While this series is not related to “breaking news” this will be the final segment in that we have numerous elections to cover. While I cannot convey all of the many energized presentations of last weekend I am pleased that C-SPAN did cover part of the Saturday activities where that two hour video is freely available on their web site.
Simply search for “Americans for Prosperity” which should take you to the link.
Note: I have no idea how long this link will be available.
While I will close with a few comments of the state delegation reports let’s begin this part four with the remarks from Fred Barnes, Executive Director of the Weekly Standard whose opening line was “I am an American for Prosperity.” He followed saying he/we “favor people over trees.”
He encouraged the crowd saying “the election is not over” adding that “If we lose we will face larger liberal majorities in the House, Senate and White House. We could face huge liberal majorities and will not have the ability to block legislation.” He went on to mention filibuster strategy.
“Obama-economics equals higher taxes, increased regulation. Higher taxes on those who create jobs.” He then mentioned free trade telling us that “Obama voted against “free trade.”
His next area of concern is the labor union promotion of the pending “Card Check” Bill that would eliminate the secret ballot in union elections. Here again is an example of deceptive “Title and Summary,” for which I personally had knowledge of with Prop 98 in CA when our submission was altered.
The title reads “Employee Free Choice Act” (HR 800). This Bill was blocked in the Senate last year Note: “Organized labor has made support for the Card Check Bill a litmus test for candidates they will support in the election.” Membership roles in private sector unions have dropped to about 7.5 percent. This Bill would give unions an unfair advantage in union organizing. Fred told us that “Obama promised to sign the legislation.”
For the record State laws permitted by section 14(b) of the TAFT-HARTLEY ACT that provide in general that employees are not required to join a union as a condition of getting or retaining a job.
Right-to-work laws forbid unions and employers to enter into agreements requiring employees to join a union and pay dues and fees to it in order to get or keep a job. Twenty-one states, mostly in the South and West, have right-to-work laws.”
With the powerhouse lineup of speakers it was tough to choose which one hit home the most. That said I will cast my vote for radio host/author Herman Cain who hit two themes in his presentation. Prosperity and the “death tax.”
Herman opened by quoting his own version of the Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and prosperity” adding that a lot of people are confused about prosperity. He said their idea is “more taxes, more spending, more government. Nancy Pelosi believes prosperity is a new direction. Joe Biden said its patriotic. He described liberal Kool Aid drinkers in America saying “there is no Department of Happy in Washington, DC.” Herman told us not to get deceived. Prosperity means the pursuit of happiness…not a guarantee.”
Herman shared the trials of his dad Luther who lived in a small shack in GA with a dream to eventually buy a whole house for his family. That was his American dream and he eventually achieved it the old fashioned way, he worked for it.” Starting with nothing, and working three jobs, his dad wanted to have a million dollar net worth before he died. Hermann said he made it. His dad died in 1982 with an estate valued at $982,000.
And the connection to the death tax. “Liberals want to take it away in 2011. That money that his dad scrimped and saved was to provide for his wife’s health care who had MS for 23 years. “That’s what your sweat equity should be used for.”
He closed by saying that “we still live in the greatest country in the world and we need to keep it that way.” Quoting from Emerson “Hold fast to your dreams.”
Wall Street Journal’s Steven Moore, former president of the Club for Growth, had just flown to LA to appear with Maxine Waters on the Bill Maher show and jumped on a plane to be back in time to join us. He is the author of the book entitled “the End of Prosperity.”
Steve quoted Congresswoman Waters testimony from two years ago relating to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in which she uttered that famous line, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” He said he asked her to give back the $15,000 she received from them which Steve said she denied receiving. He spoke of government spending and said in the past ten years we are now half capitalism and half socialism adding that the government wants to go with socialism. Soaking the rich, the top one percent that pays 39.8% of our taxes.
The top 50% pay 97% of the taxes with the balance only paying three percent. He went on to report that 35% of Americans do not pay any taxes at all. We are redefining the welfare state. Obama sees benefits as a tax cut adding that “his (Obama) tray table is in the upright and locked position.”
Steve said liberals love jobs but hate employers.”
He shifted to another critical area stating that the greatest scam of the 21st century is “global warming.” Thousands of scientists say this is made up of hot air.
His closing line was “no more bailouts, no more bailouts.”
Let me close with a few of the state delegations reports. I thought I was attending one of the presidential conventions with the same type signage and delegates sitting within their own state chapters. This carpetbagger sat in with the New Jersey Delegation (as a former resident where I engaged in networking.)
AZ. Proposed new state sales tax blocked in Legislature $3 billion deficit
CA. With 30,000 Americans for Prosperity members. Dave Spady reported on our June rally at the Capitol where we delivered 30,000 petitions as we are “already taxed to the Max.” Even with an $18 billion deficit we persuaded Republicans not to vote for a tax increase as our “grass roots” effort succeeded.
FL Defeated a property tax hike
GA Defeated inventory tax
KS First AFP unit with 30,000 members. Stopped billion dollar tax increase
MICH. Lost over 200,000 jobs in the auto industry..Rise in poverty
NJ Governor raised taxes 102 times. Governor wanted to sell our highways to their friends on Wall Street. No borrowing without voter approval
NC “If we wanted to live in Socialist Europe we would move there. Twenty times politicians tried to raise property taxes and we beat them everytime.” 30,000 members
“Pork is for eating, not spending.”
TX Leading transparency..every dollar spent is on line. We have a $14 billion surplus.
Tax dollars used to lobby for more taxes..tax and spend liberals.
WISC. Defeated major (proposed) tax increase 16,000 AFP members
Let me close with the a few one liners from Grover Norquist, John Fund and John Stossel. Hopefully their entire presentations are found on C-SPAN
Grover Norquist. The issue that moves people to politics is “to be left alone.” “Don’t raise my taxes
John Fund. ACORN finally reached Main Street media.”He closed saying that where the dead vote we have “representation without respiration.”
John Stossel 20/20. “I am the only defender of freedom on the major networks.”
In his remarks he told us that “Americans think government can give us health care..the private sector always does it better. Medicare is $35 trillion dollars in the hole. He later stated that “we are not spending like drunken sailors..(they) who spend their own money.”
Thank you for enduring through these four lengthy reports on the “Americans for Prosperity” summit meeting. In my view it was too important not to share this event that most of the Orange Juice readers would never see published elsewhere outside of the blogs of my peers who, like myself, were treated on equal footing of traditional print media.
Larry Gilbert, Member, AFP’s California delegation
cc: AFP leaders and “bloggers” from across the nation
Hopefully most americans have had their eyes opened to this kind of economic caca by our ongoing economic crisis. You and “Joe the plumber” can vote against your own economic interests, but as for the rest of us, we are moving on. Go Obama!
I’m very heartened to know that Fred Barnes is, in fact, for prosperity.
That’s the kind of courageous position more people need to take in this country.
whatttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are many questions I might ask to see what impact the two camp recovery proposals have on your personal economic condition but that would be out of bounds.
Let me simply state that I have spent some time in Europe including our having dinner with a Russian family in St. Petersburg a few years ago. That middle class family included the retired mother, her pharmacist daughter and son-in-law who was involved in financial investments. Through the sonin-law and our interpreter, the mother, a retired pharmacist herself, answered my question as to her experiences prior to the fall of the USSR as compared to the freedom they now have access to. In the past the government took care of all their needs. From housing and home heating to jobs where they were paid regardless of whether or not they produced. She admitted that in the old system they were paid regardless of whether or not they produced. It was tough making the transition, and they are still in the process.
However, at the end of the day she said it was worth the difficult days to have freedom after so many years of being under the thumb of government. Yes they had entitlements along with lousy productivity. However, they can now achieve their dreams based on how hard they work.
Work. Why work? We can get more benefits and entitlements under the team Obama plan or at least that’s the rhetoric we are getting from our boob tubes.
And, as you possibly also oppose our trade agreements, let’s increase corporate taxes and drive more American jobs off-shore.
A great strategy don’t you think?
Hey ! What happened to the Winships & their OBAMA mania ??
Are they having second thoughts on buying the “pig in a poke” candidate ?
We have had some vetting of Sen. Obama, but has it really been enough ?
Do we really know enough about this 2 year US Senator to pull THAT lever ?
Or, ave we learned enough that we have serious reservations ?
Come on Winships – where is that rah – rah OBAMA MANIA ?
Great red-herring Larry, either you’re a communist or a capitalist. The REAL world lies somewhere in the middle, even starry eyed republican rubes like yourself have to admit that unfettered capitalism would eat everyone alive or have the past few weeks taught you nothing. Republicans have RUINED our economy, they’ve killed the golden goose, the middle class, by undermining jobs and wages. Free-trade, we need FAIR-TRADE, American workers can never compete with cheap foreign labor and still keep a roof over their heads. Under Bush we have LOST 25% of our manufacturing jobs! Our corporations have been getting tax breaks and have NOT been using them to create new jobs and to retool. On a personal level, I will probably pay MORE taxes under Obama’s plan, but I want to live in a civilized country,one where you can make a mistake, have an illness or other tragedy befall you and NOT have to pay for it by living under a bridge in a cardboard box.
Yesterday was the start of the Americans for Prosperity Defending the American Dream Summit in Crystal City. This event has brought together thousands of grassroots and net activists who believe in liberty, less taxation, and more government accountability.
———————————–
jones
Internet Marketing