INSIDER MEMO FROM J.C. WATTS, JR. TO REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN

J.C. Watts, Jr. sent the following strategy memo to all Republicans in the House of Representatives.

The declaration by the Federal Reserve chairman that the economy is beginning to recover is good news for the American people and bad news for Democrat leaders in Congress, who were counting on a bad economy to help their political fortunes. Tax relief has proven yet again that more money in the hands of consumers means more jobs and a better economy. And the disarray among Democrats in Congress means we have an opportunity to move forward with an agenda to create jobs, further our progress on the economy and help the Bush Administration and our military win the war on terrorism.

Democrats are offering partisanship instead of solutions. The party that once said “there is nothing to fear but fear itself” now has nothing to offer but fear itself. They are reduced to scaring senior citizens, demagoguery on Enron and playing a class warfare game on taxes and welfare reform – all while doing nothing to help the poor or the economy.

Democrats are tripping over their own message. The party of fiscal un-discipline has been accusing President Bush and Republicans for busting the budget and raiding Social Security, yet Senate Budget Chairman Conrad recently acknowledged he cannot pass a budget without spending Social Security. On the war on terrorism, Senate Majority Leader Daschle and other key Democrats have pressed for an exit strategy in Afghanistan, only to be contradicted by Senators Lieberman and Biden. And we have all seen the embarrassing blunders coming from Senate Democrats on the funding of our military efforts. Thankfully, the American public is on the side of our armed forces.

Democrats versus Democrats. There is a multi-tiered conflict going on among national Democrat leaders. No one leader speaks for the party, and confusion has never been greater. Allow me to point out some observations of competing individuals as I see them:

Now let’s take a look at all of the Democrats who will be focused on 2004 instead of 2002:

· Gephardt for president
· Daschle for president
· Lieberman for president
· Kerry for president
· Edwards for president
· Frost for Democrat leader
· Pelosi for Democrat leader

While the Democrat leadership tries to figure out how to score partisan points, we need to ask ourselves an important question: Are we prepared to seize the moment to strengthen America?

Let’s put this situation in context. Democrats lack ideas for solving America’s toughest challenges, they have no leader and they are fighting with each other. Republicans have great ideas, great leadership in the White House and our unity in the House of Representatives has resulted in numerous accomplishments.

We need to be BOLD, AGGRESSIVE and FOCUSED. In the next 100 days, we will be considering a number of issues that will define us this year. As I shared with you at the retreat, virtually every issue we discuss should address one of three silos: 1) jobs and economic security 2) homeland security and 3) security for children and education.

Budget. We need to talk about how our budget helps people. And we need to call the Democrats on their actions and inactions. Will the Democrats raise taxes? Do the Democrats want to cut defense spending during the war on terrorism? Remember: if the debate on the budget is over budget minutia, then we will lose our advantage. If the debate on the budget is over jobs, the economy and winning the war on terrorism, then we will win the debate. We cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked.

Welfare. On welfare reform, Republicans need to get serious about personalizing the debate. The welfare reform law was one of the greatest accomplishments Republicans have made since taking majority control of Congress. Let’s take credit for it as we seek to improve it. Find success stories from your districts. Be bold. Highlight your constituents who have gotten off welfare. Democrats are going to look for every excuse to chip away at the progress we have made. We need to be able to defuse their arguments before they’re even made.

Taxes/Economy. I don’t need to remind you that April 15th is right around the corner. The amount of taxes one pays each year is in sharp focus over the next month – and Republicans have consistently been recognized as the party of fairer and lower taxes. In the meantime, Republicans need to communicate a powerful message to Americans across the country. The economic recovery is a sign of resilience by our constituents. Dollars in the pockets of Americans means more jobs for neighbors and more hope for the world. It took courage and foresight to enact an aggressive tax relief package last year, and thanks to President Bush and Republicans in Congress, the recession was milder than expected and we are on the road to recovery. Now we must work to make our tax relief law permanent.

Our work is not done. In addition to the above challenges, we need to get our energy bill made law so America is less dependent on foreign oil. We need to pass prescription drug coverage and stand by our commitment to senior citizens – who have supported us. Congress must reform the pension system so retirement security is strengthened and people know that their retirement will be there when they need it. And recent events have underscored the importance of restructuring the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The House will soon take up legislation to address this issue. I sincerely hope the majority leader of the Senate will not let INS reform languish on his to-do list.

Always on offense. Republicans need to stay focused, stay together and stay on offense. While the Democrat leadership continues to play partisan games, we must run with the ball as a team. If Republicans stay on message and communicate the benefits of our positive agenda for the American people, we will win the debate and strengthen America.

We have Chuckie Cheese and the Hildebeast! AGGHHHHHH!!! (And then there's Sherry Boehlert, the RINO!!!) I would do anything to get rid of them and work for someone like J.C. Watts to be one of our Senators. What a gem.

Thanks, PhiKapMom, for this entire message from J.C. Watts, including..."Republicans need to stay focused, stay together and stay on offense. While the Democrat leadership continues to play partisan games, we must run with the ball as a team. If Republicans stay on message and communicate the benefits of our positive agenda for the American people, we will win the debate and strengthen America." Excellent.

The declaration by the Federal Reserve chairman that the economy is beginning to recover is good news for the American people and bad news for Democrat leaders in Congress

JC is putting alot more faith in the FED than I do. A mere declaration is not proof in fact of a economic recovery. There are very many prominent economists and market technicians and fundamentalists that don't see it the same way as the FED. The market is grossly overpriced with less than certain forcasts supporting it...

If I find a letter from Lott to the GOP Senators like this, I will post it in Big Bold Letters and bump the world. Please don't be waiting for the bump because chances of it happening are slim to none!

Watts to Campaign For Five Vulnerable GOPers

House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts (Okla.) will campaign for five politically vulnerable GOP incumbents in a four-day swing that begins this Friday, a spokesman said.The visits by Watts, the No. 4 GOP leader and a top party draw, will start with Rep. Connie Morella (Md.) in the Washington suburbs. He will go from there to events for Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) that evening and to events for Pennsylvania Reps. George Gekas and Pat Toomey on Saturday, capping things off with an event for Connecticut Rep. Rob Simmons next Monday.

The Oklahoma lawmaker has kept a busy campaign itinerary this year, already visiting 10 key districts. Watts' spokesman Kevin Schweers said Watts campaigned in roughly 100 districts during the last campaign cycle."We expect to at least match that, if not improve on it, this year," Schweers said.

I have to disagree with you about Adam Putnam. The man (if he can even be called that) was a disaster for the state's economy after the House voted for fast track trade authority without getting an exemption for Florida agriculture. Adam was too wet behind the ears when it counted, and we're going to pay for it with thousands of farmers and citrus grove owners going out of business, as Mexico and South America will undersell us. I'd rather be eating produce grown here, but thanks to his inaction, we won't have that choice. He should have stayed in the state legislature and learned a little more about politics, at least until he hit 30 for crying out loud. I don't know what the voters in Polk county were thinking when they sent him to Washington.

Maybe you do or do not know this, but Adam Putnam voted AGAINST that bill. I asked him to speak at my sons' school, and he told them what it was like when the President personally put the pressure on him on AF1. He told the President he could not vote "Yes" on that bill, as it would hurt Florida's agriculture.

How many other Florida reps voted "no"?

I know he voted "no". Anybody can vote "no". Yes, I do applaud his ability to say "no" to the CIC to his face. What I'm saying is that he lacked the experience and the muscle and the cojones to convince his fellow legislators to vote "no".

He also said that he couldn't go home if he lost that vote. Well, I'll take him up on that. He can still stay in Washington for all I care if he really feels that way, but not as my representative. He let us down big time, and I can never forgive him for that. And I know he can understand that. He's just too damn young for the job, Republican or not.

Well, that's fine. If the other reps cared enough, they would have voted no also. Who's older? Who voted no? Sounds like you just don't like Adam Putnam. Even the Sierra Club applauded him for his efforts.

Thanks for your kind words! It is a way that I can help out since my two Senators are Nickles and Inhofe and J.C. is my Congressman -- writing them is like writing myself so I joined up to help out the National Republican Senatorial Committee in their Take Back the Senate campaign and also the Keep the House campaign!

Freepers were so great during the Florida fiasco caused by Gore, I figure we can mobilize again if we stay informed and be two steps ahead of the DemocRATS for this election!

I might like Putnam fine in another ten years, but dammit, we are talking about the second largest industry in the state. Say the vote was about something like "yea or nay, should the State of Florida shut down all its hotels and theme parks and send them overseas", do you think he might have fought just a little harder? Do you think he might have made just an extra effort to convince his fellow lawmakers to vote against something like that if it was a little more high profile?

Yes, I'm saying that regardless of what the Constitution says about minimum ages, he shouldn't have been sent off to Washington in the first place. Considering that he's never held a real job outside of politics, I think he has a severe risk of becoming a professional politician. Consequently, yes, I don't think he'll ever work as hard for us as he'll work for Adam Putnam.

Big bump for JC! Thanks for the ping, PKM. I saw JC unabashedly preach to a roomful of pols a few nights ago on a Christian TV show. He's the real thing:

"You put your faith in man you're going to be disappointed. I have never in my 44 years of living been disappointed in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I do not apologize for my personal, intimate relationship with Jesus."

"We have become hunters of men. Christ said we should become fishers of men."

"I have a confident hope of the future."

This is not a man to back down in the face of attack...and can he preach! (^:

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