Posted on 02/08/2002 10:32:42 AM PST by Gophack
Former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp, the 1996 GOP vice presidential nominee, endorsed GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon today in Sacramento. Kemp later headlined a fundraiser for Simon in San Francisco.
"I have been fortunate to have great leaders like Jack Kemp and Rudy Giuliani not only endorse my candidacy, but actually come to California to campaign on my behalf," said Simon. "The national attention we are getting is proof positive of our momentum."
At the Sacramento press conference, Simon joined with the renowned supply-sider Kemp in renewing his call for a cut in the capital gains tax to stimulate California's economy. Simon has proposed cutting the top capital gains tax rate from 9.3 percent to 5 percent.
"Cutting the capital gains tax helps everyone. The majority of Americans now own stock. In fact, the American Dream isn't just owning a home anymore - it's owning a piece of our American economy. Cutting the capital gains tax will not only stimulate job growth, it will help Californians saving for retirement or their children's education."
"Bill Simon has exactly the right ideas to turn around California's sluggish economy," said Kemp, co-founder of Empower America. "The fact is, capital gains tax cuts work for everyone."
"Conservatives like Jack Kemp and myself have built our careers on bringing people together," said Simon. "While Jack Kemp has led efforts to empowering inner-city residents through empowerment zones and home ownership, I have dedicated myself to helping others by being a leader in charity."
"Bill Simon's dedication to charitable efforts demonstrates his commitment to being inclusive and reaching out to all Californians," said Kemp.
Just kidding.
Except that I, formerly a great fan of Kemp, will never forgive him for his wretched performance in debating Al Gore, barring my being convinced of his repentance of it. That was terrible, just terrible. I could have done better (the ultimate insult). My two year old could have done better.
Dan
I saw a Simon commercial this morning. Very good. I wish he'd use some air time to differentiate himself from Riordan, too.
Simon BUMP!
I'm with you on the debate. Kemp was just not himself. I was very disappointed, because he is normally so good in that type of forum.
HOWEVER, he's still a conservative, and he still have some good ideas, particularly economic ideas. I think his support will be good for Simon ... we need the recognition in the major media ... they are doing everything they can to NOT mention Simon. Methinks they're a little scared ...
You wonder who paid him for the endorsement.
Come on Dan, you are not one of those 'I am perfect and never made a mistake' type guys. Kemp screwed up! You know it, I know it, and HE knows it, even if he won't admit it. This does not mean that he isn't one of our great conservative leaders, nor that his qualities that lead you to support him were not real, and are not still real.
'Let those among you who is without sin cast the first stone', you know.
If I screwed up as badly as Kemp, though, I hope I would handle it differently. It wasn't just that, though. He's been saying lots of more compromisey, see-I'm-not-such-a-bad-guy stuff over the last years. Remember he opposed California's proposition about ILLEGAL aliens? He clearly treated the "debate" with Gore as a little chat among friends in the faculty-room; he did not feel any great issues were at stake.
Now THAT is BLINDNESS. Sorry, I'm just not content with hoping that someone has seen the error of his ways, when he hasn't said so. And this isn't a misstatement or two; the whole thing was a disaster, and I had the impression he was PLEASED with how COLLEGIAL AND NICEY-NICE it had been.
Dan
No question that Kemp got a severe case of 'Washington fever'. I think that he was always a big supporter of immigration, so from his point of view it was not a sell-out.
Make that 'Potomac fever'.
Dan
Jack always did let his enthusiasm for something carry him away. Think Gold Standard. I always rather liked this in him, but it was not a sign of the coolest judgement on his part. Just Jack being Jack.
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