Posted on 03/18/2010 8:11:04 AM PDT by pissant
Exclusive FR live Interview– Please Welcome Congressional Candidate Nick ‘Gunny Pop’ Popaditch to Free Republic
Hello Freepers. And welcome to the exclusive Free Republic interview with a candidate for Congress in California’s 51st District, Nick ‘Gunny Pop’ Popaditch – also known as the Cigar Marine. Most of you, and much of America is familiar with Nick’s face. The Associated Press snapped the famous photo of a Marine sitting in the turret of his tank enjoying a celebratory cigar during the fall of Baghdad with the statue of Saddam Hussein in the background. That is Gunny Pop.
Later in the Iraq war, during the 1st battle for Falluja - in which he earned a Silver Star - Gunnery Sergeant Popaditch was seriously injured by an RPG, and ended up losing his right eye, and subsequently had to retire for the 2nd time from the Marine Corps, the first time being after the 1991 Gulf War.
Originally a Hoosier, Nick settled in the San Diego area with his wife April, a native Californian, and their two boys and began his life again as a civilian. He also wrote his award winning memoir called “Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery” and has carved out a career as a motivational speaker for military and non-military audiences alike.
A good friend of Free Republic (and to conservatives in general), former Congressman Duncan Hunter, heard Nick speak, liked what he heard, and thought that Popaditch would make a great Congressman in these perilous times for our nation. So after some soul searching by Nick and April, they decided to once again answer the call of duty.
This time the duty is not on the battlefield, but is the equally important task of knocking out a left wing Pelosi sycophant from California’s 51st district, Bob Filner. And with the help of patriotic Americans in his district and across the country, Gunny Pop is ready to charge the hill.
Popaditch is a genuine conservative, not a conservative of opportunity, like far too many Republicans. He is going to Washington to help rescue it, not make friends on the cocktail circuit. So without further adieu, please welcome Nick and April Popaditch (screen name: Cee-gar Man US Marine).
(Frrepers: The first batch of questions was answered yesterday and you can ask new questions or follow-ups now. Nick will answer as many questions as he can for the next hour, then get back to the unanswered questions in the days to come).
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1. What is your view on abortion? Do you support legislation, similar to what Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul have proposed over the years, to give constitutional protections of life to the unborn?
NP: Yes. It is our responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We must act with moral clarity.
2. Recently, there has been alot of discussion about the restrictive Rules of Engagement for our troops currently in Afghanistan, including the massive reductions in Air strikes (here's a link to a typical article: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/16/us-troops-battle-taliban-afghan-rules/). What is your reaction to the "karzai 12" rules and what, if anything, would you change.
NP: I know that the key to success in battle lies in the individual rifleman on the ground. These rules of engagement appear to take the decision making ability away from our troops. As a leader, you train your troops, lead them on the battlefield, supervise them, trust their ability to make an honorable decision, and finally, support them when they do. These are America's best and brightest. I've seen them first-hand and believe in them. If the Commanding General feels there are problems, they are solved with training, not rules replacing our troop’s brains. Empower them and they will win and win honorably.
3. The American people nearly had a mutiny against the government when in 2007 the feds were pushing the Kennedy-McCain-Bush amnesty bill for illegal aliens. Yet, here we are in 2010, and the entire Republican "leadership" is getting behind the chief architect, John McCain, over a renowned law and border order conservative, JD Hayworth, in the Arizona primary. Will you fight the GOP (and democrat) leaders to prevent another amnesty (always cleverly renamed "pathway to citizenship" or somesuch)? And what else will you fight for regrading our border security?
NP: Enforce the immigration laws we currently have. The law is not broken, just the political will to enforce it. I will propose legislation to cut all federal funding to "sanctuary cities." I will expand the border patrol to enhance border security. We cannot wait until the drug war south of the border spills over into our streets to take our border seriously.
4. What is your position on the 2nd Amendment?
NP: I support the 2nd Amendment, as I do the rest of the Constitution. I do support more police and more jails to take care of illegal firearms in the hands of criminals.
5. Obama came to office promising to restore our "standing in the world". It is arguable, that in his first year, many of our relationships with traditional allies, such as the Brits, Poles, French, Turks, Israel, etc have gotten worse and that his hand of friendship to our adversaries has produced ridicule. How do you assess the current Administrations foreign policy to date, and what would you work on to change?
NP: You cannot appease dictators and bullies. We must honor and stand by those who have stood by us. We must champion freedom in the world. When I was an active duty Marine in the war-zone, I expected my political leaders to have the same courage as my fellow Marines to confront our enemies. Any who are tired or unwilling need to get out of the way. As a Congressman, I will support surges and reject retreat. Our enemies understand and fear strength. They prey upon weakness, especially political weakness.
6. It is obvious that spending is way out of control in Washington DC and it is imperiling our future viability. Many conservatives believe the prime reason for this is that the Federal Government has usurped too many powers and assigned itself too many unconstitutional duties (the nanny state). What, if any, Departments, agencies, or responsibilities the Feds currently have would you like to see eliminated and/or returned to the people and the states?
NP: I support the 10th Amendment, as I do the rest of the Constitution. Our budget requires a line by line audit. It is remarkable how many projects went through our Congress as "riders" on other bills. The political barter system needs to end. Every dollar of the taxpayers’ money needs to be safeguarded. Americans worked too hard for them for politicians to give them away.
7. What is your opinion of the US Supreme Court's Kelo vs. New London decision, where the court codified the practice of local governments using eminent domain laws to take private property from the citizens and give it to other non-governmental parties in the interest of creating a more robust tax base on that property?
NP: This is not the role of the Federal Government. I oppose this. This is a dangerous precedent that leads to government owned car companies.
8. What is your opinion regarding the current efforts by the Obama Administration to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in the US Armed Forces?
NP: I oppose any modification to our military that doesn't improve our ability to accomplish our mission. The Commander-in-Chief has a sacred duty to wisely lead our military. This shamelessly transparent attempt to rally his base displays a total disregard for his responsibility. This stunt in the middle of a war demonstrates why we should exercise caution when considering a non-veteran for the Presidency.
9. In your view, is global warming even real? if so, is it man-made? Do you support carbon trading schemes (Cap and Trade, for example) to "fix" it?
NP: I've yet to see any proof of its existence. I have seen plenty of proof that global warming activists will lie. I oppose Cap and Trade. I side with the honest American family over environmental swindlers.
10. What policy changes, if any, will you work for in Congress in regards to taking the fight to the islamic jihadists, both abroad and here at home? Do you think political correctness played a role in letting the Fort Hood massacre take place?
NP: As a retired Marine, I know it is unacceptable in our military to condone or conceal bad or dishonorable behavior from another due to race, creed, religion, etc..In fact it is chargeable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to do so. If another had knowledge of that soldier's intentions and failed to act upon it, that soldier(s) needs to be held accountable also. Our military is well trained to handle all enemies, foreign and domestic. We need to support hem and provide them the necessary equipment and intelligence to win. I support the Patriot Act and its continuance.
11. Name three of your American heroes, either alive or deceased, with a very brief statement of why you admire them.
NP: Col Lewis "Chesty" Puller USMC. He lead under the most adverse of circumstances and inspired those around him to victory. Michael Jordon. He didn't make the rules of the game, but always found a way to score 50 points a game. John Popaditch (my father). He taught me to work hard, treat others with respect, and hold myself and others accountable for their actions.
12. What would you like to see changed regarding our current tax system and/or current federal taxation levels for individuals and businesses?
NP: In the short run, reduce taxes on business to stimulate job creation. In the long run, eliminate earmarks, irresponsible federal spending, unconstitutional federal projects, and special interest buyouts, to cut taxes on everybody. Keep that revenue in the private sector where it belongs. Eliminate our current system of collecting excessive tax revenues to then redistribute back.
Palin/Popaditch 2012 !?!?
Hey, Nick! I’m the one who coined “Ceegar Man”!
Back then, we had a group called The Guild, a daily gathering of smart, witty women. We talked about everything, especially the war and politics.
We were watching coverage of Saddam’s statue falling and...VaVoom!...there you were on your tank! I took one look and wrote “CEEGAR GUY”!
I’ve followed you and prayed for you ever since. Best of luck in the campaign. I’m headed over there to see if you have a contribution bucket.
That is true, the deadline has passed.
That is GREAT NEWS!!
Dist. 51 is notoriously liberal. Will there be any public debates with Filner (other than Roger Hedgecock, where Filner refuses to show up?)
Thank you for your prayers!
Plus he looks like the illegitimate son of the dark suited bad agent in The Matrix and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Hottie & Gunny '12
Beauty & Brawn '12
Gov'na & Gunny '12
Traveling around the District, I have found it to be more conservative than it votes. Filner has decv’d and practiced the politics of groups promising each one the moon, many are holding IOUs from ‘04, ‘06, ‘08,...etc. The bills are due in 2010. Get your friends out to vote.
I’m sorry I missed this.
Had a Doc appointment @ 8:30.
Hope it went well.
Welcome and we are very thankful for your service to our country. Best of luck in your race.
What is your position on taking out Iran’s nukes? How long do we continue with these weak sanctions??
It’s live now, for the next 40 minutes Nick will be here.
Great stuff! Best of luck to you. I really hope we will see you in the next Congress. You’re needed in there. :-)
NP: Yes. It is our responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We must act with moral clarity.
Ron Paul believes that under our Constitution states can allow abortion if they want to. To him, "states' rights" trump the unalienable right to life. He is clearly pro-choice for states.
Do you agree with him, or with the Reagan pro-life plank in the GOP platform (which has been there since 1984) that recognizes the personhood of the unborn child and their resultant protection by the Fourteenth Amendment?
We have already missed a good opportunity on this one. The protesters fighting for freedom and democracy should have been supported and our administration sat on its hands. We must continue to press on this. I would support air strikes to eliminate this threat.
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