Posted on 08/16/2012 8:28:57 AM PDT by OneVike
This has got to be one of the best, if not the best, political ads of the season. Regardless of where you stand as far as incumbents vs their challengers go, you must admit that this was one great political ad. It very well could be the reason enough voters were influenced to pull the lever for Tea party challenger, Ted Yoho of Gainesville FL, over the 12 term incumbent, Cliff Stearns, in the primary for Florida's 3 district.
While I am always happy to see a Tea Party candidate defeat a Rino, I must admit to being a bit confused because Stearn is not a Rino. After all, Cliff is not only credited with leading the investigation of Planned Parenthood and Solyndra, but the National Taxpayers Union gives him an A, and the ACU gives him a 95% score over his 23 year career.
Recently, on June 14, 2012, ACU Chairman Al Cardenas issued the following statement about Stearns:
“Cliff Stearns is the clear conservative choice in Florida’s Third District. His ACU lifetime congressional rating of 95 over 23 years of service reflects an outstanding and consistent commitment to conservative principles over a wide range of issues and is one of the highest in the Congress over that period of time.”
"Whether the issue was reigning runaway federal spending, reducing crippling government regulation, protecting the rights of the unborn or protecting Second Amendment rights, year after year Cliff Stearns has been there for conservatives. I urge all conservatives to support Cliff Stearns for reelection in the Republican Primary August 14 and again in November.”
From what I understand there was a trumped up charge of bribery against Stearns, which just brings to question of whether or not he was brought down by Obama's Alynsky friends because for going after Planned Parenthood and Solyndra. Regardless of the reason for his downfall, it was quite a shock to conservatives that he lost.
As for Yoho, if he turns out to be as good as his supporters claim, then Obama and the Democrats may rue the day they helped bring down this 12 term Conservative incumbent. Time will tell, but in the mean time, let's all pray that Yoho doesn't turn out to be another wolf in sheep's clothing like Chief Justice Roberts.
Yoho? There may be nothing in it, but the name makes me a bit nervous.
I thought you guys covered this yesterday.
I agree that this is a great ad. Stearns is a solid conservative and has been a good rep for his district. I think one factor in his defeat may have been that after redistricting, Stearns bought a house in the new district just to run again. It struck me as a kind of a desperate measure to save his job. This didnt sit too well with the folks with an Anti incumbent attitude. Especially since Yoho pledged to serve no more than 8 years and go home. (people in the Jacsonville area remember Tillie Fowler fondly for her 8 year pledge, which she carried out.)
Oelrich got a story published questioning earmarks Stearns got for the Central Florida Community College where Stearns’ wife, Joan, works. He also sent fund-raising emails using allegations levied by a third candidate, Clay Clerk James Jett, that Stearns tried to bribe him out of the race.
You must admit, this was a GREAT ad!
23 years is a long time to be in Washington.
regardless of how good you are, our founding fathers meant for the leaders to be part time legislatures, and then go back home.
Unfortunately, it did not take long for them to become full time lifelong politicians. Even many of our founding fathers themselves fell victim to the allure of power for life.
Look at the men who were involved in setting up the government, you will see many of them were involved politically to their death, even though they themselves knew it was not a good thing.
It is very difficult to practice what one preaches, and that is why any man made government will eventually fall into some sort of a tyrannical system of the privileged rulers vs the controlled masses who are eventually become the victims of the elite.
bkmk
Know one should believe that they can not be replaced. Everyone is replaceable, and 4 terms should be enough for anyone, and if you want people to come and go and new talent to seek office and go home, then get rid of the benefits package that the office holders voted themselves. Public service should be a sacrifice not a pig trough. They should be paid the average american wage, and a stipend to be used for housing when out of the district.
The congress should be more like NH, they meet a few weeks a year and are paid only for the weeks they work and then they go home and run there businesses.
Yes, and there should never ever be a severance/retirement package for those who are elected to office.
They are our servants, not our Lords! We are their bosses. They seem to get this idea that just because they won a popularity contest that they are somehow better then the rest of society.
It really is pathetic, in that most have never gotten past the silly games played in high school.
First, fill a bucket with water. Second, put your arm in the bucket of water. Third, pull your arm out of the water really fast. Fourth, the hole that is left in the water is how much you will be missed when your gone.
I am not familiar enough with either to make a judgement from here. I can only hope that the result (Yoho) is a good man who is good for the country.
And I think some Tea Party types are bordering on “throw them all out, every year, until they do it right.” Hard to argue with that logic.
TEA Party in Tennessee primaried six+ that they put in two years ago because they did not follow through. You may be correct that the idea of throwing them out until some do right is growing.
Yes, I agree.
I have no problem replacing even the best God fearing Constitutionally sound politicians, as long as the one we replace them with is as good if not better then the one they replaced.
Lets us pray that Yoho defeats the Democrat in November, and then come next year we will learn if he truly is what he and his supporters claim he is.
I don’t think that was a factor at all. The tea party spirit is alive and well here in North Florida. Nobody should be a congresscritter for 24 years.
Obviously played well locally, but nationally probably not as much.
Anytime you can legitimately toss an incumbent its a good thing. Especially with Potomac fever! LOL
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