Jack Cashill Endorses Patricia Lightner

Kansas City, Mo. – Former State Rep. Patricia Lightner, Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd District of Kansas, has received the endorsement of conservative author and producer Jack Cashill, who is also the Executive Editor of Ingram’s Magazine, Kansas City’s premier business magazine.

In endorsing Lightner, Cashill cited her commitment to principle -- specifically, her belief in limited constitutional government as close to home as possible.

“Patricia’s commitment to conservative principles attracted me to her campaign very early on. From the day she entered the race, she was talking about limited government, economic freedom, individual liberty, and a culture of life. She understands that power centralized in Washington is not only unconstitutional, but also inefficient and corrupting,” said Cashill.

Standing up on Principle

As we look to 2010 and beyond, I believe it is essential to elect candidates who hold a core set of principles that guide their decision making and their approach to specific issues. Too many politicians today allow political winds and concerns determine their positions on issues, thinking that such a strategy is the sole pay to power and influence.

As I embark on this campaign for Congress, I believe we must embrace our core Republican principles – fiscal responsibility, limited government, economic freedom, individual liberty, national security, and embracing a culture of life. These are principles that work and have stood the test of time when actually put into place – not only that, these are principles that most Americans support!

Please find my core principles below. Over the next few weeks and months, I will be revealing my positions and ideas on the various issues facing our nation today. In the meantime, if you have a specific question for me, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at patricia@patricialightner.com.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Vice President Joe Biden recently revealed the liberal mindset when it comes to spending when he said that we need to spend our way back to prosperity. While Republicans have not been innocent when it comes to overspending, the current Congress is taking spending to a whole new level, fully employing their philosophy that breaking the bank will save the economy.

I believe in a completely different approach.

I believe we should not spend money we do not have nor can we spend our way back to prosperity. As your Congresswoman, I would stand up against bills that spend too much.

I believe we need a new era of accountability throughout the appropriations process. Rather than using the previous year as a base, we need to adopt a philosophy which examines every dollar every year in every program.

I believe we need a complete honest accounting of our entitlements as well – as we will never get a firm grasp of our financial problems if we do not address these areas. And we certainly do not need to be adding any new entitlements such as health care.

Those in power, including Dennis Moore, have been frivolous and wasteful with our tax dollars. Between the annual budget and the stimulus package, our annual deficit has ballooned and the national debt has skyrocketed. While they might talk about reducing the deficit, their “spending to prosperity” mindset should give us zero confidence this is anything more than talk.

I will not only talk the talk, I will walk the walk – by voting against unnecessary and wasteful spending – and to fight for reforms which can set our nation towards a new era of real fiscal responsibility.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

It is well established that this country was founded by many of its citizens that had left their respective countries due to state, religious or economic oppression. The Bill of Rights, which guarantees the protection of our individual rights, was put forth by our founding fathers, who undoubtedly understood the need to protect those individual freedoms as outlined therein.

Today, those freedoms are being siphoned away by an overreaching federal government that threatens to take over every aspect of our daily, private lives. I believe in the self-reliance of the individual and the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by every American without the imposition of collectivism. I would oppose any bill that would serve to diminish our freedom and liberties guaranteed to every American.

We need to let the Constitution be our guide as we move forward.

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

Our U.S. Government is granted enumerated and limited powers under the Constitution, and under the tenth amendment those powers cannot expand its legislative authority into areas specifically reserved to the states or to the people. Without these limits, Americans would become subject to the will of the elected officials instead of the elected officials serving the American people.

I advocate for a renewed focus on the Tenth Amendment, something many state legislatures, including here in Kansas, are beginning to remind us still exists. Recent legislation – the stimulus bill, cap and trade, and health care — all go well beyond the scope of the Tenth Amendment and forget any notion that such decisions should be left to the states, or better yet, to the people.

I would oppose these bills and any other bill that would infringe on those rights reserved to the states and the American people under the tenth amendment.

ECONOMIC FREEDOM

Despite polls showing Americans are pessimistic, I believe the United States of America is still that shining city on the hill. Even as we face serious economic challenges, there is a reason why so many want to come to our country and why there aren’t many headed the other way. That is because we are still the land of economic opportunity, where dreams are made and where the sky is the limit – and that is an image that we should always seek to maintain and promote.

As such, when delving into the issues involving the economy – specifically areas such as taxes and health care – we need to always promote policies which encourage economic freedom and entrepreneurship by removing impediments to growth such as high taxes or excessive regulations.

By doing so, we will be ushering in a new era of ownership in which dreams become reality, where ideas turn into economic activity, where jobs are created and yes, where profits are earned – and kept.

This new era will be an America that is still the world’s economic engine and where dreams once again become reality.

NATIONAL SECURITY

A core principle for all Republicans is a belief in ensuring our national security. During this time of economic downturn and excessive spending, one area we must be careful about reducing is defense spending. The moment we put our guard down is the moment our enemies will attack.

We must be vigilant in the war on terror and continue to fight to win in Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere else where our military and intelligence strength is needed. I believe our troops and our intelligence officers must be given every tool they need to do their jobs and keep this country safe.

I also believe our foreign policy must be one that continues to promote liberty by encouraging democracy and discouraging thugs. Whether they be in Georgia, Iran, or anywhere in the world, the United States must stand on the side of freedom. We must stand up to dictators and also not allow rogue nations to acquire nuclear weapons, and be prepared to deal with any aggression towards our allies.

In summary, I believe in a policy of peace through strength, in a strong national defense in the spirit of Ronald Reagan.

CULTURE OF LIFE

As we debate and discuss policy differences involving our nation’s economic future, health care, and other areas impacting the pocketbook, we must also always remember our values as well – and chief among them is a belief in the right to life, from conception to natural death.

Promoting a culture of life means protecting the innocent, where we can, in law. It also means winning hearts and minds through the continued good work of charities and churches, and personal contact as well. A majority of Americans are now pro-life, a wonderful sign of the progress we’ve made in this important fight the last 36 years.

Though we must always be respectful of those who disagree with us, as your Congresswoman, I will be an advocate for the unborn as well as those who are in their last stages of life. That is my solemn vow.

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