US Chamber of Commerce Vow to Take on Tea Party a Stupid, Divisive Move

Could there be a group that looks more insular, elitist and out of touch than the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? One strategist for the chamber says they want "no more fools" nominated for office by the Republicans. By "fools" he meant Tea Party candidates and their ilk, and the chamber is readying to spend $50 million to defeat them in 2014. This, from an organization that has launched a thousand sinking ships. Recall that this is the same crowd that helped Mitt Romney and John McCain win GOP nominations for president. (They also supported Fred Thompson, who turned out to have the energy of a tortoise.) And the strategist who is credited with this new U.S. Chamber strategy is famous for running Bob Dole's presidential effort in 1996. Now, that was a real winner.)

What these inside-the-Beltway retread political strategists continue to miss is that Mitt Romney's loss to Barack Obama was due in part to a decision by millions of conservative voters to stay home on Election Day 2012. They felt no compelling reason to fight hard for Romney, who seemed good and decent, but lacked fire and had no real connection with most Americans.

Make no mistake: It's not the worst gig in the world to try to nominate sane GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate in states where Republicans are either trying to hold seats or they have a real shot at unseating incumbent Democrats. But the chamber's goals seem at odds with the "average" voter, without whose allegiance few Republicans will win next year. This chamber perspective is both elitist and divisive. And it's likely to backfire.

Consider the U.S. Senate race in Georgia. Incumbent Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss is retiring. One might presume that any Republican who manages to win the GOP nomination in this Red State will automatically cruise to victory against the Democrat.

It's just not the case. Republican incumbents aren't polling so great in Georgia. And while Democrats remain at a disadvantage, partly because of President Obama's high disapproval rate in the state, they will still pose a credible threat with Michelle Nunn, the daughter of former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, as their Senate nominee. And they will enjoy a "ticket effect" with the combination of Nunn and gubernatorial candidate Jason Carter -- who is Jimmy Carter's grandson.

The most likely nominee for the GOP Senate nomination is longtime Republican Congressman Jack Kingston. He earned his political stripes decades ago and, by most measures, he has good conservative credentials. It's no secret that most "chamber-types" in Georgia and in D.C. are supporting Kingston in hopes that his amiable personality and understanding of the more sophisticated side of public policy will trump the qualifications of any Tea Party types who are running.

But if the chamber's litmus test for Republican nominees is "no more fools," then Kingston might not qualify right now, thanks to his recent suggestion that kids who receive government subsidies for food in public schools should work for what they get.

When considered in context, Kingston's comments are harmless enough. But as political marketing, his words have flown like a lead balloon with Georgia voters. Even the most conservative of talk show hosts ripped Kingston for singling out poor kids and forcing them to "sweep the cafeteria floor" in view of their more affluent peers. If Kingston wins the GOP nomination, his words will be used by Democrat Nunn in TV ads that will help sway especially moderate, independent women voters away from the Republican.

Kingston's ace up the sleeve against Nunn would normally be the fierce and nearly automatic support of ultra-conservative voters. But with groups like the U.S. Chamber picking and choosing who is worthy of joining their "inner circle" of power in D.C., the chance that some miffed conservatives might sit out the race against Nunn, just as they did with Mitt Romney for president, is more likely.

The example of Ronald Reagan is often invoked in situations like this, and with reason. Does anyone who was actually around in 1980 doubt that these out-of-touch political snobs would have labeled him a "fool" before he went on to kick the butt of the Republican establishment by winning the nomination?

One might point out that leadership of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce presided over the great exodus from America of manufacturers and producers of prosperity over recent decades.

Had they been listening to some business leaders during the 80's and 90's, the Chamber's leaders might have effectively stemmed the tide which has produced our current dilemma.

Back in the 80's, there were business leaders who understood what was happening and tried to warn of the impending danger to American prosperity and freedom.

In Texas, there was Eddie Chiles, of The Western Company and owner of the Texas Rangers. An advocate for less federal government intrusion, Chiles was also known for his 1970's radio commentaries. His trade-mark was, "I'm Eddie Chiles, and I'm mad as hell."

In North Carolina, there was W. David Stedman, also urging his fellow business leaders, employees and public against the growth of government spending and debt and pleading for a return to the ideas of the American Declaration and Constitution. The cartoon below contains the ideas of both, for, with permission, another famous Chiles remark was incorporated into the Stedman cartoon. The Stedman ad series culminated in a 1987 292-page book on America's founding principles ("Our Ageless Constitution") and is now available here

How sad that these great Americans were not heeded, for their message is as true today as it was in the 1980's.

On the other hand, Evans, in his book, "America's Choice: Twilight's Last Gleaming or Dawn's Early Light," suggested 7 simple principles which every citizen could benefit from considering as they watch the so-called "progressives" attempt to enslave them through legislation and Executive Orders.

"1. Does this legislation or idea increase, or decrease, individual freedom and creativity?
"2. Does this legislation or idea increase, or decrease, the power of some citizens over other citizens?
"3. Does this legislation or idea recognize that the persons who will exercise the power are themselves imperfect human beings?
"4. Does this legislation or idea recognize that government is incapable of creating wealth?
"5. Does this legislation or idea authorize taking from some what belongs to them, and giving it to others to whom it does not belong?
If 'thou shalt not steal' is a valid commandment, can we assume that it is meant to apply only to individuals and not to government (which is made up of individuals), even if those persons in power pass laws which sanction such redistribution of the wealth of others?'
"6. Does this legislation or idea encourage, or discourage, the very highest level of morality and responsibility from the individual?
. . .when government makes actions 'legal' by some citizens at the expense of other citizens, the result may be behavior which would not be considered possible by individuals acting alone.
"7. Does this legislation or idea propose that the 'government' do something which the individual cannot do without committing a crime?"**
**7 principles drawn from James R. Evans book, "America's Choice," and reprinted in a Stedman Corporation (Asheboro, NC) booklet entitled "I'm Only One, What Can I Do?"

"...nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people. When the people give way, their deceivers, betrayers, and destroyers press upon them so fast, that there is no resisting afterwards. The nature of the encroachment upon the American constitution is such, as to grow every day more and more encroaching. Like a cancer, it eats faster and faster every hour. The revenue creates pensioners, and the pensioners urge for more revenue. The people grow less steady, spirited, and virtuous, the seekers more numerous and more corrupt, and every day increases the circles of their dependents and expectants, until virtue, integrity, public spirit, simplicity, and frugality, become the objects of ridicule and scorn, and vanity, luxury, foppery, selfishness, meanness, and downright venality swallow up the whole society." - John Adams
"...there have always been those who wish to enlarge the powers of the General Government. There is but one safe rule...confine (it) within the sphere of its appropriate duties. It has no power to raise a revenue or impose taxes except for the purposes enumerated in the Constitution....Every attempt to exercise power beyond these limits should be promptly and firmly opposed." - Andrew Jackson's Valedictory
"...experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms (of government), those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate...the minds of the people...to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth. History, by apprizing them of the past, will enable them to judge of the future...it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men; it will enable them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it, to defeat its views...." - Jefferson's Bill for the more general diffusion of knowledge for Virginia
"Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised; divided--the yoke has been forced upon them. But what is the lesson?...the people ought to be enlightened, to be awakened, to be united, that after establishing a government they should watch over it....It is universally admitted that a well-instructed people alone can be permanently free." - James Madison

Justices get campaign money, decide pension issue
AP , Associated Press
Jan. 2, 2014 11:46 AM ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A published report says groups with ties to the pension-reform law adopted last month have contributed close to $3 million to Illinois Supreme Court justices who might decide its fate.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports (http://bit.ly/1aqJQ5n ) that six of seven justices have taken money in the past 13 years from labor unions, business groups and a political committee controlled by Chicago Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Retired teachers have sued to stop the pension-reform plan that cuts retiree benefits to reduce a $100 billion debt.

Most of the pension-related money went to former Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride. He accepted $2.5 million from both Madigan and business groups in a 2010 retention battle.

Current Chief Justice Rita Garman says court decisions are based on constitutional standards, not politics.

___

Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index

I have decided to support authentic conservatives whatever label stands next to their name, be that Republican or some other third party label.

Fear of the Democrats and the Left are not good motivators to me.

In fact, I have found that fear leads me to make bad decisions like supporting all the RINO’s I have over 30 plus years of voting.

They all lead us in the same direction and as you can see by the recent budget deal involving Ryan (R) and Murray (D) the RINO’s and Dem’s are joining together to cut a little spending and raise taxes just like Uniparty governments involving the “Left” and “Right” major parties have been doing in places like Italy and Greece in recent years.

The differences between the parties are exaggerated at election time to win votes by the party machines, subsidiary groups (National Right To Life (R), Planned Parenthood (D)) and media sympathetic to them.

The truth is that the big parties are meeting in the backrooms and negotiating “compromise” and “bipartisanship” that will not take this nation in a positive direction.

Only by electing real conservatives, not just someone with an R next to their name, will things in this country really change and move in a better direction.

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