It’s Election Day!

This is my interview on the Rick Roberts show at 8am this morning.

Three days left: Why we have what it takes to win!

With just a few days left before the primary, I wanted to take a minute and share a few thoughts of encouragement and tell you why we are on the verge of success!

If you are discouraged by the direction this country is headed, disappointed by the acrimony and political power plays in congress, then guess what: You are not alone! A recent USA Today/Gallup poll found that 60 percent of Americans would only vote for someone who has never been in Congress. “Incumbents in general and Democrats in particular face a hot summer,” said the article. Here are a few excerpts:

Two-thirds of those surveyed this week describe themselves as “angry” about the way things are going in the USA, the highest percentage in the decade the question has been asked. By nearly 2-1, they would rather vote for a candidate who has never served in Congress over one with experience.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, head of the GOP Senate campaign committee, says the party has “the wind at our back” and might regain control of Congress.

The poll finds a huge intensity gap between the parties: 50% of Republicans are “extremely motivated” to vote this year; 30% of Democrats are.

“Normally I vote Democrat, but right now I’m not real sure,” says Sherry Havard, 60, of Newton, Texas. “I just don’t like what they’re doing right now.”

Among registered voters, 42% say their view of Obama is “very important” in their vote for Congress.

After weeks of talking with concerned constituents from Coronado to Imperial Beach, I am not surprised by these findings. I have seen and heard your frustration with Obama, Pelosi, and Susan Davis. I know that you are hurt by high taxes that limit free market and squelch this country’s ability to grow economically and create jobs. I have heard your confusion and anger over our broken immigration system and the lack of action from Washington. I feel your bewilderment when your representatives would rather vote strictly with the party or pander to special interests rather than represent YOU. I am a career American like you and I understand and share these sentiments.

That is why this year we must turn things around. The Democrats wanted a chance to show this nation change. Now they’ve had their chance and look where we are. Americans everywhere feel like you do and they are going to do something about it.

With only a few days remaining in the primary stage of this race and I want to tell you why we can show Davis the door. I have been humbled by the incredible efforts of our grassroots network of over 300 people across the district, a much larger network than any one of the other republican candidates in this race. I have also been so encouraged by the clean campaign that we have put together over the last few months, free of backstabbing, bickering, and false accusations. It hasn’t happened in this campaign and I will not do it in congress. My career as a successful businessman has taken me across this country and I understand its unique needs. I know what it takes to make business grow and what true economic growth looks like. Most importantly, I am just like you, a Washington outsider and someone ready to fight for the people!

The statistics show that Americans are ready for fresh faces, with fresh ideas; Americans who are ready to represent their fellow citizens. I don’t believe Susan Davis has done that and I believe she must be held accountable. And while I greatly respect Michael Crimmins, Mari Fink, and C. Mason Weaver, I believe that my experience, my record, my support base, and my campaign show that I have what it takes to challenge Davis and win! I will lower taxes, especially on small businesses and allow the free market to create jobs and boost our economy the way it was meant to. I will secure our borders and actually fix the real problem that has caused rampant illegal immigration. I will fight for our veterans, cut reckless spending and show true discretion with YOUR money. I will listen to you, the people first and foremost. That is my pledge to you.

These past few months have been an incredible experience and I am truly humbled by all of your efforts and support. I am saddened by the direction I have seen this country heading, but the more I have spoken with you and heard your opinions the more I am encouraged that we really can bring back the REAL America! Only three days left, so every hour counts. Spread the word, get out the vote, and on June 8^th let’s show San Diego, California, and America that enough is enough!

Immigration: Obama, Pelosi, and Davis miss the mark

Did you hear how President Obama is trying to make illegal immigration easier? You probably didn’t, but I believe you should know. Here is an excellent FOX News article:

Illegal Alien Legal Challenges

By John Lott

Little noticed, last Friday the Obama administration yet again tried to make it easier for illegal aliens to stay in the United States. In a brief filed with the Supreme Court, the administration asked the court to carve out a special exemption for businesses who break the law by hiring illegal aliens.

In every state, individuals must have a business license to do a huge range of jobs, be it a restaurant, stores, salvage, selling cars, cleaning people’s houses, pest control, or other businesses. But people must get a criminal background check to get a license. Different states vary in terms of what crimes can disqualify one from getting a license — some including misdemeanors not covered in other states.

Similarly, if you commit a crime, your business license is very likely to be revoked. The same is true for professional licenses for lawyers, doctors, or even barbers. The logic for these rules is pretty strong. If someone commits a crime, states have decided those people can’t be trusted in dealing with consumers.

Both state and federal crimes are included in these criminal background checks, and it has always been up to the states to determine what crimes will bar people from being licensed. This is what the Obama administration now wants to change. The Obama administration wants crimes involving immigration violations specifically excluded from their licensing decisions.

When Obama’s Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was Arizona’s governor back in 2007, she signed a law that added hiring illegal aliens to the list of crimes for which a business license could be revoked. Napolitano didn’t think that there were any legal problems with the law, and even defended it in court. Indeed, even the Ninth Circuit Federal Appeals Court — known for its left wing views — rejected challenges by illegal alien rights groups.

But the Obama administration has tried to rationalize its challenge to the Arizona law.

“Those provisions disrupt a careful balance that Congress struck nearly 25 years ago between two interests of the highest importance: ensuring that employers do not undermine enforcement of immigration laws by hiring unauthorized workers, while also ensuring that employers not discriminate against racial and ethnic minorities legally in the country,” Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal wrote the Supreme Court. “There is no reason to believe that Congress intended a result that would subvert the purpose and operation of its general prohibition on state sanctions.”

As states have always had the power to determine how criminal activity can cost people their business licenses, why didn’t the original Federal immigration law ban immigration law violations being considered?

But instead of guessing whether Congress “intended” such a result in 1986, there is a simple solution: Have Congress pass a law stating that immigration violations are the one crime that states must not consider for licensing. With massive overwhelming Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, Democrats can do virtually anything that they want.

Part of the Obama administration’s motivation for this Supreme Court appeal is to create a legal precedent that only the Federal government can deal with immigration issues. They aim to use such a precedent to strike down the new Arizona immigration law that was just signed this year that allows local and state police to enforce Federal immigration law.

Asking courts to rewrite laws doesn’t show much respect for the rule of law. But maybe, despite massive Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, the Obama administration knows that it doesn’t have the votes to pass such radical reform.

Obama, the master of double speak, is at it again. On the one hand he sent 1,200 Arizona National Guard troops to secure the border this week (which is certainly no permanent solution), yet on the other hand is actively seeking to make illegal immigration easier! And honestly, sending the National Guard to the border is more of a political chess move than a real world solution. The Douglas Dispatch reported, “According to reports, The Arizona National Guard did not have many answers, including what its mission was and when to report.”

I am deeply saddened by the trouble that immigration has caused this country. It is because of immigration that our ancestors came to this nation and why we are here today. It is also immigration that makes the U.S. so diverse and advanced. But now things are clearly out of control. When American jobs are being taken by illegals, wages driven down, and the rule of law flouted, something is very wrong.

I believe that the real answer to this immigration debacle goes beyond the border, although that is an important element. If we are truly going to solve the problem we have to identify it: Our legal immigration procedure. The system is broken and it simply takes too long for a hard working immigrant to come here who wants to honor the rule of law and bolster our economy. I will work toward fixing and streamlining our legal immigration system so that no one feels they have no alternative to illegal entry. By doing so we will know who is here and why, strengthening national security, boost our economy, and honor the rule of law.

Obama, Pelosi, and Susan Davis don’t seem to have any answers, or can’t decide on which answer they like best. Maybe if they stopped trying to pander to both sides of the political isle and actually looked for REAL solutions to the REAL problem it would be different.

We are just five days away from real change and real representation that starts with YOU, the people. I need your help if we are going to fix our broken immigration system, restore the integrity of the rule of law, and show Washington how Congress is meant to act. Thanks for all your help and lets spread the word!

Our veterans fought for us. Who is fighting for them?

With Memorial Day just around the corner, I want to take a few moments and reflect on what it means to honor those who have served and those who are  currently serving this country by laying their lives on the line for our freedom.

I think it is wonderful that we have a national holiday to honor those who have given their lives in service of this nation. Where would we be if those faithful men and women had not bravely stormed the beaches of Normandy, given their blood in Okinawa, endured hellish conditions in Vietnam, or stood their ground in Fallujah and Bahgdad? The United States is only the great nation it is today because of the blood, sweat and tears of those in uniform. So many have left these safe shores and never returned. Many are all around us today, and they carry a burden most of us will never understand.  I hope we take time this memorial day, and every day, to thank the men and women in our lives who have sacrificed in one way or another to protect our freedom, our land, and our lives.

But I have to wonder, our veterans fought bravely for us, but are we fighting for them? The 53rd district is filled with many veterans. We are so honored to have such a large number of service men and women in our communities. Given the great sacrifices they have made for us, the very least we can do is thank them by honoring their commitment and doing whatever it takes to protect their rights as veterans.

At the recent Coronado Forum, each of the candidates present was asked which Congressional committees they would like to be on. I was frankly stunned that none of my opponents, C. Mason Weaver, Michael Crimmins, nor Mari Fink mentioned the Veterans Affairs Committee. I was the only candidate to list this committee. With such a concentration of veterans in the 53rd I am convinced that we have a duty to fight for those who fought for us, and that your representative in Congress should be on the front lines. It seems to me that being on the Veterans Affairs Committee is the very least that a representative of the 53rd should be doing to serve those who served us. I am saddened that none of my opponents seem to share this view.

Of course, having a day to recognize those who paid the ultimate price for freedom is important. But I think we can best honor those who have died in service by showing active and real support for those brave men and women who are still among us. I am deeply moved and humbled by the sacrifices of each and every one of you who have served and are currently serving in the military. That is why I will be in the trenches of Washington and on the front lines in Congress fighting for you.

Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, your honor and your commitment. God bless our troops and God bless America!

On The Town

It has been a busy few weeks around San Diego for my family and me. With the election only three weeks away, this is when it really counts! I know San Diego well from the many years I’ve lived here, but being on the campaign trail has helped me get up close in personal in a whole new and wonderful way! I have met some incredible people, heard amazing stories, and share wonderful experiences with so many of you. The past few weeks have showed me more than ever why San Diego is so worth fighting for and why YOU the people deserve a representative that actually represents the PEOPLE!

Here are just a few highlights:

Great meeting with John Boehner, the House Minority leader

Endorsed by City Councilman Carl DeMaio! Thanks Carl!

Met some wonderful ladies at the 4K for Friedman Fundraiser in Spring Valley. Thanks for all your help!

Meeting with Congressmen Darrel Issa, Brian Bilbray, Duncan Hunter (L-R)

Coronado Meet and Greet. Thanks everyone for making it a great event!

Meeting more great people in Coronado

With other concerned constituents and Nakisa at the Midway Tax Day Rally

Thanks everyone for all the time and effort you have put into helping this campaign! It will pay off on June 8th! Keep up the great work and lets show Davis the door!

Why Kagan will undermine the Constitution

I came across this article the other day and thought it had some great insight into Elana Kagan’s nomination for SCOTUS. Just one more big way Obama plans to undermine the Constitution. Let me know what you think!

Kagan Disqualifies Herself

There’s been a lot written already about Elena Kagan’s nomination to SCOTUS.  People have been talking about how she’s never been a judge before or how there is limited evidence of her views and how she would rule.

I’m here to tell you that Ms. Kagan has already disqualified herself with one statement. There is no need for anyone to do any more searching or pour over documents or try to dig up dirt.

This comes directly from a post on the site Kagan Watch and the bold emphasis is from the author and not me.

In a questioner from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) about gun rights during her confirmation to be Solicitor General, Kagan had this to say:

“Once again, there is no question, after Heller, that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals the right to keep and bear arms and that this right, like others in the Constitution, provides strong although not unlimited protection against governmental regulation.”

Did you catch that? No not the blatant disregard for the Second Amendment. It’s not the effort Ms. Kagan puts into trying to rewrite the Second Amendment either.

Have you found it yet? It’s only two words.  Give up?

“… after Heller…”

Ms Kagan reveals that case law would be the basis for any decisions she makes as a Justice of SCOTUS, not the Constitution as it was written and originally intended.

Just so there’s no confusion. Let’s look at Federalist Paper No. 78:

“There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm, that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid.

If it be said that the legislative body are themselves the constitutional judges of their own powers, and that the construction they put upon them is conclusive upon the other departments, it may be answered, that this cannot be the natural presumption, where it is not to be collected from any particular provisions in the Constitution. It is not otherwise to be supposed, that the Constitution could intend to enable the representatives of the people to substitute their will to that of their constituents. It is far more rational to suppose, that the courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature, in order, among other things, to keep the latter within the limits assigned to their authority. The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents.

Nor does this conclusion by any means suppose a superiority of the judicial to the legislative power. It only supposes that the power of the people is superior to both; and that where the will of the legislature, declared in its statutes, stands in opposition to that of the people, declared in the Constitution, the judges ought to be governed by the latter rather than the former. They ought to regulate their decisions by the fundamental laws, rather than by those which are not fundamental.”

Alexander Hamilton

In other words, the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, not case law.

Based on Ms. Kagan’s own words, she has disqualified herself from ever serving the citizens of this great country as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Check out the full blog at http://blog.flecksoflife.com/

Check out Matt on the Rick Roberts Show

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of being on the Rick Roberts show to talk about my platform, immigration, how we’re planning on showing Susan Davis the door and a lot more! I thought it was a great opportunity and I hope a lot people were able to hear about all the big changes that are happening here in the 53rd! If you missed it, here is the complete audio of the conversation. Keep up the great work and spread the word! No more business as usual in 2010!

Campaign and the Family

In light of all of the Mother’s Day festivities, I couldn’t help but reflect on where the last 18 months have gone. My daughter has truly been a campaign baby. I call her my patriot in training. Every day when I finish work, I get on the phone and call voters for 3 hours. I can hear my little girl, Nakisa, laughing and squalling with my wife, playing some game or working on a project. Every laugh and giggle I hear from her is one less moment I will be able to spend with her until the campaign has concluded. So I find the best ways possible to spend time with her. She goes out on the campaign trail with me, meets with voters, attends meet and greets and is just a pure joy to be with. However, there are times when I am knocking on doors for 7-8 hours that she cannot be with me. Every door I knock on brings me 1 door closer to being back with my little girl and wife. When someone comes to a door and says they don’t have time or don’t care, I wish I could sit with them and tell them what I am sacrificing to turn our country around.

But I hold back. I think about our brave servicemen and servicewomen away from their families for 6-12 months at a time, with only pictures or some videos to keep in touch. It puts it in perspective my small sacrifice for our country compared to the great sacrifice they make. For those children whose parents are away, I keep knocking on doors so that I can help to bring them back home.

At night, sometimes at one in the morning when I am writing letters to people I have spoken with, I take a few moments and watch her on the baby monitor. She is at peace, sleeping soundly and knows completely what pure love means. What she does not know is that she is going to be entering a very scary world in a few years; a country that is being torn apart by politicians in office who have put our great country on a path of destruction. A country where double talk is standard and political expediency is an everyday term; a country where we would rather know about American Idol contestants than learning about James Madison and the Constitution, and a country that apologizes for being great and special when we should be celebrating our greatness every day.

So what can one person do to fix this? Quite honestly, that is the question for the ages. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked, “How can you make a difference in this corrupt system?” My answer is always the same: our character is judged by the work we do and the weight of our word. In this campaign, I live, sleep and breathe helping the 53rd District. My work ethic is second to none, my word is gold and my convictions are consistent. At one point in history, our statesmen were our heroes. Today, it is a baseball player, a singer or an actor. We can return to a better day when teachers, statesmen, scientists and veterans were our heroes. That is the country I want to live in and that is the country I want for my daughter.

So the next time I knock on your door or call you on the phone, consider dialoguing with me about where our country is going and what part the Representative from the 53rd District should have in that direction. A day is coming when it will be too late to redirect our course and avert a national collapse of freedoms and prosperity. We are so far in debt that our GDP is going to equal our debt payments in a few years. Our military will be gutted to a skeleton of its former self and our education system will be broke because we ran all our companies out of America. This is a country that I refuse to give my daughter. I will struggle to my last breath to take back our country from people who are destroying it and put us back on a path to fiscal responsibility, peace through strength and a generation of children built on the world’s best education system. Our Constitution means something to me and it will mean something to my daughter.

History is a record of individuals doing great things and changing their times. It is also a story of groups of people joining together to resist tyranny and poverty. In running for Congress in the 53rd Congressional District, I seek to be both – both an individual who takes a stand as well as a member of a group of people who challenge their circumstances and accomplish great things together. The group I am referring to is not only the 53rd; it is the millions of Americans across this great land that are joining together right now to reinstate the great principles of government that this land was founded on.

Over the next several weeks I will need any and all support that you can lend to this campaign to change business-as-usual policies in Washington. To help follow the links below:

Contact me about volunteering: matt@friedmanforcongress.org

Donate today! https://friedmanforcongress.org/flash/donation.php

Follow my blog: http://www.mattforcongress.wordpress.com

Look me up on Facebook and Twitter!

Humbly,

Matt Friedman

Dodd and the Dems are in Wall Street’s corner

Despite the Democrat’s endless tough talk on Wall Street, no one is doing more to help Goldman Sachs and other giants of the financial industry than Democrats themselves. Ironic isn’t it?

Last week Senate Republicans allowed Chris Dodd’s financial regulation reform bill to be opened for debate on the Senate floor, despite the fact that as it stands, the bill essentially institutionalizes bailouts and furthers the “too big to fail” system. But Republicans are not throwing in the towel, just picking a new battleground.

On April 14, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell said this, according to USA Today:

“For nearly two years, the American people have been telling us that any financial reform should have two goals: it should prevent the kind of crisis we experienced in the fall of 2008, and it should ensure that the biggest Wall Street banks pay for their own mistakes. Yet the bill we’re being asked to consider doesn’t even begin to solve these fundamental problems. It exacerbates them.”

The reason Dodd and Harry Ried are having such a tough time with this particular agenda is because they cant even get the Dems on their side. While the majority of Senate Democrats support the Dodd bill, a number, like California Sen. Brad Sherman have been willing to call the bill what it is. According to Politico, “The Dodd bill has unlimited executive bailout authority,” Sherman said on April 19. “That’s something Wall Street desperately wants but doesn’t dare ask for. The bill contains permanent, unlimited bailout authority.”

The Hill reported on Wednesday that Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) was outspoken against the bill which he says will, at best, “be perpetuating the system that we [already] have.”

“Garrett went on to say that Dodd’s bill benefits larger banks at the expense of smaller banks and taxpayers,” The Hill blog said.

But what might be the most telling fact is that Goldman Sachs actually wants this bill, and they’ve said so. Goldman has explicitly stated that it is in favor of regulation. Washington Examiner columnist Timothy Carney explains, “Goldman can play it safe, you see, without needing a regulation. But regulations prevent smaller competitors from taking the risks needed to compete with Goldman.”

Then again, maybe it’s not so confusing, considering that Obama and Goldman Sachs are…shall we say, so well connected? Last week we found out Greg Craig, former Obama advisor will represent Goldman in their SEC civil fraud suit.

Finally, it shouldn’t be too big of a surprise that Dems aren’t throwing more than rhetoric at Wall Street. After all, Wall Street contributed a good $12.7 million to democrats during the 2008 election cycle, double what was given to Republicans. The simple fact is that Democrats owe something to Wall Street that Republicans don’t.

Lets initiate some real accountability, some real reform that doesn’t have to cripple Wall Street, but doesn’t institutionalize bailouts, and expand our bloated government either. If you want to help scratch Wall Street’s back, vote Susan Davis. But if its accountability and responsibility you’re looking for, vote Friedman in June!

VAT Chance: Why the Value Added Tax is all wrong

Everything has a price. It’s a basic economic principle that most people learn in elementary school, but it seems Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Susan Davis prefer to forget and relearn. Either that or they knew all along that the numbers on the massive healthcare overhaul simply didn’t add up. There is no good answer: Either they were ignorant and somehow missed the massive “hidden” price tag (that pundits and columnists everywhere saw very clearly), or they were not upfront with the American people. Check out the video below:

Charles Krauthammer is right. Obama is not stupid. Now that America has a massive European style healthcare system it needs a massive European style tax to cover it. It appears that Obama and Pelosi’s answer will be a national sales tax or a VAT (value added tax). Last October Pelosi stated that she supported a VAT to generate more federal revenue and on April 6, Paul Volcker, Obama’s economic advisor, suggested that a VAT would be the best way to reduce the deficit.

How would a value added tax work? It would essentially do two things: first, burden the American people and second, expand our already bloated federal government. Here’s a good definition of a national sales tax: “A tax on the estimated market value added to a product or material at each stage of its manufacture or distribution, ultimately passed on to the consumer.” That’s right. You the consumer bear the burden of a national sales tax that would simply be added on top of our already bloated and burdensome tax system. Ron Smith of the Baltimore Sun put it well:

“What’s wrong with this tax? We can begin with the fact that it is the very essence of a regressive tax in that it makes people with lesser incomes pay a far higher percentage of what they have under it than do people with higher incomes”

As a result, we will see a massive step forward in expanding the size of the government. Smith further stated,

“Also, at a time when more and more Americans are aware of and opposed to the relentless growth of government, this is the tax that beyond all others provides the fuel for government gigantism, in part because it is hidden in the price of goods. It is what has made possible the “social democracies” in Europe and the U.K.”

Perhaps Krauthammer himself said it best:

“Obama set out to be a consequential president, on the order of Ronald Reagan. With the VAT [in place], Obama’s triumph will be complete. He will have succeeded in reversing Reaganism… Obama’s strategy is… Expand the beast, and then feed it. Spend first — which then forces taxation.”

I fundamentally believe that it is wrong to burden the American people by taxing them to pay for an enormously expensive new policy that the voters never wanted in the first place. But apparently Obama, Pelosi and Susan Davis feel differently. I believe we desperately need legislators who will represent the voice of the people, pursue fiscal responsibility with vigilance, and reduce taxes and reform the tax code, not add to it. That is what I am fighting for, and I am asking you to join me, send a message, and show Davis (and gross fiscal negligence) the door.