Posted on 06/14/2014 1:31:03 PM PDT by dignitasnews
In the wake of Eric Cantor's shocking primary election loss to Dave Brat earlier this week, the choice to replace him as House Majority Leader seemed a foregone conclusion, as Pete Sessions (R-TX) decision to bow out appeared to seal the decision and ascend Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to the second highest position in the House. This changed yesterday as Raul Labrador (R-ID) announced he will challenge for the role, a move Dignitas News Service both applauds and has no reservations in providing our endorsement for.
Not only would the second-term Representative from Idaho bring solid conservative credentials and voting record to the role, he would provide the Republican Party with a capable spokesman to bring clarity to the conservative position on issues such as immigration, energy and land rights, but he would also join Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio in a growing list of young Latino GOP leaders to help us expand the base by properly articulating what the party offers families of America's fastest growing demographic group.
Raúl Labrador has a compelling and a very American story of achieving one's dreams through a combination of faith, family, community and perseverance. Born to a single mother in Puerto Rico, Labrador had a humble childhood in which early on found his mother working various odd jobs to keep the two of them afloat. While he says times were tough, he notes that his childhood was filled with love and constant encouragement that through hard work and a positive attitude, he could achieve his particular American Dream.
The small family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and his mother, while continuing to work full-time, eventually earned her degree and became a teacher. This further inspired Labrador and he graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a degree in Spanish and later his a law degree from the University of Washington.
Prior to graduating from BYU he performed missionary work in Santiago, Chile and upon return married his wife Rebecca, who he met while at BYU. Upon earning his law degree he and his wife moved to her native Idaho, where he set up a small law firm specializing in immigration law and representing those seeking legal citizenship. This experience is key and provides Labrador, who does not favor blanket amnesty, the moral credibility to argue the conservative position on this all-important issue.
On Hugh Hewitt radio show Friday, Labrador suggested that any action on immigration reform should wait until 2015, particularly given the recent border crisis in Arizona, calling on Republicans to focus on pressuring President Obama to seal the borders before embarking on a long-term strategy to deal with changes in immigration law, "We need to make sure that the President is serious about enforcing the law, because right now he has a welcome sign out there saying that anybody who wants to come to the United States, they can stay here because we're going to grant them amnesty," he then stressed, "I think that is the wrong message and I think he needs to start enforcing the law." He added that he believes that Americans are fair people who recognize that he system is broken and he acknowledged the need to fix it, but was clear that it needs to be done "the right way."
"I have rejected any kind of conference with the Senate," Labrador declared, "the only bill that could or might go to the floor is the bill that we drafted as Republicans and we tell the Democrats this is the only bill, and its not going anywhere. If you want, conference that." It is this sort of leadership that is needed among the Republican caucus, combined with the real-life experience and understanding of the needs and desires of the individuals who truly desire to become full-fledged Americans and are willing to do so in a legal manner.
In addition to strong and principled conservative leadership for a party desperately in need of such men and women, Raúl Labrador will also provide Republicans with an effective advocate as it reaches out to new voters, particularly to break the stranglehold of the Democratic Party among working class and minority voters. He makes good points in that the GOP can not only speak to job creation, but that a combination of conservative economic policy as well as philosophy is the key to winning both he hearts and minds of poorer Americans, "There's people that are suffering in the United States right now. The middle class, people that are poor want a better life and we need to show them how to get that better life." He continued by tying in the principles taught to him by his mother as they key to success in this blessed nation, "That better life is not through government dependency, its through personal accountability. And it's through actually making sure that these people work hard and play by the rules."
While the Republican Party balances out the ironic circumstances of being a party splintered and without a cohesive message on one hand, and having the opportunity to achieve historic electoral success both nationally and on statewide levels on the other hand, it needs strong, young conservative leaders in key positions to bring about a revival of American exceptionalism and provide future generations a legitimate chance at achieving the American dream. We at Dignitas News Service believe that Raul Labrador possesses the intellect, the experience and the integrity to bring true change in Washington DC needed to achieve these dreams and he has our endorsement for the position of House Majority Leader.
Opinion by Paul M Winters
Editor in Chief, Dignitas News Service
Sources:
WashingtonExaminer Politico CongressmanRaúlLabrador BreitbartNews RareMedia (via YouTube)
We have read both that Labrador is a conservative and from elsewhere that he is no different than Kevin McCarthy.
What are the reasons this is not so?
I would suggest listening to his interview with Hugh Hewitt yesterday, as well as this previous YouTube clip. I feel strongly that he will be more forceful in dealing with Democrats than McCarthy would.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJpsFrcD8Uc
Raul is a good guy who has won me over. He abstained from voting for Boner as Speaker. He opposes the amnesty plan that the GOP is pushing on us. This is not too surprising since he is of Puerto Rican, not Mexican, extraction. I know some of the very conservative representatives who served with him in the ID legislature and they have nothing but praise for him.
Thanks for the lind, dignitas. I’ll check it out.
Nice looking family on the article link for this Father’s Day.
Thanks for the LINK, dignitas. I’ll check it out.
Nice looking family on the article link for this Father’s Day.
Happy Fathers Day to you as well!
Dr. Thorne,
We concur. He is not afraid to stand his ground and he is a principled conservative. And yes, we have seen quite an upsurge in support from the Puerto Rican community.
Didn’t vote for Boehner as speaker. Tells you all you need to know
He may not be ideal, but he’s DEFINITELY better than McCarthy. If he can win that will be a MAJOR COUP, all due to Dave Brat.
” - - - He abstained from voting for Boner as Speaker. He opposes the amnesty plan that the GOP is pushing on us.- - - “
Two wishy-washy plusses for Labrador. Whoop-dee-doo!
Does he have the required fire-in-the-belly to defeat the cancer of endemic BOEHNERISM, (ALWAYS Cave-In to Democrats), in the US House of Representatives?
Thanks for the info.
If for no other reason than to throw them off, slow them down, I’m in favor of opposing the heir appointed by Cantor.
Hopefully Raul can rally the conservatives and Tea Party around him quickly.
I have read a few profiles of McCarthy that mention how he likes hanging out with Hollywood celebrities. This isn’t the kind of person the party that represents middle America and hometown values should have representing it.
He is far better than McCarthy.
Will any of the scorecards rate the vote for Majority leader?
THats a very good question. In terms of who ends up voting for who, Ill research. As far as conservative ratings, Freedom Works lists Labrador at 92% and Kevin McCarthy at 73%.
http://congress.freedomworks.org/
Labrador is for amnesty, but says he is against bringing up a bill in the current congress. That means the Senate’s 8 Gangsters’ Amnesty bill would die a well deserved death.
Labrador is much better than McCarthy, so he should be backed for this interim majority leader election, then dumped in January 2015 for an immigration enforcement only conservative.
It’s a secret vote so there won’t be any scoring.
I wrote my congressman that if Raul loses I’ll assume it was because he didn’t vote for him!
Meant to include you for my reply above
I thought that it would not be public.
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