Todd Akin, Sarah Steelman and Tea Party Express

In listening to Todd Akin today on The Dana Show, he stated that he only became aware of the Tea Party Express endorsement of Sarah Steelman yesterday. If that is true, it is symptomatic of why Tea Party Express chose not to endorse him in the race.

I have known Amy Kremer since early 2009 and she told me over a year ago that they had been approached by Sarah Steelman about an endorsement in the race. She also told me that they wanted to effect the Senate races and they saw the Missouri race as key to that effort. Their desire to endorse in key Senate races is well known to all conservative candidates in those races.

It should surprise no one that national level PACs would be interested in this race. It certainly should not come as a surprise to Todd Akin. I told the Akin campaign directly months ago that they needed to reach out to Tea Party Express, FreedomWorks and the National Taxpayers Union along with Jim DeMint and other conservative orgs for their endorsement and help with fundraising. I also warned them of just such an endorsement of Sarah Steelman by Tea Party Express. I urged them to lead on issues and increase their outreach to grassroots and conservative orgs. I personally offered to help assist with that outreach, using what connections I have to assist in those efforts. I repeated those offers to the Akin campaign twice over the last month. My offers were rebuffed at each attempt.  The first outreach which Todd Akin attempted to Tea Party Express came last night after the announcement of an impending endorsement had already come out.

If you want someone’s vote you have to ask for it. If you want someone’s endorsement the same rule applies.

I like Todd Akin, I value his service and his consistent voting record. But that is not enough to win this race. Sarah Steelman has been actively courting conservative PACs and Orgs for over a year. She is bearing the fruit of that hard work, and from what I hear there will be more endorsements from other conservative PACs to come.

PACs have the right to endorse. In doing so they are expressing their First Amendment right to political speech. They are not forcing anyone to vote according to their endorsement. If you disagree with their point of view then issue an endorsement of your own. Call up the campaign of your choice and volunteer your time, or money. Donate your blog, facebook posts, or twitter feed to assist in the support of your candidate of YOUR choice.

Don’t just get angry, GET ACTIVE.

From Judicial Watch: Court Rules Citizens Can Record Police (And other Governmental Officials)

Recently there was an incident at a Claire McCaskill Table Talk at which Senate staffers attempted to restrict constituents ability to record either by video or audio means a public meeting designed to foster communication between constituents and their governmental representatives.

Video H/T SharpElbows.Net

Although the case which Judicial Watch is reporting on was brought by a man who recorded the actions of police in their official governmental duties, the decision clearly applies to other governmental officials as well.

From the Judicial Watch article:

But a few days ago the federal appellate court settled the issue, ruling that the filming of government officials engaged in their duties in a public place fits comfortably within the principles of protected First Amendment activity. The court also noted that police officers are to expect to deal with certain “burdens” as citizens practice First Amendments rights.

“Gathering information about government officials in a form that can readily be disseminated to others serves a cardinal First Amendment interest in protecting and promoting the free discussion of governmental affairs,” the three-judge panel wrote, adding that police officers should have understood this all along and that videotaping public officials is not limited to the press.

“Moreover, changes in technology and society have made the lines between private citizen and journalist exceedingly difficult to draw,” the court continued. “The proliferation of electronic devices with video-recording capability means that many of our images of current events come from bystanders with a ready cell phone or digital camera rather than a traditional film crew, and news stories are now just as likely to be broken by a blogger at her computer as a reporter at a major newspaper. Such developments make clear why the news-gathering protections of the First Amendment cannot turn on professional credentials or status.”

Perhaps Politicians and their Staffers should take note, and REMOVE such illegal signs in the future so as to not create hostile environments in public meetings.

You can read the entire article at the link below. Perhaps Senator Claire McCaskill and her staffers should as well.

Court Rules Citizens Can Record Police | Judicial Watch.

Hypocritical Harry

Yesterday: Senate Majority Leader Reid Demands The House Stay In Session Over The Weekend. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Thursday morning slammed House Republicans for their decision to take “the weekend off,” a shot that comes as part of a mounting Democratic effort to turn up the heat on lower-chamber Republicans to compromise on a debt-ceiling deal. … Reid said in a floor speech it is “untoward, and that’s the kindest word I can say, to have the House of Representatives out this weekend.” Reid said their absence provides a “very bad picture for our country.” (National Journal, 7/21/11)

Today: Reid Cancels Weekend Senate Session. Sen Reid tell Senate nothing for it to do tomorrow or Sunday and therefore it will not have to be in session this weekend. (@MarkKnoller, 7/22/11)

Hat Tip to Brian Patrick in Maj Leader Cantor’s Office for these. Priceless

Obama Edits the Constitution Again, Doesn’t Need Congress to Issue New Debt

According to Chuck Schumer the Obama administration is considering ignoring the Debt Limit.  It apparently believes that the 4th Section of  14th Amendment ratified in 1865 means something it does not.

It states in part:

“The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”

Apparently the Obama Administration thinks that this means that “full faith and credit of the United States” can never be questioned and that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner can simply authorize the printing of more money ad infinitum.

Apparently, they missed or more likely just chose to ignore the clause which states that the debt must be “authorized by law.”  If the debt which the Treasury issues, is not authorized by law, it will certainly be questioned, whether Obama likes it or not.

I feel certain Congress will have something to say about this course of action.  Failure to stand up for their Constitutional obligation to authorize the public debt, means that the People will certainly make their voice heard on the subject.

Here is a link to the Washington Examiner Article on the subject: Schumer confirms White House considering ignoring debt limit | Conn Carroll | Beltway Confidential | Washington Examiner.

 

Call Me Senator: From the Files of RightChange

Well, apparently Director David Zucker known for his comedic masterpieces such as Airplane! or the Police Squad movies and nearly anything with Leslie Neilsen regrets his prior support of Barbara Boxer.  As a result he has made her the target for his latest lampoon.

Enjoy.

Call Me Senator from RightChange on Vimeo.

or

FULLSCREEN! If you dare.