Conservative Leaders in Louisiana Endorse Jay Blossman for Governor

Blossman Campaign Ad ^ | 05-12-03 | Blossman Campaign Ad

[Theodore R.]

Conservative Leaders Endorse Blossman Activists from across Louisiana Enthusiastically Support The Only Conservative Candidate

Jay Blossman, the conservative candidate for governor, today announced that he has earned the support of the leading grassroots conservative political leaders from across Louisiana in his upcoming bid for governor.

"I am honored that conservative leaders from across Louisiana have united behind my plan for immediate conservative reform-and I am very thankful for their support," Blossman said.

"Conservative voters are demanding immediate and ramatic reform," he said. "I am the only candidate who is offering real, conservative solutions."

While hundreds of activists have joined Blossman's Campaign Steering Committee, a representative group of Conservative leaders gathered from across the state to attend a news conference at the State Capitol on Monday morning. The group included a former Republican Party Chairman, a former State Chairman of the Christian Coalition, a well known conservative State Representative and the State President of the Pro-family organization, Eagle Forum.

The group included: -Mike Francis of Crowley, former Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party -Gary Beard of Baton Rouge, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives; -Sally Campbell of Slidell, former State Chairman of Christian Coalition & former Vice Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party -Charlie Buckels of Lafayette, Chairman of the Lafayette Republican Party -Sandy McDade of Shreveport, President of Eagle Forum of Louisiana, and manager of the 1996 Buchanan campaign in Louisiana -Jon Bargas, Former Campaign Manager for Tony Perkins U.S. Senate Campaign -Scott Wilfong, Former Campaign Manager for Baton Rouge Mayor Bobby Simpson -Rick Guillory of East Feliciana Parish, Founder of Louisiana Action Network -Larry Guillory of Avoyelles Parish, Conservative Leader of Central Louisiana

"Conservative leaders across Louisiana are uniting behind Jay Blossman for Governor because Jay is the only conservative in the race," said Mike Francis.

"A real conservative believes that we should give significant tax cuts to Louisiana families and businesses while stopping the growth of state spending," Francis continued. "Jay is the only candidate to propose those cuts."

"Jay is the only candidate who has advocated making Louisiana a tax free zone for businesses," said Sandy McDade. "He is also the only candidate to propose school choice statewide for all parents. This is a campaign between 5 liberals, 6 moderates and only one conservative…Jay Blossman."

"Taxes and spending are out of control in Louisiana," said Rep. Beard. "Jay Blossman will return fiscal sanity to Louisiana government," Beard said.

"Jay Blossman can deliver the long overdue political revolution that was promised to the taxpayers of Louisiana," said Sally Campbell. "He is only candidate to speak the truth about the Stelly Tax Increases," Campbell said.

"We need a leader who is pro-life, pro-gun and anti-tax. We have just that in Jay Blossman," Campbell concluded.

[EagleMamaMT]

Hi Theodore R!

Thanks for posting Louisiana news. We used to live at Chopin, LA (off I-49 north of Alexandria). My husband grew up there. Your postings really help us to keep up with what's going on at home while we're living up here in Missouri.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Has Terrell endorsed anyone, yet?

[Theodore R.]

I don't think there has been a peep out of Terrell since Dec. 8 or so. People were so demoralized that she seized defeat from the potential jaws of victory. But probably no one else could have won on a Republican ticket in Democrat LA either.

[Princeliberty]

Now this is more like it, a conservative
who is not linking to that criminal Foster.
Just say no to the Jindal Swindle.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Blossman may be a fine gentleman, but it's Bobby Jindal who's the best candidate in this race. Foster got it right for once.

[fieldmarshaldj]

That's a harsh characterization. Jindal is a strident Conservative and the best candidate we have. Foster got it right, and that's a first for him.

[Theodore R.]

DJ, Jindal may have been a child prodigy, but he has never run for office anywhere. Blossman has been elected twice to the Public Service Commission in a populous portion of the New Orleans suburbs. He knows how to run a campaign. Running at the top for the first time in LA is no easy task. Who has won his first elective office as the governor of LA? No one to my knowledge; even Bill Clinton had two years experience as an elected attorney general before he sought to the governorship. Jindal is head and shoulders above Clinton, yes, but what does that mean in LA?

[fieldmarshaldj]

You do make valid points, but I honestly don't even see us getting one of ours into the runoff. I think Jindal best matches my personal ideal of the best candidate in this race, an articulate Conservative (and a non-Caucasian to boot) who has the backing of the incumbent Governor. If he wasn't in the race, I might be inclined to back Blossman, but Jindal is the guy who "captured my imagination" in this race.

To answer your question, the last person elected Governor without previously holding office was Henry Luce Fuqua in 1924 (he had formerly been head of Angola Prison).

[Theodore R.]

I only vaguely remember the name "Fuqua" from LA history, and I certainly did not recall his having been the warden at Angola Prison. You must have looked that one up before replying. So he was the one who defeated Huey Long in 1923 or 1924, right?

[fieldmarshaldj]

"I only vaguely remember the name "Fuqua" from LA history, and I certainly did not recall his having been the warden at Angola Prison. You must have looked that one up before replying. So he was the one who defeated Huey Long in 1923 or 1924, right?"

Yup, I looked it up to make sure. Yes, he defeated Huey in '24 (when he served as State RR Commissioner). Fuqua died in office in '26.

[JohnnyZ]

Of course Tony Perkins himself is supporting Bobby Jindal, as are other Christian conservatives. Jindal is a convert from Hindu to Catholicism, so I think it's safe to assume he's a social conservative and no Catholic In Name Only like too many others.

link1 BATON ROUGE – Bobby Jindal today took the lead and became the first candidate for Governor to sign the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which states that Jindal will oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes. Jindal also challenged the other candidates for Governor to not only sign the pledge, but to be honest if they plan to raise taxes.

The candidate said he has an 18-point economic development plan that offers bold, new ideas. "But it can be broken down into four parts," he said. "Let's remove the obstacles to economic development, get rid of taxes that hurt businesses. Let's provide a skilled work force. Let's reform the regulatory process so that companies can get quick answers out of Baton Rouge, and let's focus and invest in our educational system." link2

I believe Blossman has had some trouble recently with some special perks/favors he's taken as PSC -- not quite the squeaky-clean image.

Dan Kyle, the former auditor, would make a very good governor, I think. He says he'll be "the taxpayers' governor" and would restore faith in government, as he did by investigating and putting away lots of folks for corruption when he was auditor. Nearly 250 public officials and public employees have been convicted for misappropriating state funds. Millions of tax dollars have been saved and hundreds of millions have been audited for additional savings. Dan Kyle has been bad government’s worst nightmare because our hard-earned tax dollars and trust are being abused by corrupt individuals who are supposed to be serving the public.

For Blossman to claim to be the only conservative in the race is ridiculous, untrue, and unseemly.

[JohnnyZ]

Hopefully at least 3 or 4 of these folks will drop out of the race by mid-summer. Hollis, Hainkel, Downer, Treen met to talk about that very thing. They should all drop out, and leave Jindal, Kyle, and Blossman to make their appeals clearly.

Hollis has $850k on hand; Hainkel $240k; Downer 700k.

Kyle $250k, Jindal 500k, Blossman 600k.

There's no need to be splitting up money like that, either. You have Kirt Bennett running for Lt Gov with only $40,000 and Stephen Rue self-financing $300k against him in the -- well, I was going to say "in the primary", but you know what I mean.