’t as keen on the idea of going on the record with their affinity.

Interestedly, all three shared a common trait, which I verified with my very reasonable walking partner to ensure that my observations were not a product of my “bias” – each possessed a very surly disposition.

All in all, very fitting it seems.

Ultimately, folks seem to get it that ‘business as usual’ is not going to solve our many pressing challenges and are open to the idea of bringing about real change in Washington, D.C. Yet many are just coming to the realization that they have a solid alternative in this race in Sandy Adams, which should motivate any of you considering getting involved.

The Adams campaign will be out there again next Saturday and if you are interested in learning more, email;

Anne Lesser at anne@Sandyadams.com

Jared Stout at jared@sandyadams.com

I plan to be there, assuming the Florida Legislature fails to act in time on my soon to be crafted letter beseeching them to outlaw all outdoor campaign activity in the state of Florida during the months of July and August!

Cross-posted at Florida Political Press

Having come across an article that really stands out in all the din of messaging we see these days, I feel compelled to share it with you for what it’s worth.

Written by Yates Walker, a conservative activist and writer who served honorably as a paratrooper and a medic in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division before getting involved in politics, A Tea Party Battle Cry accurately portrays where we are as a nation better than most.

Walker points out that some pundits are drawing comparisons between our current political climate and that of America just before the civil war. They’re wrong, he says. This isn’t 1859. It’s 1775.

He begins with a reality we must all accept; “A government is a reflection of its people.”

At the founding, Walker writes, Americans saw freedom as a birthright. To protect that freedom, they designed an accountable government tethered by negative rights and constrained by competing powers.

Americans embraced the precious gift of freedom to rise as individuals, bound only by the limits of their God-given abilities and the willingness to work. And all the while, the greatest nation the world has ever seen rose along with them.

In comparison, we now have President Obama, along with his cronies on the Far Left, who are teaching today’s generation that our birthright is the ‘opportunity‘ to be on the receiving end of government largess. A message so many of our fellow citizens are only too willing to embrace.

And the Far Left labors valiantly to rewrite our history, to tell us the Founding Fathers fought the American Revolution not for individual freedom, but for equal income distribution. That Thomas Jefferson and his generation pursued limited government to ensure equity, but fail to point out that the pursuit was for equal opportunity, not the guarantee of equal results.

Walker reminds us that Americans have been surrendering, little by little, their freedom for promised comfort. That if Obamacare is implemented in a second Obama administration, America will never recover.

He cautions us to look at two versions of socialized medicine that already exist in this country as a peek into our future; the Veterans Administration and Indian reservations – neither system can meet its patients’ needs, so they have to ration care.

“And with government-run anything, bigger is worse.”

Independence is at stake, Walker tells us. Half our citizens now receive some form of government assistance and we’re about to make a decision as to what type of country America will be because when you cross the threshold of 50%, there’s no turning back.

“We’re at the tipping point of vast societal change. Another Obama term would tip the balance, and there’s no going back.”

As I read this, I thought of Ron Paul supporters and those of a third party mindset, thinking if only these individuals could rise above the fray of politics and really grasp what is at stake in the 2012 election. Yet, in my experiences, and I don’t claim to be a wise ambassador for the cause of good, I see these folks as a lost cause, just another obstacle to overcome.

Walker tells us we have two options: one active, one passive. Without radical action, our current nanny-state inertia will choose our future for us. The active option is to elect Republicans and once they’re in office, hound them incessantly to cut spending, slash programs, balance the budget and reduce the deficit.

“There’s no coasting after a successful election. The mission lasts forever. As George Washington said, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

He tells us Republicans need to fight and fight to win. That the odds are not in our favor and how it is that Republicans always lose and he explains why that is.

Ultimately, we are reminded that nothing is cresting over the horizon. The point of no return is not approaching. It’s here. It’s now. It’s victory or death time.

“Ronald Reagan said that freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. Like it or not, if you’re reading this, you’re that generation. The duty is yours and if you fail, your children’s America will be a faint and doddering shadow of the land of opportunity you once knew.”

News anchor John Chancellor once said;

“Now the 21st century approaches and with it the inevitability of change. We must wonder if the American people will find renewal and rejuvenation within themselves, will discover again their capacity for innovation and adaptation. If not, alas, the nation’s future will be shaped by sightless forces of history over which Americans will have no control.”

As we ponder that thought, I think of what John Adams said about the American people;

“The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people… this radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution.”

Which reflects what the Tea Party has brought about in America and where we are today, and it is in this regard that I say Yates Walker is absolutely right. This isn’t 1859. It’s 1775.

“Sound the trumpets. Load for bear.”

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Cross-posted at Florida Political Press