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Posted on 08/20/2005 10:21:59 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
Jim Gilchrist to run for Congress!
Formally announces to packed ballroom
On Friday, JIM GILCHRIST--founder of the Minuteman Project--told a vocal group of supporters who filled a ballroom of the Ayres Hotel in Ontario, California, that he has decided to run for Congress in California's 48th District.
The enthusiastic crowd heard Jim formally enter the race for a seat vacated by the recent appointment of Rep. Chris Cox to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The announcement was carried live on KFI's John and Ken Show, and excerpts were repeated throughout the day on the popular radio station.
Below is the text of Jim's formal declaration of candidacy.
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Statement by Jim Gilchrist:
As you know, I'm the founder of the Minuteman Project, which has succeeded far beyond anyone's wildest imagination, because of you and millions of decent people all across this country who love America, and who have worked so hard to make this project get the attention of our political representatives.
I'm here today because, like you, I have grown weary and frustrated with the decades-long REFUSAL -- and I mean REFUSAL -- of federal, state, and local government to simply enforce U.S. immigration laws.
My friends, our enemies love to try and portray us as "single-issue" radicals, but they are misinformed and misguided, at best.
The truth is, this "single issue" veils a number of threats to the domestic tranquility of our nation -- the floundering public schools, bankrupt hospitals, an ever-increasing tax burden, traffic gridlock, runaway housing prices, and much more. That's just a handful.
Because of the failure of our elected leaders to enforce the law, we are facing a great threat to the security and safety of our families. We are seeing the infusion of criminal gangs like the MS-13 El Salvadoran gang into our communities, and, most seriously of all, the continuing risk of terrorist infiltration and attacks against U.S. territory and citizens by international saboteurs.
Simple enforcement of U.S. immigration laws is not too much to ask.
The fulfillment of our elected leaders' primary duty, which is to protect the lives and the property of the American people, is not too much to ask.
If you see fit to elect me as your congressman, I will never take my eyes off of these fundamental truths.
However, I will also be dealing with a broad range of policy issues that will greatly affect your future, and the future of our kids and grandkids.
Congress is spending like a drunken sailor. We can't afford them anymore, ladies and gentlemen. I will work to rein those people in.
Our current income tax code is choking the economic life of our people. That's why I support fundamental tax reform that is fair, simple, and efficient. My goal when it comes to taxes is to restore privacy and liberty to the American people by reducing those tax burdens.
Whether we are talking about out-of-control liberal judges who are creating law as they go along, or property rights, energy policy, local control of education, or any of a thousand other important issues, you will find me on the side of the traditions and the fundamental principles that have made this country great for the last two centuries, and which are enshrined in the basic law of our land -- that being the United States Constitution and our beloved Bill of Rights.
After all the battles I've been forced to fight in recent years -- as gratifying as it is to force cynical and self-serving politicians to take actions they don't necessarily want to take -- this is the conclusion I've reached: It is far better to have men and women in public office who do not have to be pressured to do the right thing.
That's why today I'm formally announcing my candidacy for Congress in California's 48th District.
I ask first of all for your prayers, and then of course for your vote. It is your continuing tireless labors on behalf of America that will, as with all preceding generations, win the day.
My friends, God bless you -- and I'll leave you with this final quote: Americans, "Let's roll!"
The audio is at the bottom of the text of his announcement.
I'm greatly impressed with this man.
In fact, I've been following the local OC blogs, and even the biggest Campbell supporters have nothing but praise for Jim's performance yesterday.
Here's a quote from 'Jubal', who's a top Republican and a staunch Campbell supporter:
"If you didn't catch Gilchrist on John & Ken, I encourage you to listen to the audio Allan posted on his blog. Gilchrist does not come across as a wacko. Instead, he displays the plain-spoken eloquence of a citizen-politician. He will indeed make this an interesting race."
http://ocblog.typepad.com/
Damn, a real American running for Congress -- what a shocker.
No kidding.
ping...
Oh how I wish this starts a trend!!
Gilchrist spoke at the monthly Rush Fan Club breakfast in
Mission Viejo, Ca last month and showed himself to be very
entertaining while making substantial points. I left the meeting wondering if he would 'run' for something and wanting to vote for him. If I remember correctly, he has a masters in accounting and is now retired from his own business. Best of all he understands America. Go Jim!
who else has announced?
Jim Gilchrest is a good American, no doubt about that. Is he going to seek office as a Republican, or wage a quixotic third-party campaign?
a quixotic third-party campaign
He actually pre-announced it on KABC's Doug Mcintyre's program.
The below is from Allan Barlett at the Powder Blue Report. He was in the room yesterday and gives a great report here:
http://powderbluereport.blogspot.com/
It's Official.....Jim Gilchrist Is In, LETS ROLL!
Let me set the scene for everyone who was not at John & Ken's remote broadcast today out in Ontario at the Ayres Suites Hotel.
I left my office in Huntington Beach at around 1pm. I only hit a little bit of traffic going to Ontario. I got to the hotel at about 2:15pm. The volunteers were already almost done setting up the petition tables right in front of the hotel.
KFI listeners were already starting to arrive in droves. I started making the rounds introducing myself to people and helping out with petition signing. I spotted Lauren Bonifacio from the OC Register and introduced myself to her and told her that I lived in the 48th district. She is a very charming reporter. I ended up speaking with her for about five minutes about why I am supporting Jim Gilchrist. You better be nice to me tomorrow Lauren, LOL.
The show was getting started in the ballroom so I made my way in there. The first guest they had on was Assemblyman Ray Haynes of Temecula. It was one of his constituents idea for the California Border Police Initiative.
At 4pm the boys introduced Jim Gilchrist to the crowd and he received a standing ovation for about a half a minute. It was amazing. You can listen to Jim's announcement by clicking here and here.
It was one of the best political speeches I've heard in a long time. I'm not going to go through all the points he went over. Please listen to the speech itself so you can judge for yourselves what you think.
The next surprise came when John & Ken announced that they had someone on the line who was going to endorse Jim's candidacy.
Any guesses who it was?
It was John March. He is the father of slain LA County Deputy David March who as most of you know was killed by illegal alien Armando Garcia and fled to Mexico for sanctuary. It's been over three years since that happened and Mr. Garcia is still a free man because this federal government won't get tough on illegal immigration.
I'll take John & Barbara March's endorsement over any establishment politico all day and night. It just adds extra credibility to Jim's campaign.
State Senator John Campbell, RINO ex-state Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer, and J. Scott Davis, who included an announcement on Free Republic. Ex-Congressman Bob Dornan is thinking of running. I don't know who the 'Rat candidates are, not that it matters in that district.
ditto!
'Quixotic' only applies when the monsters you are fighting are in reality windmills.
The monsters Jim Gilchrist has been leading the fight against are very real.
And, to his credit, the politicians are being forced to respond.
Bob Dornan gave a half-hour enthusiastic endorsement of Jim Gilchrist on John and Ken's show a couple of days ago.
I may be on the wrong side of this, but every time a patriot runs for office for all the right reasons, his life is either ruined or they get sucked into the D.C. vortex of capitulation and compromise.
"Mr. Smith goes to Washington" is just a movie. It never happened that way in real life.
There is a river of special interest scum that runs right down the middle of the capital building that dirties all.
That's too bad, he's just undermining his own chances. He has a lot to offer, but only a Republican can win in that district.
Incidently, Gilchrest is a Certified Public Accountant, and we need more of those in Congress.
You've got that right! Something has to be done now! Glad to see he's running, just hope he can make the desperately needed changes.
Why not as a Republican? A third party could influence things if the race is close, otherwise what is the point? If he signs up as a Republican he would at least get some attention.
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