Let me first thank those of you who sent birthday wishes yesterday. At my age, 53, you tend to overlook your birthday but it was very nice to hear so many well wishes. It actually started on Saturday, as the nice folks in the Fairfield Harbor section of Craven County greeted me with birthday wishes as I spoke at their precinct meeting. I left with many new friends and supporters, energized with the enthusiasm that is generated with every event I attend.
Of course, many of you saw the front page article in the Raleigh News and Observer Sunday. It is yet another example of our message getting out. If you doubt it, read the quote from former State Party Chairman Ferrell Blount. “He is not the Walter Jones we elected in 1994.” Sound familiar?
It is also reassuring to see that when people take the time to look at the facts objectively, they discover that Walter Jones’ voting record is off base with his constituents on many more issues than support of the troops. His continued assertion that he is a conservative who believes in less government and less spending is laughable in the face of his voting record for some of the most outrageous pork projects in recent memory.
The article also addresses the rumor around Washington D.C. that Walter is considering a move back to his roots with a return to the Democratic Party. He has been openly courted by the liberal left and his voting record shows that it wouldn’t be a huge leap. You would think that if a so called conservative Republican were asked about switching to the Pelosi, Kennedy and Clinton controlled Democratic Party, the answer would be a resounding “No Chance!”. Well, in interview after interview, his answer is always hedged with comments like “At this point” or “At the present time”. In fact, read a portion of his most detailed answer on record from an article in The Hill, when asked earlier this year whether he was contemplating a switch. “I just take each day as it comes. I certainly think about where I will be a year or two or three years from now….” Jones said.
Is this the type of man we want representing us in Congress? Do we want a man who cannot make a commitment to his Party? Do we want a man who cannot make a commitment to support our troops, whether he agrees with the mission or not? Do we want a man who no longer represents the will of his constituents?
I think I know your answer to all these questions. I hear you say it each time I speak with you. Let there be no doubt: Joe McLaughlin will stand for the values that you stand for. I will defend your right to debate the issues surrounding the war, but never waver in support of the troops that are fighting that war. I will vote to uphold your strong values on the issues of sanctity of life and marriage, without hiding behind those conservative stances in order to mask a liberal voting record on almost all other key issues. I will demand that our borders be controlled and never vote for any legislation that would provide a fast-track to citizenship for those who entered this country illegally.
As your Congressman, I might sometimes disagree with my leadership, but I will never disgrace the Party of great men like Ronald Reagan by being a Republican in Name Only. There will never be articles written in newspapers asking questions about why I was voting with the liberal left and against the people I am supposed to represent. I will not sell out my principles in return from political favors from the liberal left.
It’s time we took our Congressional seat back. Whether Walter Jones runs as a Democrat, Republican or Unaffiliated is no concern to me. The citizens of this district want a conservative and I will represent your conservative values. I just need your help to get there. Please keep spreading the word.
Link to the News and Observer Article
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/705713.html
See you on the campaign trail!
Joe
Quote of the Week: "The American people need to be assured that they have a government that supports the commander-in-chief as he seeks to protect our country."
Walter Jones, October 2002. How things have changed.
Showing posts with label Vote for Joe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vote for Joe. Show all posts
Monday, September 17, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Happy Birthday Joe
Dear Friends,
Today is my husband Joe’s 53rd birthday. It will be spent like most days, splitting time between his #1 priority, his family, and what he views as his duty to the people of this district - his campaign to become your next Congressman.
Through 25 years of marriage, I’ve watched Joe serve our country as a soldier and a statesman, but I’ve never seen him more committed. He knows the challenges of this campaign and he’s attacked them in the same manner he does every challenge. He analyzes the task, formulates a plan and then gives it 100%.
I’m not as politically savvy as Joe, but I know what I see across the district, and I know what I see in our home - and it is very encouraging. Night after night, Joe comes home with stories from the campaign trail. Our phone rings off the hook with well-wishers. It’s hard to go shopping with him because he barely takes a step without someone stopping him to talk about the campaign. I’ve learned a lot about politics in the past few months and one of the most important things I’ve learned is that good people are willing to step forward for a good man.
I have been so moved by the stories of military men and women and their families who have stepped forward to thank Joe for standing up for them. At a time when so many of our troops are putting their lives on the line for this nation and our way of live, it is an honor to have their support and Joe will never forget them.
I ask you now if you would join me in helping Joe stand up for our brave men and women in uniform. I can think of know more special or important gift that you can deliver to Joe on his birthday, then your commitment to help him fight for our troops and for our conservative values. He tells me his campaign needs money now, as another reporting period ends this month. As he explained to me, these early reports are an important show of strength for a campaign and there may be no more important report than this one. Please consider making a donation to the campaign and help Joe in his efforts to bring true conservative leadership back to Congress.
You can contribute right now with your credit card at Joe’s website, www.joeforcongress.com/donate or if you prefer, send a check to his campaign treasurer. (His address is listed at the bottom of this email)
Please do this today. By giving today, you would help give Joe a great birthday present and would give his campaign time to process the donations so they meet this most important campaign deadline at the end of the month.
Thanks again for all your support. It is people like you who inspire Joe to spend the long hours involved in this campaign. He tells me often that he will do all he can but he can’t do it alone. Please contribute today and send Joe a birthday present that will help in his goal of serving you as your United States Congressman. www.joeforcongress.com/donate
Thanks again for helping my husband.
Sherrill McLaughlin
Today is my husband Joe’s 53rd birthday. It will be spent like most days, splitting time between his #1 priority, his family, and what he views as his duty to the people of this district - his campaign to become your next Congressman.
Through 25 years of marriage, I’ve watched Joe serve our country as a soldier and a statesman, but I’ve never seen him more committed. He knows the challenges of this campaign and he’s attacked them in the same manner he does every challenge. He analyzes the task, formulates a plan and then gives it 100%.
I’m not as politically savvy as Joe, but I know what I see across the district, and I know what I see in our home - and it is very encouraging. Night after night, Joe comes home with stories from the campaign trail. Our phone rings off the hook with well-wishers. It’s hard to go shopping with him because he barely takes a step without someone stopping him to talk about the campaign. I’ve learned a lot about politics in the past few months and one of the most important things I’ve learned is that good people are willing to step forward for a good man.
I have been so moved by the stories of military men and women and their families who have stepped forward to thank Joe for standing up for them. At a time when so many of our troops are putting their lives on the line for this nation and our way of live, it is an honor to have their support and Joe will never forget them.
I ask you now if you would join me in helping Joe stand up for our brave men and women in uniform. I can think of know more special or important gift that you can deliver to Joe on his birthday, then your commitment to help him fight for our troops and for our conservative values. He tells me his campaign needs money now, as another reporting period ends this month. As he explained to me, these early reports are an important show of strength for a campaign and there may be no more important report than this one. Please consider making a donation to the campaign and help Joe in his efforts to bring true conservative leadership back to Congress.
You can contribute right now with your credit card at Joe’s website, www.joeforcongress.com/donate or if you prefer, send a check to his campaign treasurer. (His address is listed at the bottom of this email)
Please do this today. By giving today, you would help give Joe a great birthday present and would give his campaign time to process the donations so they meet this most important campaign deadline at the end of the month.
Thanks again for all your support. It is people like you who inspire Joe to spend the long hours involved in this campaign. He tells me often that he will do all he can but he can’t do it alone. Please contribute today and send Joe a birthday present that will help in his goal of serving you as your United States Congressman. www.joeforcongress.com/donate
Thanks again for helping my husband.
Sherrill McLaughlin
Monday, September 10, 2007
Joe Reflects on the Last Six Years
This will be an interesting few days and I hope all of you will keep an eye on the national news. Today and tomorrow, General David Petraeus will deliver a report to Congress on the progress of the war in Iraq. Some Congressmen are expecting his news to be positive as it relates to the military success of the troop surge and those vested in defeat are already questioning his character. I hope you will listen on your own and make informed opinions, but make no mistake: there are many in this Congress whose political futures rely on our defeat, not victory, in Iraq. Also remember that debate on the war is a positive function of our Constitutional Republic, but their can be no wavering in the support of our troops when they are in harm’s way.
It’s hard to look at the calendar this morning and not think about the date tomorrow. None of us can ever look at the date September 11 again without thinking of the tragic events of that day. But today, I’d like to take a minute not to focus on the tragedy, but on the resolve that was shown by the American people in the aftermath.
The terrorists who boarded those planes that September morning had a vision of what America would be like following their deadly mission. They envisioned a nation that would be fractured and weak. They pictured a nation whose spirit would be broken by an attack on America soil. That was a major flaw in their plan and in fact, some learned it even before their deaths.
The terrorists who took control of flight 93 that September morning had never expected average citizens to rise from their seats and attempt to retake control of that plane. They expected to fly an airliner into another target in Washington D.C. and bring a nation to their knees. Instead, the plane crashed into remote Pennsylvania farmland, in an ultimate show of American resolve.
The terrorists’ long term mission was a failure. Six years later, we are a nation that flies our flag more often and with more pride. We take moments not only to honor our military that have given the ultimate sacrifice, but we also honor those who are still among us and thank them for their service every time we get the opportunity.
I ask you to remind yourself and others who will inevitably discuss the topic in the next 48 hours that we have not suffered another attack since 9/11. If you remember the days following the attacks, it was a foregone conclusion that we would see more. This is a huge success of the Bush administration that rarely receives a mention.
The War on Terror has not been without its’ problems. (I challenge you to find any war that goes exactly as planned.) It seems many in our nation have slept so comfortably for so many years under the blanket of peace that they have forgotten the realities of war. Unfortunately, loss of life is part of war but it is a sacrifice those who serve understand is a possibility they must deal with on a daily basis.
So as we approach six years since the attacks of 9/11, I ask you to pay your respects to the fallen, but do not forget the aftermath. Focus on the American Spirit that rose from the smoke at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and on a farm in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Because today, we know more than ever before that the mission of the terrorists who took control of those planes was a failure. Their mission was to break our spirit and I’m proud to say the American spirit has never been stronger.
See you on the campaign trail!
Joe
PS..I'd like to invite any of you in the Kinston area to attend the monthly meeting of the Lenoir County GOP tonight. I have been invited to speak and look forward to seeing many of you there at King’s Restaurant at 7pm.
It’s hard to look at the calendar this morning and not think about the date tomorrow. None of us can ever look at the date September 11 again without thinking of the tragic events of that day. But today, I’d like to take a minute not to focus on the tragedy, but on the resolve that was shown by the American people in the aftermath.
The terrorists who boarded those planes that September morning had a vision of what America would be like following their deadly mission. They envisioned a nation that would be fractured and weak. They pictured a nation whose spirit would be broken by an attack on America soil. That was a major flaw in their plan and in fact, some learned it even before their deaths.
The terrorists who took control of flight 93 that September morning had never expected average citizens to rise from their seats and attempt to retake control of that plane. They expected to fly an airliner into another target in Washington D.C. and bring a nation to their knees. Instead, the plane crashed into remote Pennsylvania farmland, in an ultimate show of American resolve.
The terrorists’ long term mission was a failure. Six years later, we are a nation that flies our flag more often and with more pride. We take moments not only to honor our military that have given the ultimate sacrifice, but we also honor those who are still among us and thank them for their service every time we get the opportunity.
I ask you to remind yourself and others who will inevitably discuss the topic in the next 48 hours that we have not suffered another attack since 9/11. If you remember the days following the attacks, it was a foregone conclusion that we would see more. This is a huge success of the Bush administration that rarely receives a mention.
The War on Terror has not been without its’ problems. (I challenge you to find any war that goes exactly as planned.) It seems many in our nation have slept so comfortably for so many years under the blanket of peace that they have forgotten the realities of war. Unfortunately, loss of life is part of war but it is a sacrifice those who serve understand is a possibility they must deal with on a daily basis.
So as we approach six years since the attacks of 9/11, I ask you to pay your respects to the fallen, but do not forget the aftermath. Focus on the American Spirit that rose from the smoke at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and on a farm in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Because today, we know more than ever before that the mission of the terrorists who took control of those planes was a failure. Their mission was to break our spirit and I’m proud to say the American spirit has never been stronger.
See you on the campaign trail!
Joe
PS..I'd like to invite any of you in the Kinston area to attend the monthly meeting of the Lenoir County GOP tonight. I have been invited to speak and look forward to seeing many of you there at King’s Restaurant at 7pm.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Hear About Joe from Joe
On this Labor Day morning, I will deviate from our normal format to address an important issue.
I have already heard the outrage from many of you about the ads playing on talk radio stations in
For starters, they have championed Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign on national TV, with their Chairman calling her the candidate that “has all the attributes of a strong Commander in Chief”. Just let that scenario sink in for a moment.
VoteVets.org drew heavy criticism in the 2006 elections for running blatantly misleading ads that falsely accused Republicans of voting against body armor for troops and providing American forces with flak vests that were leftovers from the Vietnam War. They even have the nerve to start the ad by saying that their spokesman, retired Major General John Batiste, is a “proud Republican”. This is almost comical considering the fact that Batiste advocated for a Democratic take-over of the Congress in 2006, evidenced by his quote in Salon.com as saying, “The best thing that can happen right now is for one or both of our houses to go Democratic….”
Maybe most disturbing is some of the language used in this ad to reference to our brave troops. One line says that our troops are “killing and dying” in
Another line in the commercial says that politicians are “breaking our great Army and Marine Corps”. Breaking? Although I respect Gen. Batiste’s service to our nation, I would challenge him to walk up to a Marine in
Friends, we must respond to this outrage. I don’t have these liberal groups with their unlimited bank accounts to run ads for me. I count on people just like you. My campaign would like to air a response to this outrageous ad but I can’t do it without your help.
Won’t you consider making a donation to my campaign today? We will use these funds to purchase radio commercials on the same stations that are currently airing these outrageous ads. As little as $100 will purchase 4 ads and as you listen, you will know that you made a difference in setting the record straight.
Please go to my website at www.joeforcongress.com/donate and use your credit card to make a donation. If you wish to send a check, please send it directly to my treasurer so we can get these ads on the air as quickly as possible.
See you on the campaign trail!
Joe
Quote of the Week: "It pisses me off. They don't understand. We enlisted after 9/11. We want to be here."
Lance Corporal Robert Lamica, a Marine serving in a combat zone in Iraq, when asked by a reporter how he and other Marines feel about politicians who say they "support the troops" but not the war.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Mr. McLaughlin Goes to Washington!
Last week I spent two busy days in Washington D.C. and I have to tell you, the trip left me even more convinced we are on the right path.
The schedule was packed full of meetings with conservative leaders and activists, from whom I felt privileged to hear their views on the campaign and share my vision of being the next Congressman to represent the Third District. I thought I’d spend the next few Mondays sharing with you my views on some of the topics discussed in Washington and how those views compare to the record of my expected primary opponent, Walter B. Jones Jr.
The most often talked about issue in Washington was spending & taxes. We'll start off this series with a look at spending. Despite Walter Jones’ constant talk of being a fiscal conservative, his voting record tells a different story.
The Club for Growth is a national network of thousands of Americans, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. The club has an excellent website at www.clubforgrowth.org where you can view their 2007 Congressional RePork Card. This is a listing of how members of Congress voted on the 50 “Anti-Pork” Amendments that were put forward this year. There you will find some examples of the outrageous appropriations of taxpayer dollars and then details as to which Congressmen voted to leave this wasteful spending in the budget by voting against these amendments. It is encouraging to see that 16 Congressmen, all Republicans, voted for every one of the 50 Amendments. The average score for Republicans was 43%. The average score for Democrats was 2%. Do you think our “conservative” Congressman’s score fell closer to the Democrats or Republicans? Well, Walter Jones scored an embarrassing 18%! Jones’ vote in favor of wasteful spending and siding with the Democrat leadership was 39 of 50! Does that sound like the voting record of a conservative?
Unlike Jones’, I will not engage in paying off my political friends with special “earmarks” to fund their pet projects using your tax dollars. I have the fortitude to stand firm in my commitment to reduce wasteful spending and make sure that as many of your tax dollars stay where they belong: In your pocket. Hopefully, Americans will come to their senses next year and reestablish a Republican majority in both chambers and that majority will learn from the mistakes of the past and make the same fiscal commitments I have just made. However, even if the Democrats are still in control, I will not sacrifice my principles in hopes of getting payback in the form of a larger office, a better parking space or a few “trinkets” for the folks back home. After 13 years as a Washington insider, Walter Jones has sold you out. I never will never forget the people of my district and turn my back on them as he has.
Please continue to forward this email to as many people as you can. Keep spreading the word that it’s time for a change.
See you on the campaign trail!
Joe
Quote of the Week: "Those earmarks equal one thing: unnecessary pork barrel spending. In 1994 I promised to come to Washington and do my best to eliminate this kind of wasteful spending, not expand it. While the Constitution allows the Congress to make expenditures on behalf of the American people, especially in times of war, the amount of spending in this bill goes far beyond the scope of anything envisioned by our founding fathers."
Walter B. Jones Jr., Dec. 8, 2003, explaining why he voted against the Republican Omnibus spending bill. How times have changed.
The schedule was packed full of meetings with conservative leaders and activists, from whom I felt privileged to hear their views on the campaign and share my vision of being the next Congressman to represent the Third District. I thought I’d spend the next few Mondays sharing with you my views on some of the topics discussed in Washington and how those views compare to the record of my expected primary opponent, Walter B. Jones Jr.
The most often talked about issue in Washington was spending & taxes. We'll start off this series with a look at spending. Despite Walter Jones’ constant talk of being a fiscal conservative, his voting record tells a different story.
The Club for Growth is a national network of thousands of Americans, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. The club has an excellent website at www.clubforgrowth.org where you can view their 2007 Congressional RePork Card. This is a listing of how members of Congress voted on the 50 “Anti-Pork” Amendments that were put forward this year. There you will find some examples of the outrageous appropriations of taxpayer dollars and then details as to which Congressmen voted to leave this wasteful spending in the budget by voting against these amendments. It is encouraging to see that 16 Congressmen, all Republicans, voted for every one of the 50 Amendments. The average score for Republicans was 43%. The average score for Democrats was 2%. Do you think our “conservative” Congressman’s score fell closer to the Democrats or Republicans? Well, Walter Jones scored an embarrassing 18%! Jones’ vote in favor of wasteful spending and siding with the Democrat leadership was 39 of 50! Does that sound like the voting record of a conservative?
Unlike Jones’, I will not engage in paying off my political friends with special “earmarks” to fund their pet projects using your tax dollars. I have the fortitude to stand firm in my commitment to reduce wasteful spending and make sure that as many of your tax dollars stay where they belong: In your pocket. Hopefully, Americans will come to their senses next year and reestablish a Republican majority in both chambers and that majority will learn from the mistakes of the past and make the same fiscal commitments I have just made. However, even if the Democrats are still in control, I will not sacrifice my principles in hopes of getting payback in the form of a larger office, a better parking space or a few “trinkets” for the folks back home. After 13 years as a Washington insider, Walter Jones has sold you out. I never will never forget the people of my district and turn my back on them as he has.
Please continue to forward this email to as many people as you can. Keep spreading the word that it’s time for a change.
See you on the campaign trail!
Joe
Quote of the Week: "Those earmarks equal one thing: unnecessary pork barrel spending. In 1994 I promised to come to Washington and do my best to eliminate this kind of wasteful spending, not expand it. While the Constitution allows the Congress to make expenditures on behalf of the American people, especially in times of war, the amount of spending in this bill goes far beyond the scope of anything envisioned by our founding fathers."
Walter B. Jones Jr., Dec. 8, 2003, explaining why he voted against the Republican Omnibus spending bill. How times have changed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.png)
