Conservative ideas dominate debate in Dublin (Georgia)

Conservative ideas dominate debate in Dublin

By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/14/04

DUBLIN -- Federal spending and the tax code came along for the show. But same-sex marriage and "indecency" on television took center stage.

Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Zell Miller brought their messages of fiscal conservatism and moral certainty to Middle and South Georgia on Friday in their first public forum in the area.

U.S. Reps. Mac Collins of Jackson and Johnny Isakson of Cobb County took the Theatre Dublin stage with former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain and Atlanta businessman Al Bartell for a two-hour town-hall-style debate that was broadcast live by Macon's WMAZ-TV.

"Marriage always has been between a man and a woman, and it always must be," Isakson said in answer to a question about a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. "Without a strong family in America, America will never be strong."

Cain assailed a recent court case that paves the way for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts as well as federal court rulings to remove the Ten Commandments from public display.

"This is an attack on our moral foundation, and eventually we have to counter this," Cain said.

All four candidates backed a Constitutional ban on gay marriage, and all called for a crackdown on "indecency" on television in the wake of the now infamous breast-baring incident on this year's Super Bowl broadcast.

"The laws are there, and they should be enforced," Collins said. "And if they are, you'll see a change in what we're viewing on TV."

The candidates were loudly applauded for their calls to clamp down on profanity on television and draw a constitutional line on same-sex unions. About 300 people turned out to view the debate in a renovated movie theater that is a central gathering point in the Dublin area.

One of the few points of major disagreement was over the issue of extending the Voting Rights Act, which comes up for extension in 2007. Collins and Isakson said they would like to see it retired.

"The law in the land is solid, but it is violated every day," Bartell said.

The candidates backed President Bush's Iraq policy, blasted Democrats for holding up his federal judicial appointments and called for the elimination of so-called "pork spending" from the federal budget.

"Stability is coming in Iraq," Collins said. "It will be a much different place by the end of the year."

Cain called for the current tax code to be replaced to make the nation more competitive. He supports a national sales tax to replace the income tax.

"All roads go through the tax codes," he said. "Businesses are overtaxed, American families are overtaxed."

Republicans go to the polls July 20 to chose their party's nominee for the job now held by Miller, who is retiring.

That GOP nominee will compete against the Democratic nominee in the November general election. Three Democrats — state Sens. Mary Squires of Norcross and Nadine Thomas of Decatur and public interest lawyer Gary Leshaw of Decatur — are running for their party's nomination.

A Taxreform bump for you all.

If you would like to be added to this ping list let me know.

John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a pure consumption tax:

H.R.25
SPONSOR: Rep Linder, John (introduced 01/7/2003)
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
S.1493
Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 7/30/2003)
Title: A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
Refer: http://www.fairtax.org & http://www.salestax.org

Zell Miller(D-GA) isleaving the Senate, the open seat Herman Cain is running for, is a Co-sponsor for the Senate sister bill:

S.1493
Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 7/30/2003)
Title: A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
Refer: http://www.fairtax.org

Here ya go, Geezer. All 43 H.R. 25 co-sponsors (and the date they "signed on"), plus Rep. Linder, the prime sponsor, of course:

Rep Akin, W. Todd - 4/10/2003 [MO-2];
Rep Baker, Richard H. - 3/26/2003 [LA-6];
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. - 10/2/2003 [MD-6];
Rep Beauprez, Bob - 6/2/2003 [CO-7];
Rep Bilirakis, Michael - 11/18/2003 [FL-9];
Rep Bonilla, Henry - 4/2/2003 [TX-23];
Rep Brady, Kevin - 3/18/2003 [TX-8];
Rep Burns, Max - 3/31/2003 [GA-12];
Rep Carter, John R. - 3/31/2003 [TX-31];
Rep Collins, Mac - 2/25/2003 [GA-8];
Rep Culberson, John Abney - 2/25/2003 [TX-7];
Rep Deal, Nathan - 3/17/2003 [GA-10];
Rep DeLay, Tom - 3/26/2003 [TX-22];
Rep DeMint, Jim - 9/3/2003 [SC-4];
Rep Doolittle, John T. - 3/25/2003 [CA-4];
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. - 9/24/2003 [TN-2];
Rep Flake, Jeff - 2/25/2003 [AZ-6];
Rep Franks, Trent - 4/2/2003 [AZ-2];
Rep Gingrey, Phil - 3/31/2003 [GA-11];
Rep Granger, Kay - 7/21/2003 [TX-12];
Rep Gutknecht, Gil - 3/26/2003 [MN-1];
Rep Hall, Ralph M. - 2/25/2003 [TX-4];
Rep Hefley, Joel - 4/3/2003 [CO-5];
Rep Hensarling, Jeb - 6/2/2003 [TX-5];
Rep Hoekstra, Peter - 2/6/2004 [MI-2];
Rep Isakson, Johnny - 9/3/2003 [GA-6];
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. - 9/3/2003 [NC-3];
Rep Keller, Ric - 9/15/2003 [FL-8];
Rep King, Steve - 2/25/2003 [IA-5];
Rep Kingston, Jack - 4/8/2003 [GA-1];
Rep Lewis, Jerry - 4/2/2003 [CA-41];
Rep McInnis, Scott - 10/8/2003 [CO-3];
Rep Miller, Gary G. - 4/30/2003 [CA-42];
Rep Miller, Jeff - 4/30/2003 [FL-1];
Rep Neugebauer, Randy - 10/29/2003 [TX-19];
Rep Norwood, Charlie - 3/17/2003 [GA-9];
Rep Pearce, Stevan - 3/25/2003 [NM-2];
Rep Peterson, Collin C. - 1/7/2003 [MN-7];
Rep Shadegg, John B. - 3/31/2003 [AZ-3];
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. - 4/30/2003 [CO-6];
Rep Taylor, Charles H. - 9/15/2003 [NC-11];
Rep Wilson, Joe - 5/22/2003 [SC-2];
Rep Young, Don - 4/30/2003 [AK];

In fact, ALL of the Georgia Republican Congressmen are co-sponsors of H.R. 25. There are no GA Democrats "on" the bill.

So, 3 of the 4 Republican candidates for Senator Miller's seat are NRST supporters. The difference is that Herman Cain has the intestinal fortitude to campaign on the issue. You will note that he is the only candidate mentioned in the article as supporting the NRST.

ALL: DON'T SEE YOUR REPS NAME ON THE LIST?

GO TO WORK AND GETEM ON IT! HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE!

PUBLIC PRESSURE IS THE ONLY WAY WE WILL ABOLISH THE INCOME TAX AND THE IRS!

AND THE PLACE TO START IS THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!

>Rant over!<

Better yet go here:

FairTax - Congressional Score Card

And take a look at the score cards for both House & Senate, if your Critters are waffling or not supporting the NRST let them know that it matters.

Time to put that stake in the heart of the income/payroll tax system and the IRS, and the National Retail Sales Tax bill HR25 is the way to do it.

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