Freedom: The Defining Issue in 2010?

I have long believed that the foundation of the Republican Party is built upon three basic principles: responsibility, security and freedom. As the issues and public opinion continue to crystalize it will become clear that the fundamental issue that currently separates Republicans and Democrats is freedom.

Since January the Democrats have made it clear they want Americans to have less freedom. Nationalization of industries. Increased regulation of our lives. Higher taxes so we have less money to spend personally. And now, socialized medicine where the federal government will decide what kind of health care you will receive, if any at all.

Others are noticing this as well. As Peggy Noonan points out in her Wall St. Journal opinion piece, Americans are beginning to understand that the Democrats' agenda means less freedom:

So this might be an unarticulated public fear: When everyone pays for the same
health-care system, the overseers will feel more and more a right to tell you
how to live, which simple joys are allowed and which are not.

Americans in the most personal, daily ways feel they are less free than they used to be. And they are right, they are less free.

Who wants more of that?

The Republicans are clearly on the side of the American people on this defining issue. Nancy Pelosi, Tom White and their fellow liberal Democrats are clearly on the wrong side.

After all: Freedom beats Hope.

The Democrats' "Stimulus": A Job Killer

Unfortunately for Sen. Ben Nelson, Tom White and the other liberal Democrats in Nebraska, the so-called "stimulus" bill is turning out to be an abysmal failure. Here's a very accurate demonstration of what the Democrats' "stimulus" plan has done for job creation in America.

And the worst is yet to come since the bill for the ill-conceived government spending spree is being handed to our children and grandchildren.

Simply put: irresponsible.

Government Takeover of Health Care

If they get their way, here's what the Democrat-created nationalized health care system might look like.

Washington Ben Nelson: "Thanks to me the sun will come up tomorrow!"

Now that he no longer has to cower in the shadow of former Sen. Chuck Hagel, Sen. Ben Nelson has developed the rather odious habit of taking credit for virtually everything that happens in Washington and beyond, regardless of whether he had anything to do with it or not and without giving proper credit to those who actually did the work.

Latest example: Last Thursday Washington Ben decided to blast out a press release claiming credit for something that had already been announced by the Pentagon about a month ago. Nelson, who is a member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee, was apparently told by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday that StratCom at Offutt AFB will have a “very significant” role in overseeing cyber-security efforts. Despite the fact that it is old news (if news at all), the release, and the subsequent Omaha World-Herald story, give the impression that Nelson just brokered some great deal for Nebraska.

Hardly.

Perhaps the press release is penitential for Nelson's failure to protect Offutt AFB and Sarpy County. At a minimum it demonstrates a character flaw in Nelson, i.e., the need to overstate one's importance, the need to take credit for the work of others and the failure to acknowledge the hard work of others (e.g., Congressman Lee Terry and Senator Mike Johanns).

Nelson has been a politician for a long, long time, and I don't expect him to correct this character flaw overnight. So, in the meantime, expect headlines like the following to flow from Nelson and his Senate office:

NELSON: THANKS TO ME THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW

HUSKERS TO WIN HOME FOOTBALL OPENER--SEN. BEN NELSON FIGHTS FOR NEBRASKA

NELSON WORKING HARD TO ENSURE NEW YORK YANKEES HAVE HIGHEST MLB PAYROLL

Tommy Obama?

To no one's surprise Democrat State Senator Tom White is taking the traditional next step towards announcing that he plans to run for the House of Representatives in 2010. According to an article in this morning's Omaha World-Herald, White is forming an exploratory committee that will permit him to raise and spend campaign funds without officially announcing his candidacy.

Based upon the article, it appears that White is hitching his star to President Barack Obama:

"[White] said the party needs to capitalize on President Barack Obama winning an electoral vote in the 2nd Congressional District.

“The Obama people are still here. The people who were energized by his campaign, the people who filled the convention center (for an Obama visit) are still here, the people who came to the caucuses are still here,” said White.



So White plans to run as Tommy Obama?

A few thoughts:

• President Obama won't be on the ballot in the 2nd District in 2010. Instead, the 2010 election will be about a landslide re-election for Governor Dave Heineman, Attorney General Jon Bruning, State Treasurer Shane Osborn, State Auditor Mike Foley and Secretary of State John Gale. And who is it that is driving turnout for the Democrats?
• The 2010 election will be a referendum on Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat Congress. Don't believe me? Ask Omaha Democrat Paul Landow, who was formerly the top aide to 2nd District Democrat Congressman Peter Hoagland--the last Democrat to represent the 2nd District. 2010 will be 1994 all over again. We're just 6 months into the current congressional session and the House Democrats have managed to pass legislation increasing our tax burden, expanding the federal government, indebting our children and grandchildren, and eliminating the freedoms we hold dear. That's the agenda Tom White wants to get to Washington to support. Nebraska voters understand that Congressman Lee Terry represents a check-and-balance on this looniness coming out of Washington.
• White will be forced to deal with: (a) an ineffective Omaha Mayor--Jim Suttle--who is the primary representative of the Democratic Party in the 2nd District; or (b) a Republican Omaha Mayor who will have replaced Suttle after he is recalled later this year.
• Regardless of the national political environment or state of Omaha City Hall in November 2010, White will be forced to face his own record in the state legislature as one of the most partisan, divisive and arrogant legislators in Nebraska history. That will be contrasted with Congressman Lee Terry, an affable Omahan who is widely recognized by his bipartisan efforts in the House of Representatives.
  
  
  
  
  

Report Tom White!

I previously called on Democrat State Senator Tom White to denounce the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s attack ads against Congressman Lee Terry. Instead, White has only proven to be a rubber stamp for Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Washington Democrats.

White’s intentions are clear; he intends to run for Congressman Terry’s seat in 2010 and he’s letting the DCCC act on his behalf. Voters need to know now that Tom White plans a divisive and negative campaign against Congressman Terry. We intend to give voters an opportunity to voice their concerns.

For this reason we have established a hotline for people to call with specific information on the negative campaign tactics of Tom White.

Call 402-441-0799.

Just yesterday, the Omaha World Herald levied heavy criticism on the DCCC for their tactics. They called the attack ads “unfair”, a “sophomoric game of gotcha”, and an attempt to “throw mud at incumbent lawmakers”. White’s silence equates to an agreement that these types of negative ads are not only acceptable, but they are merely the beginning. The hotline will give Nebraskans a way to report the instances of White’s mudslinging.

With this Hotline Voters can call in and report White’s negative campaign tactics, their various experiences with the State Senator and their concerns about his liberal positions and votes in the Nebraska Legislature.

Again:

Report Tom White

1-402-441-0799