This past week has been one of great excitement. On Sunday the 6th we had a great turnout for our kickoff barbecue. Despite the flooding rain conditions, we had over 50 individuals come out to show their support for my candidacy and perhaps more so for the great food catered by KC’s Rib Shack. Kudos to Kevin Cornish for putting together some outstanding food. Further thanks to go Keshia Alicea, Cassie Novak, Jonathan Forehand, Wilhelmina Alicea, Mrs. MacNeil (MacNeil’s Banquet Room) and many others for making this event the success that it was.
I was honored by words of support from many in attendance. Ovide Lamontagne and Jim Bender were very supportive of our efforts in Ward 2. (I remain undecided in the US Senate race, but am leaning towards both of these gentlemen). Frank Guinta, who is my choice for US House in CD-1, was extremely supportive and I look forward to working together to meet the voters and find out what we need to do in both Concord, NH and Washington, DC to get our government under control.
During the program, Mayor Ted Gatsas came in and offered his support. Mayor Gatsas has done a tremendous job in Manchester and has done more for the city in a short time than mayors in most cities can do during an entire term. I am appreciative of his support and for all the great work he has helped lead in Manchester.
As we move forward, we’re going to continue to promote a message of liberty and limited government throughout Manchester Ward 2. We will have more great, fun events. A couple of events for you to keep in mind for the campaign are going to be a concert with a great friend of mine from college. I won’t leak too many details out on it yet, but look to keep the early portion of your August calendar open. In addition, a friend of mine offered a great suggestion of having a neighborhood “competition” of sorts. Again, until we finalize details, just know that it is a very good idea that I can’t imagine has been tried before. I know everyone in Ward 2 is going to have a blast with this.
As of the filing deadline on Friday, there are four Republicans and one Democrat in the race. This is not necessarily a final list. I hope to receive that on Monday. I look forward to meeting voters and knowing that if we do indeed have a Republican primary that we are all able to promote ideals of liberty and less government spending to all of the voters.
I look forward to seeing many of you again in the coming weeks. And for those new to the blog and to the “new look” web site (Click here to check it out), I look forward to meeting you soon.
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 am very excited to have the help of some great individuals in organizing the kickoff for my State Representative campaign. We will kick things off on Sunday June 6th from 2pm-5pm with a BBQ plate fundraiser. There is a lot of excitement for this and I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about it and a few other upcoming events.
The idea for the food at this barbecue traces back to my upbringing in eastern NC. As you can see on my campaign site biography, I moved to New Hampshire for the “Live Free or Die” spirit. I moved here with full respect for the freedoms appreciated and enjoyed by everyone. Many people have moved to North Carolina from states such as Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, and New York – all “fleeing” in the name of cost of living. However, the increase in the cost of living is staggering. We see people moving from these states to New Hampshire and the same thing is happening. Many of these people are certainly authentic in their desire for less government. However, others do not realize that the services they demand require an increase in spending. It is getting out of control and I am proud to offer myself to help fight the growth of government here.
That said, I know everyone is going to enjoy pulled pork BBQ. KC’s Rib Shack is outstanding, but they do not offer much (if anything) in regards to vinegar based BBQ. In addition to pulled pork we will have hot dogs, hamburgers, cole slaw, potato salad, sweet tea, and an array of desserts and other drinks. Through May 15th, a plate is only $15 with benefits going to the campaign. There are discounts for multiple plates. You can RSVP or get additional information here (Facebook) or here (E-Ticket site). This event is being held on June 6th (a Sunday) from 2pm-5pm at my home in Manchester.
In addition, there is a huge Liberty Candidate Money Bomb scheduled for April 16-18. You may click here for more information. Joining me in New Hampshire is Jenn Coffey Jenn Coffey is a great State Representative who also deserves everyone’s support during this money bomb. I hope that you’ll show your support for New Hampshire candidates and reveal that New Hampshire is the place to be in the support of liberty. None of this would be possible without the help of Gigi Bowman, who has done a tremendous job helping shape these money bombs for liberty candidates.
I continue to be impressed with the work of John Stephen in his run for Governor. Against Governor Lynch, John Stephen is polling 37% against Lynch’s 47%. The fact that Lynch is under 50% is great news. I will continue to work with John Stephen to ensure his election – through the primary and general election.
I am hoping to have other candidates for various offices attend the barbecue. We have a lot of great work to do to ensure a message of freedom for everyone. I appreciate everyone’s support with these efforts. Special thanks to Keshia and Cassie for volunteering to put together this great event on June 6th. I look forward to seeing many of you again or meeting you for the first time.
Let’s rock and roll!
Cameron
In my field of work, I keep politics outside. It is not appropriate and it is not fair for me to bring politics into the workplace.
Recently, I have had several customers talk about their disdain for the government takeover of health care and also the commercials promoting the Census. While there is certain temptation for me to get into conversation with everyone about these issues, I find this blog to be a better avenue for discussion.
I recall writing an article in 2000 about the Census, calling it “senseless.” A google news search now reveals a lot of sources calling it the same in 2010. I am often irritated by the commercials that are played in every town in the United States. They proclaim that it is important to send your form in right away to ensure that your town gets its “fair share” of funding from the federal government. Not only do they have goofy actors doing their bidding, but politicians (i.e. I have seen the Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin on television) as well.
Let’s look at the idea of “Fair Share” for a moment. The Census recognizes 25375 “places” in the United States. Places consist of towns, cities, villages, etc. If every one of these places got a “fair share” of $1000, that would be $25,375,000 in “fair share” spread around. Tell me how a country that is trillions in debt can give a fair share of that amount? Of course $1000 for a city like Manchester NH would amount to “only” a penny per person. So it’s not even realistic.
To me, it is a total outrage. The intend of the Census is not to find out how many toilets you have in your house. It’s not even to find out how many males, females, whites, Hispanics, African-Americans, etc live in your house. It was put together to count people, simply people, in an effort to appropriate US House seats. There very well may be 120,000 PEOPLE living in Manchester NH in 2010. That’s all that matters for Congressional representation.
I hope to see a continued outrage at the way the Census is being administered. I hope to see people fill out one question – how many people live in your household. That’s it. Nothing more. I also hope to see a stop to the millions being spent on “crafty” commercials trying to entice people nationwide to get their “fair share.” Remember, your fair share takes away from my fair share and my fair share takes away from your fair share. So let’s be truly fair and cut the mess out with this entire bogus concept put forth by our federal government when it comes to the senseless Census.
Cameron
Friends -
I don’t have all the answers, but I can say one thing – more government regulation is NOT the answer to our health care crisis.
The ultimate problem with government intervention comes down to the backroom deals that never have the interest of we individuals in mind. It was a number of backroom deals that led to the crafting of legislation that was pushed through our federal government this past weekend.
There are many things wrong with the health care legislation. When a congressperson can say with a straight face that a trillion dollar bill will help reduce the deficit over a ten year period, we are all in trouble. The truth is the costs will be passed down to the states.
To me, we need more choices in health care. We need less regulation in medicine. Our government is in the process of trying to regulate natural substances – which may impact your choices in things as simple as multivitamins.
I can assure you that Nancy Pelosi does not know how to best run your life – including your healthcare choices. I can assure you that Carol Shea Porter does not know how to best run your life – including your healthcare choices.
You ultimately best know the greatest decisions when it comes to your health and the care thereof.
As a state representative in New Hampshire, I will work with Jeb Bradley and others who support health freedom in ensuring that your bests interests are always understood and respected. To me, your best interests are your freedoms. I will always stand for your freedom.
Cameron DeJong
PS – Please support me and other like minded candidates. Visit http://www.camstaterep.com/donate.html to help financially today. Now is the time for us to come together as a state and show the federal government what the Constitution means!
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
“Wow!”
That has been my expression since the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts. In a prior post, I stated my reasons for where Brown is not necessarily liberty-friendly. However, the winds of change have blown him into office.
Reflecting on 1994 again, it is essential that in 2010 we elect authentic lovers of liberty to office in New Hampshire, in your state, and to represent us in Washington, DC. I do see many individuals picking up the “tea party” banner who are not necessarily in step with the principles of liberty. The good news is that it is easy for us to pick off those individuals and call them on the spot.
“Wow! Wow!”
Another expression after yesterday’s Texas polling results. This is a key point to being able to tell who is truly a tea party patriot and who is not. Rick Perry tried to appeal to a group of voters last year by saying he would consider secession if the federal government didn’t find its way out of Texas. He has tried to embrace the Tea Party movement and was endorsed by Sarah Palin, who has taken on in the eyes of many the de facto leader of the tea party movement. Kay Bailey Hutchison is clearly seen as the Washington insider and has been dropping in the polls. However, the voters of Texas are showing that they understand the true patriot movement. Debra Medina has gone from 12% a few weeks ago to 16% and then yesterday up to 24%. Hutchison is at 28%. When you consider the margin of error, Medina could be in second place. Perry is far away from the 50% needed to avoid a run off.
So what is being seen here? Voters who are anti-Washington are burying Hutchison’s prospects of getting into the run off. In fact, Medina polls best amongst those who do not trust the politicians in Washington, DC. So Perry’s attempted use of the tea party movement is not fooling anyone. The Texas election is March 2, 2010. If Medina can continue to spread her message, I am confident we’ll see a “Scott Brown-like” result. The difference is that Debra Medina is a TRUE patriot and stands for the principles of liberty and the principles of the Constitution. Please offer your support to her at http://www.medinafortexas.com today.
In New Hampshire, the winds are certainly blowing in the right direction. On February 16th, several New Hampshire liberty lovers will have an opportunity to elect David Boutin to the NH Senate. If you live in Hooksett, Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, and Manchester Wards 1, 2, and 12, make sure you get out and vote on February 16th. David Boutin’s web site can be found at http://www.boutinforstatesenate.com.
Just as exciting, liberty candidate for NH Senate Jim Forsythe is having a kickoff event on February 25th in Laconia, NH. Jim is an outstanding individual and has the right message to win his Republican primary in September. You can find out more about Jim’s campaign at http://www.jimforsythe.com/In addition to Jim, I am confident we’ll see more work in the coming days and weeks from even more liberty friendly candidates for Governor, Senate, and House.
Here in Manchester’s Ward 2, I look forward to working with one or two other candidates to reach the voters in our ward with the best message ever – that of liberty.
While I talk a lot today about other states and the national level, I believe in my heart of hearts that all politics is indeed local. I look forward to the good and strong wind continuing. That, my friends, is the wind of liberty!
Cam
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
On Tuesday January 12th, we have a primary in Ward 2 and other areas of State Senate District 16. In the Republican primary are two good candidates – Dave Boutin and Terry Pfaff.
Convention wisdom would suggest that I support Boutin over Pfaff. Afterall, he’s endorsed by three groups I support – The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, the NH Republican Liberty PAC, and the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers.
With all due respect to those groups, I believe that Terry Pfaff will be a much more liberty-friendly Senator. I appreciate the fact that he has run a clean campaign (from what I’ve seen), while I’ve seen some pretty ugly mailers from Boutin. While I’ll never realize my dream that all politics will be run cleanly, I can wish for it in this race and it does affect my vote.
A couple of points and counterpoints.
1. I hear that people oppose Pfaff because of his firefighter/union connections. How can we paint all people in a group as being the same? My mother is a teacher, but I can assure you she is not pro-union and she is very conservative.
2. In Boutin’s campaign literature, he states that Terry Pfaff refuses to take ‘THE taxpayer protection pledge opposing a sales and income tax.” Terry has been very clear in saying he supports no income tax and no sales tax. Can we not take the candidate at his word? Sure, trusting politicians is difficult, but I’m ready to give Terry the chance. Plus, signing a pledge is just as easily broken as one’s word.
I have talked with Terry, mostly via e-mail. He is very supportive of the 2nd Amendment (a gun owner himself). He proclaims to be very pro-liberty and when he worked in Concord he was only paid on days he worked. He says that the assertions that he is pro choice are a lie.
Terry Pfaff has a good list of endorsements. He is supported by Ted Gatsas and he received a contribution from former governor Craig Benson.
In the end, I’ll be voting for Terry on Tuesday. I was glad he reached out to me and asked for my help. I am glad to have gotten very upfront answers to any questions I’ve had.
When the dust settles Tuesday, I’ll surely support whichever candidate wins the Republican primary. I hope that clean campaigning prevails and that Terry Pfaff is that individual.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on this important election.
Cam