I was very happy and excited to officially begin our quest to restore sound, constitutional government by filing for State Representative on Wednesday. Along with Win Hutchinson, I look forward to running a great race in Manchester Ward 2. I appreciate the great support I have received from friends, family, and other supporters throughout this great state that I am very proud to call home. I look forward to representing the Manchester Republican Party and New Hampshire GOP well – and more importantly, making those who respect constitutional and limited government proud of my efforts.
This Sunday is what is looking to be a huge barbecue fundraiser/kickoff. It all really started to come to fruition several weeks ago when Kevin Cornish, the owner of KC’s Rib Shack, made a suggestion that we allow him to supply the great bbq that his restaurant makes for our event. Fast forward several days later and we have a great catering operation supplying food to an event at a great venue – Macneil’s Banquet Room on 2nd Street in Manchester. If it’s not 2pm on Sunday June 6th, you still have time to come.
We’re not only going to have a great menu (Eastern NC pulled pork, chicken salad, baked beans, cole slaw, hushpuppies, sweet tea, and homemade desserts [cupcakes, gooey butter cake, and more!), but the speakers taking part are excellent. Running for US Senate and speaking will be Jim Bender and Ovide Lamontagne. Bill Binnie will have a campaign representative at the event. Running for US House in District 1 and speaking will be Frank Guinta, former mayor of Manchester. Bob Giuda may stop by for a few moments. He is an outstanding candidate in CD-2.
We are very excited about the 60/40 raffle and about the scavenger hunt contest. I look forward to revealing the prize for this on our invitation page, which you can access at http://tinyurl.com/cambbqfacebook/
I really hope that we can continue to build upon our already great turnout. We’re going to have many great events scheduled for the summer.
We have seen great successes with Rand Paul in Kentucky winning against an establishment opponent by over 20%. Let’s see the same things happen in New Hampshire this year. Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you on the 6th!
Cam
When I decided to run for State Representative this year, little did I realize that a revolution would be sweeping our nation. The recent defeat of Bob Bennett in Utah and the upcoming establishment defeat in Kentucky at the hands of Rand Paul (http://www.randpaul2010.com) both provide good signs that people are sick and tired of politics as usual.
Many people will vote for a member of their party regardless of who that person is. I have always believed that party labels often get in the way of where individuals truly stand. To me, a Republican should stand for a strong interpretation of the Constitution – as it was intended by our founders. Rand Paul in Kentucky understands this. In New Hampshire, there are several individuals who understand this.
I’ve had a good opportunity to interact with candidates for US House, Governor, US Senator, and more. While I support John Stephen for Governor (http://www.johnstephen.com), Jack Kimball (http://www.jackforgov.com) is an outstanding person. In the US Congressional race in Nashua, I respect both Jennifer Horn (http://www.jenniferhorn.org) and Bob Giuda (http://www.bobgiuda.com). Both would be a welcome change to “politics as usual.” In my home district, I support Frank Guinta (http://www.teamguinta.com) and believe that he “gets” the Constitution.
On the Senate level, there are several individuals with good ideas. I’ve met Jim Bender (http://www.benderforsenate.com) and Bill Binnie (http://www.binnie2010.com). Mr. Binnie seems like a good candidate. Mr. Bender gets support from many of my friends in liberty. Ovide Lamontagne (http://www.ovide2010.com) is also respected by liberty lovers. To me, this is a great “problem” to have. Very rare is it that we have so many great choices to carry the torch of Constitutional government forward. I have invited these gentlemen to the barbecue on June 6th (more at http://www.tinyurl.com/ward2bbq/) with hopes to get to know all of them better and for those in attendance to do the same.
Returning to the original paragraph, it will be Tuesday May 18th where we see the reality of the tea party movement in Kentucky. I strongly believe that the polling numbers showing Rand Paul ahead by double digits will remain the same in the final results. Given a Rand Paul victory, I believe we will see more constitutional candidates come out of the wood work and work in 2010, 2012, and beyond to restore our nation to its founding principles – liberty and freedom for all individuals. It’s certainly a breath of fresh air and I am very optimistic with what I am seeing.
I hope you share that optimism and are supporting candidates in your home town that share your values. I know that if we continue to build these blocks we will continue to see even more success. I plan to make it happen in my neighborhood and in Ward 2, Manchester New Hampshire. Let’s progress towards seeing it through all over our great state and nation!
Very confidently yours in liberty.
Cam
I believe that people can change. I further believe that in order for us to see liberty succeed in our society, some individuals will have to change their mindsets on a variety of issues.
When I was 16 years old and a junior at Northside High School, I discovered liberty in politics for the first time. It was financial guru Harry Browne’s articulate message of liberty that took me from being a Freshman/Sophomore fiscal liberal to fine tuning my message towards one of consistent freedom.
I recall my United States history teacher telling me that I would grow out of my constitutional Republican ideals as I matured and got into the so-called “real world.” Here I am today, as consistent in liberty as ever. I still believe through all the change in the world that the best ideas are founded in individual freedom – socially and economically. I believe that the best vehicle with which to spread the ideas and to reach those means is through working with like-minded individuals in developing plans of action to show voters how liberty is indeed the best answer.
That said, we sometimes get very excited when a new person or idea comes forth. Scott Brown comes immediately to mind. He was an afterthought when polling well behind Martha Coakley. Then he jumped into a pick up truck and said the buzz words “Tea Party.” During this time, his poll numbers increased. As a state political figure in Massachusetts, Mr. Brown supported the government-run health care system that is in place today. He was moderate on a variety of other issues. However, the excitement of his polling increases were minimal in the minds of activists who wanted to see the seat formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy go to a Republican.
Excitement is a great thing and we should all be forthright in expanding our energy when the causes are right. We must be careful in the meantime. We must take a more diligent approach to ensuring that the candidates we support support the principles of freedom. Scott Brown has already proven that he does not subscribe to the principles of freedom by supporting a billion dollar job bill in Massachusetts. His moderate stance on this and other issues may win him new fans, but we must remember those he was “preaching” to in order to get elected. But still I say, we must take individual responsibility to know our candidates philosophical viewpoints and know if they are or are not consistent before jumping on their bandwagon.
To me, the principles of freedom and individual liberty can and must not be compromised. Sure, we may have a variety of means with which we present our message of liberty. Debra Medina in Texas and Rand Paul in Kentucky are suggesting liberty in a variety of terms that I believe will lead to the same, beneficial end result.
That result, must however, be the same. Maximizing liberty and freedom should be forthright in the minds of anyone who subscribes to the true, original meaning of our founding fathers. We must be philosophically consistent and know those around us and know if they are preaching a bad gospel or are really on our side.
Further, we must continue to work without delay in helping everyone share our belief that a society where individuals are truly free is a society that is most prosperous for all.
Cam DeJong
The move towards liberty continues to accelerate. While some of the candidates involved are not quite there on what I would call a “liberty litmus test”, we do have a lot of potential to turn the direction necessary for maximum individual freedom.
Scott Brown in Massachusetts is an example of someone who I don’t agree with on all issues, but I believe to be more of a friend to liberty than would be his Democratic opponent. The main issue in his race is that of health care. He can be elected next Tuesday and help block the government takeover of healthcare – called by many “Obamacare.” While we need a tremendous overhaul of health care in America, I believe a lot has to do with deregulation (i.e. deregulate the use of alternative medications) versus more government intervention – and ultimately higher costs. Sure, I don’t agree with Brown on foreign policy and other issues, but the health care debacle in Washington has us closer to centralized government than any other issue at this time.
In Texas, Debra Medina showed a good streak of liberty in an articulate debate performance against Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Rick Perry. Medina helped demonstrate what is wrong with those currently in power – including how out of touch they are with America today.
In Kentucky, Rand Paul continues to impress the masses with a mostly consistent message of liberty. Just months ago, he was double digits behind Trey Grayson. Today, his message of individual liberty and freedom has resonated well in Kentucky and he has become the person to beat in the GOP primary. Now with Manchester, NH political superstar Andy Demers working on his campaign, I think we will continue to see great things.
More candidates throughout the country should continue to open more eyes to liberty. Peter Schiff in Connecticut hasn’t quite swung the door open in the public opinion polls, but it may be only a matter of time.
The list continues, but the point is that the move towards liberty has been greater than I would have ever imaged a few years ago. The key is that those who are leading the liberty movement need to be checked by every liberty loving voter to ensure that they are true to the principles of freedom and liberty. In New Hampshire, I hope we see more and more individuals come forth for the liberty movement. I generally support Frank Guinta and also think highly of Bob Giuda and Jennifer Horn in their races for US House. In the state races, Jim Forsythe will be an outstanding candidate for State Senate. There are countless others I am sure.
On the state representative level, when the filing time comes, I hope I am just one of dozens – if not hundreds – of liberty candidates looking to serve the citizens of New Hampshire.
For me, it all starts in Manchester NH. I hope you see the potential for liberty as I do and that you work for it wherever it is you may be in 2010.
Let’s work harder than ever to make liberty happen!
Cam