Candidates campaigning for all public offices run the risk that one unforeseen comment or event can destroy an otherwise promising outcome on election day. These tipping points, better known as CAMPAIGN GAFFES, are as unpredictable as they are devastating.
Take for example the following exchange on Facebook last week between myself and Bill Russell, who recently lost the Republican nomination to Tim Burns for the special election in PA-12 on May 18, 2010 to fill the United States Congressional seat of the late John Murtha. This special election is unique because on the same day, voters will cast two votes, one for the last eight months of Murtha’s unfulfilled term, and one in the primary competing for the Republican nomination for the November 2010 election.
After reading the following (gop-wants-party-unity-but-russels-not-budging-will-write-in-himself-for-special PA-12: Bill Russell seems like he just can't take a hint, despite the GOP uniting behind Tim Burns. Russell says he'll write himself in for the special election between Burns and Democrat Mark Critz, in addition to continuing to contest the same-day GOP primary against Burns.) on swingstateproject.com I posted a comment on Bill Russell's facebook page.
Evan Hecht(wrote) Bill Russell, we honor and respect your years of military service. We appreciate the campaign you ran in 2008 against John Murtha. But Bill, we cannot win PA-12 with a split ticket against Mark Critz. We respectfully ask that you stand united with Tim Burns so you can help us change this D seat into an R seat.
Bill Russell(replied) Hi Evan, The only race I am running in is the Primary and the November General Election. While I will always plan to vote for myself as the best candidate for any election in the 12th CD, I am not splitting any tickets. -- V/R Bill March 22 at 7:05pm
Let me be clear of why this qualifies as a MAJOR CAMPAIGN GAFFE. Doesn’t Russell know that voting for himself in the special election is tantamount to voting for Tim Burns’ Democratic opponent, Mark Critz? Doesn’t Russell know that elections can be won or lost by the slimmest of margins? The closest election in Congressional history was decided on September 16, 1975. The 1974 New Hampshire race for an open seat that pitted Republican Louis Wyman against Democrat John Durkin led to a contest that lasted eight months and came down to a margin of victory of just two votes.
Russell’s egotistical bragging that he would of course write in his name and vote for himself is a clear statement of his priorities. To him it is far more important that he thinks he is the best candidate than defeating the Democratic agenda that is socializing and bankrupting our country. His ego filled one vote could elect a Democrat and defeat Tim Burns, the Republican challenger.
Bill Russell’s Facebook page at the time of his reply had over 1000 fans, several who commented in Bill’s favor immediately following his reply to me. What if some of Russell’s Facebook friends follow his advertised “I am voting for myself even though I am not on the ballot” resulting in dozens or hundreds of votes that would possibly been cast in Tim Burns’ favor.
This special election is not a game. This election decides whether a Democrat or a Republican fills this seat for eight months. How much could the Republicans used just one more seat during Obama’s first 14 months. With one more seat maybe health care would have failed. With one more vote maybe immigration reform will fail. Maybe one more vote could defeat Cap & Trade or Card Check. One vote could determine one seat and determine major events in our country’s future. One cavalier thoughtless vote that Bill Russell boasts he will cast for himself could help to ruin our future.
Maybe Russell does not know that The Constitution grants the House several exclusive powers: the power to initiate revenue bills, to impeach officials, and to elect the President of the United States in case of an Electoral College deadlock. One vote in the election for one member of the House of Representatives could determine who is President in 2012 if there was a tie in the Electoral College.
Maybe Russell does not know that The House uses committees and their subcommittees for a variety of purposes, including the review of bills and the oversight of the executive branch. The appointment of committee members is formally made by the whole House, but the choice of members is actually made by the political parties. Generally, each party honors the preferences of individual members, giving priority on the basis of seniority. Historically, membership on committees has been in rough proportion to the party's strength in the House as a whole, with two exceptions: on the Rules Committee, the majority party fills nine of the thirteen seats. The rules committee that just played such an important role in the Democrats passing their health care legislation. One vote for one representative could determine the majority and determine the makeup of the rules committee.
Candidates can be judged in two ways: the positions they take on issues and the leadership qualities and experience they would bring to office. Both are important. Your first step in picking a candidate is to decide the issues you care about and the qualities you want in a leader.
I know that the qualities I look for in a candidate is someone who cares about representing the people, not representing himself by boasting that “I will always plan to vote for myself as the best candidate for any election in the 12th CD”.
Scripture reminds us "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want" (Galatians 5:17). The battle is both inevitable and necessary for you to begin to experience spiritual freedom in your life.
Congratulations Bill Russell. You have earned the Facebook POLITICAL CAMPAIGN GAFFE of the year. At least that is one victory you will be able to claim on May 18th.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
New Health Care Taxes Leave Small Business Owners No Choice
What seems like a very long time ago there was a day when you started a business in your spare bedroom, garage, or basement and your financial success or failure was of your own making. You had an idea, wanted to be your own boss, were determined to work as hard as need be to achieve whatever goal you had in mind.
You did everything: found customers to sell to, found vendors to purchase from, made the deliveries, paid the bills, provided customer service, decided on the marketing, created the advertising, sent out the invoices, called the customers who were late in paying, purchased the insurance you needed, and everyday asked yourself did I do the right thing? Am I going to make it? Will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
Then came the day that there were simply not enough hours in the day to do everything that your small business required. You needed help. You needed to hire someone. Now you had a new business expense. Did you have enough money for that too? You took on a new responsibility, a new mouth to feed, someone else’s family was now depending on your small business to provide what they needed.
And then, it started. In 1937 the government added one more expense you had to add to the list of expenses your small business had to pay. Congress passed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). You had to pay a tax of 1% of the salary you paid yourself personally, your small business had to pay an additional 1% tax of what you paid yourself, and your small business had to pay another 1% tax of what you paid your newly hired worker.
By 1954 the three 1% taxes listed above had doubled to 2% each, by 1966 they had doubled again to 4% each.
In 1966 Congress passed a new tax on your small business, a Medicare tax. You had to pay a tax of .35% of the salary you paid yourself personally, your small business had to pay an additional .35% tax of what you paid yourself, and your small business had to pay another .35% tax of what you paid your newly hired worker.
In 1967 your small business had a combined FICA tax and Medicare tax of 4.4% of what you paid your self personally, another 4.4% that your small business had to pay to match what you paid yourself personally, and 4.4% of what you paid your employee.
But of course 4.4% was not nearly enough. The government had big plans, and big plans cost big money, and the government did not make any money, but your small business did. Because you and your employee did everything: found customers to sell to, found vendors to purchase from, made the deliveries, paid the bills, provided customer service, decided on the marketing, created the advertising, sent out the invoices, called the customers who were late in paying, purchased the insurance you needed, and everyday asked yourself did I do the right thing? Am I going to make it? Will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, your employee’s salary, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
By 1990 the government needed so much money that those taxes on you small business had almost doubled again! Now your small business had a combined FICA tax and Medicare tax of 7.65% of what you paid your self personally, another 7.65% that your small business had to pay to match what you paid yourself personally, and 7.65% of what you paid your employee.
But of course 7.65% was not nearly enough. The government had big plans, and big plans cost big money, and the government did not make any money, but your small business did. Because you and your employee did everything: found customers to sell to, found vendors to purchase from, made the deliveries, paid the bills, provided customer service, decided on the marketing, created the advertising, sent out the invoices, called the customers who were late in paying, purchased the insurance you needed, and everyday asked yourself did I do the right thing? Am I going to make it? Will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, your employee’s salary, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
On March 21, 2010 Congress passed a new tax. Your small business had to purchase health insurance for your family and purchase health insurance for your employee. If your small business chose not to purchase health insurance your small business would have to pay a tax of 8% of what you paid yourself and 8% of what you paid your employee.
Now in addition to asking yourself will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, your employee’s salary, the taxes of 7.65% + 7.65% + 7.65% + 8.0% + 8.0%, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
Your answer was NO! You had no choice but to tell your employee that you could not afford to keep he, or she on the payroll. You had to let them go.
You did everything: found customers to sell to, found vendors to purchase from, made the deliveries, paid the bills, provided customer service, decided on the marketing, created the advertising, sent out the invoices, called the customers who were late in paying, purchased the insurance you needed, and everyday asked yourself did I do the right thing? Am I going to make it? Will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
Then came the day that there were simply not enough hours in the day to do everything that your small business required. You needed help. You needed to hire someone. Now you had a new business expense. Did you have enough money for that too? You took on a new responsibility, a new mouth to feed, someone else’s family was now depending on your small business to provide what they needed.
And then, it started. In 1937 the government added one more expense you had to add to the list of expenses your small business had to pay. Congress passed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). You had to pay a tax of 1% of the salary you paid yourself personally, your small business had to pay an additional 1% tax of what you paid yourself, and your small business had to pay another 1% tax of what you paid your newly hired worker.
By 1954 the three 1% taxes listed above had doubled to 2% each, by 1966 they had doubled again to 4% each.
In 1966 Congress passed a new tax on your small business, a Medicare tax. You had to pay a tax of .35% of the salary you paid yourself personally, your small business had to pay an additional .35% tax of what you paid yourself, and your small business had to pay another .35% tax of what you paid your newly hired worker.
In 1967 your small business had a combined FICA tax and Medicare tax of 4.4% of what you paid your self personally, another 4.4% that your small business had to pay to match what you paid yourself personally, and 4.4% of what you paid your employee.
But of course 4.4% was not nearly enough. The government had big plans, and big plans cost big money, and the government did not make any money, but your small business did. Because you and your employee did everything: found customers to sell to, found vendors to purchase from, made the deliveries, paid the bills, provided customer service, decided on the marketing, created the advertising, sent out the invoices, called the customers who were late in paying, purchased the insurance you needed, and everyday asked yourself did I do the right thing? Am I going to make it? Will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, your employee’s salary, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
By 1990 the government needed so much money that those taxes on you small business had almost doubled again! Now your small business had a combined FICA tax and Medicare tax of 7.65% of what you paid your self personally, another 7.65% that your small business had to pay to match what you paid yourself personally, and 7.65% of what you paid your employee.
But of course 7.65% was not nearly enough. The government had big plans, and big plans cost big money, and the government did not make any money, but your small business did. Because you and your employee did everything: found customers to sell to, found vendors to purchase from, made the deliveries, paid the bills, provided customer service, decided on the marketing, created the advertising, sent out the invoices, called the customers who were late in paying, purchased the insurance you needed, and everyday asked yourself did I do the right thing? Am I going to make it? Will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, your employee’s salary, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
On March 21, 2010 Congress passed a new tax. Your small business had to purchase health insurance for your family and purchase health insurance for your employee. If your small business chose not to purchase health insurance your small business would have to pay a tax of 8% of what you paid yourself and 8% of what you paid your employee.
Now in addition to asking yourself will there be enough money to pay the rent, the telephone, your employee’s salary, the taxes of 7.65% + 7.65% + 7.65% + 8.0% + 8.0%, the other necessary business expenses, and still have enough money left to pay the mortgage, feed the family, buy the children shoes, and maybe even take mom or dad out to dinner?
Your answer was NO! You had no choice but to tell your employee that you could not afford to keep he, or she on the payroll. You had to let them go.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Does The Health Care Process Frighten You?
I believe a poll would show the majority of the American people are having a more difficult time sleeping today compared to a year ago when the health care debate began. We are threatened by the process our elected officials blatantly parade in front of us on television, radio and in newspapers.
We are afraid of arm twisting, back room deals, radical partisanship and a bill that contains more than 100 times the number of words in our Constitution. Just the mere mention of the word Socialism makes most of us want to run for cover.
Personally, I do not believe there is a single Senator or Congressman that has read every word of the health care bills they have voted for and will vote for. I mean do you know how long it would take to read 2000 pages of legalese, much less read it and really understand what it says?
Just a few years ago the Senate voted unanimously, 99-0, and passed the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation that requires CEO's of publicly held corporations to attest that they know their published financial statements are accurate prior to signing them, under penalty of law. Shouldn't those same Senators be required under penalty of law to attest they they know and understand the content of a bill prior to voting on it?
Why should the President and Congress be allowed to devote one third of the President's term in office to change the best health care system in the world when during these 15 months thousands of brave American soldiers have lost their lives, and tens of millions of Americans are unemployed or under employed?
Have you shopped at the Gap, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, or Wal-Mart and looked for anything with a label made in the USA? I have and everything is made somewhere else, mostly in China. Speaking of China, do you believe that they are really our friends? Not only do we owe the almost one trillion dollars, yes owe them, but did you know they are stockpiling oil, iron, and every other commodity required to build an army, air force and navy that will soon be much larger than ours?
Should we sleep better because we know our national security is being threatened, our economic security is being threatened, our American heroes are shedding their blood everyday, millions of us have lost our homes, there are more homeless people in America than ever before.....just because everyday we know our politicians are meeting in back rooms, the oval office, and who knows where, to borrow more money to provide health insurance to people that can not be turned away from a hospital now?
If you are one of us that is not sleeping as well as you used to, blame the President because the buck always stops with the person in charge. Blame him, vote out everyone that supports him, and make damn certain that 1/20/13 is his last day in office. Then maybe we can catch up on our sleep and begin to feel a little less threatened.
We are afraid of arm twisting, back room deals, radical partisanship and a bill that contains more than 100 times the number of words in our Constitution. Just the mere mention of the word Socialism makes most of us want to run for cover.
Personally, I do not believe there is a single Senator or Congressman that has read every word of the health care bills they have voted for and will vote for. I mean do you know how long it would take to read 2000 pages of legalese, much less read it and really understand what it says?
Just a few years ago the Senate voted unanimously, 99-0, and passed the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation that requires CEO's of publicly held corporations to attest that they know their published financial statements are accurate prior to signing them, under penalty of law. Shouldn't those same Senators be required under penalty of law to attest they they know and understand the content of a bill prior to voting on it?
Why should the President and Congress be allowed to devote one third of the President's term in office to change the best health care system in the world when during these 15 months thousands of brave American soldiers have lost their lives, and tens of millions of Americans are unemployed or under employed?
Have you shopped at the Gap, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, or Wal-Mart and looked for anything with a label made in the USA? I have and everything is made somewhere else, mostly in China. Speaking of China, do you believe that they are really our friends? Not only do we owe the almost one trillion dollars, yes owe them, but did you know they are stockpiling oil, iron, and every other commodity required to build an army, air force and navy that will soon be much larger than ours?
Should we sleep better because we know our national security is being threatened, our economic security is being threatened, our American heroes are shedding their blood everyday, millions of us have lost our homes, there are more homeless people in America than ever before.....just because everyday we know our politicians are meeting in back rooms, the oval office, and who knows where, to borrow more money to provide health insurance to people that can not be turned away from a hospital now?
If you are one of us that is not sleeping as well as you used to, blame the President because the buck always stops with the person in charge. Blame him, vote out everyone that supports him, and make damn certain that 1/20/13 is his last day in office. Then maybe we can catch up on our sleep and begin to feel a little less threatened.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Tim Burns For Congress
Tim Burns has won the Republican nomination for the special election to be held on May 18th to fill the remaining eight month term of the deceased Pennsylvania congressman, John Murtha.
In an unusual situation for voters in the district, they will also be voting on May 18th in a primary to decide who will represent the GOP in the 2010 November election.
Tim easily beat his GOP rival, Bill Russell, for the nomination for the May 18th special election by a two to one margin, but Bill Russell refuses to support Tim for the November election. Russell has adamantly decided to continue to run in the May 18th primary election even though his name will not even appear on the ballott for the May 18th special election.
My message t0 Bill Russell: on behalf of what is good for PA-12 and the United States of America, please ask yourself why you, and your personal ambitions are more important than defeating the Democratic agenda. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States.....one nation, under God, indivisible". Bill, please do not be dividing and divisive; please unite the GOP effort and throw your support to Tim Burns. Thanks.
In an unusual situation for voters in the district, they will also be voting on May 18th in a primary to decide who will represent the GOP in the 2010 November election.
Tim easily beat his GOP rival, Bill Russell, for the nomination for the May 18th special election by a two to one margin, but Bill Russell refuses to support Tim for the November election. Russell has adamantly decided to continue to run in the May 18th primary election even though his name will not even appear on the ballott for the May 18th special election.
My message t0 Bill Russell: on behalf of what is good for PA-12 and the United States of America, please ask yourself why you, and your personal ambitions are more important than defeating the Democratic agenda. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States.....one nation, under God, indivisible". Bill, please do not be dividing and divisive; please unite the GOP effort and throw your support to Tim Burns. Thanks.
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