Yes, this has been an ugly primary election. For those of use who receive GOP mail in the 42nd CD race you can follow along with my report by simply opening your mail.
Candidate Philip Liberatore sent out several mailers, one of which lists five costly votes cast by Congressman Gary Miller. He quotes Congressman Miller to have stated: You can’t have a federal government running a $1.6 trillion deficit and not expect someone to get mad at you.”
The very next line of Phil’s flyer reads: “That’s The Point Gary-We The People Are Mad at You!”
Liberatore Charge #1. Gary Miller voted YES on H.R. 1424 Roll Call #681
$700 billion Wall Street bailout. He quotes Gary Miller “Truly my calls are 150-1 against it.” The flyer continues “Overwhelmingly, people in the private sector are looking at this and saying it’s just a big bailout for a bunch of fat cats on Wall Street.” He adds the following source. UPI.com September 24, 2008
Within the past hour I received a huge flyer paid for by the Gary Miller for Congress Committee that answers three of the specific charges.
As to the above allegation it reads:
WALL STREET TARP (H.R. 1424-Roll Call #681)
“On October 3, 2008, Congressman Miller voted for the $350 Billion “Bush Economic Stabilization Act” to shore up financial institutions and stop the financial sector collapse.
Taxpayers have already earned an annualized return of 8.5% on the funds they loaned to these financial institution….etc.
Notice the “spin.” He does not dispute his vote. What the flyer states is that “Gary Miller voted against authorizing an additional $350 billion when it became clear that Obama and friends were wasting the money.”
The fact that we have received a favorable ROI in this timeframe is irrelevant to the Liberatore accusation which is half correct. $350 billion, not $700 billion. Congressman Miller. You did vote for the bailout.
Gilbert opines that while Phil is incorrect in alleging $700 billion Gary Miller does not deny voting for the $350 billion.
Liberatore Allegation #2 FHA Housing bailout $300 billion. H.R. 3221 Roll Call #302
The Liberatore flyer reads: “On May 5, 2008, Gary Miller was the ONLY California Republican to vote with democrats Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank to expand government housing loans putting the taxpayers on the hook for $300 BILLION dollars. Government backed FHA loans have had some of the highest default rates at nearly 10% during the two years of bailouts.”
Gary Miller responds with his version of The TRUTH.
“Public records show that Liberatore is lying.”
“On final passage of the bill, Congressman Gary Miller was joined by Republican Members of Congress from our area including Brian Bilbray, Mary Bono-Mack, David Dreier, Duncan Hunter, Jerry Lewis, Kevin McCarthy and Buck McKeon.”
Note: Mr. Liberatore did not question Roll Call #301 on the same bill. However, I have checked it to see how local Republicans voted.
The same legislators named by Gary Miller on Roll Call 302 (as listed above) voted NO on Roll Call #301 while he was the only one to vote YES.
Gilbert opines that once again Team Liberatore has done a sloppy job of vote research. They would be above reproach if they had listed the correct Roll Call if they wanted to point out that Gary Miller was the only Republican to vote for H.R. 3221 bill at a specific Roll Call. I was unable to find a vote for Mary Bono-Mack.
Let me make life easy for those who have yet to vote and are undecided.
Simply fill in the box that reads Lee McGroarty as I did today.
And to be sure that my vote by mail was not stolen I handed it to our letter carrier.
One disturbing part of the Miller flyer is a May 12th statement from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Senior Pastor Chuck Smith in which he denies endorsing any candidate. Mr. Liberatore claims that he had received that endorsement. While I recall seeing it I cannot find it as I post this story.
Overall, Miller’s record is still good. I’ll keep him — he’s the best we have by a long, long way. Instead of taking aim at a conservative Republican, I’ll save my ammunition for Barbara Boxer and Loretta Sanchez. I’m voting for Gary Miller.
It is always good to hold elected officials accountable. McGroarty and Liberatore have no records and also no history of service. I am not impressed with those who have been on the sidelines their entire lives. In my opinion, they should have grabbed an oar. Since I cannot hold McGroarty and Liberatore accountable as elected officials, I’ll hold them accountable for not helping.
Garry Miller is THE problem in washington.
As long as voters like BIG PICTURE are around, nothing will change.
Vote Dirty Gary out.
Big Picture are you kidding me? They should have grabbed an oar???? What could be more help to voters than running for Congress. Useless is continuing to vote for a RINO just because there is a (R) next to his name on the ballot all the while ignoring his voting record and attendance. These gentlemen (McGroarty, Su, Liberatore) have opened themselves up to public scrutiny of all kinds, not to mention the “dirty pool” type of politics Gary Miller has been known for for years. I find it outrageous that Miller, AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO HAS BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL WHILE REPRESENTING THE 42ND, has the audacity to call his opponents ethics into question. Voters all around the country have shown they are sick of “business as usual” politics. It’s time to throw out another incumbent. I’m voting for McGroarty as I hope eveyone is, but in truth, as long as Miller gets beat the 42nd wins.
A vote McGroarty? who is that? The race is between Liberatore and Miller and Miller is lying he voted for the bailouts! The first vote was for $700 billion and it was done as a favor the second time but was not necessary!
Secondly, really are we really fighting about whether or not multiple Republican Congressmen from California screwed us or not? The fact that Miller is a bail out machine is the problem!
The only candidate that sent any mailers, has radio and tv is Liberatore. No you can even call him and ask questions. He posted his cell number on his website!
Big picture.
There are many qualified voters in the private sector who have the tools to be effective public officials. We both know how difficult it is to remove an incumbent from office. However, without Term Limits for members of Congress there comes a time when we simply must put their feet to the fire. And for voters of any party the only opportunity we have to support a new face is in primary elections.
How much rope are we expected to give elected officials when we put them in office yet they ignore our plea on major decision such as the massive bailouts where that debt service will fall on the backs of our children and grandchildren. Even Congressman Miller has publicly confirmed the massive number of calls and emails from constituents opposing his voting for the TARP bailout, yet he voted for it anyone.
They should have grabbed an oar? We sign incumbent nominating papers, recommend them in our voter guides, contribute money to their campaigns and work behind the scene supporting them every two years. Not everyone is on stage in front of the camera.
It’s a major committment for challengers to prioritize politics before families and jobs to serve inside the beltway. However, when a challenger tries to enter the fray, spends an ungodly amount of money that might have been saved for their children’s college education, and offers to have his or her entire life placed under a 50 power loop, they should be commended, not knocked for challenging the establishment. We are all Republicans (in this example). The same applies to incumbent Democrats being challenged as in the recent upset of PA. turncoat Senator Arlen Spector to Joe Sestak.
Larry,
I got the same Miller piece yesterday that has a purported letter from Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa. The letter simply says that Mr. Smith heard some claiming he was supporting a candidate in the 42d but that wasn’t true. Miller then oddly points people towards what looks like Liberatore’s website. I didn’t go there so I don’t know if it’s a ruse to get you to a Miller hit website, but the negative adds between Miller and Liberatore are definitely getting old. I used to support Miller, but it’s time for a change. I may take you up on your offer to support McGroarty in the primary. Unfortunately, I may have to swallow my bile and vote for Miller in the general, but in this climate, anything can happen.
newbie.
The mailer reads: “Paid for By Gary Miller for Congress Committee.” They suggest voters visit: http://www.philliberatoreforcongress.com
And I did. Clever. Go to GoDaddy and take out a URL/web site for $50 and attack your challenger using his own name to boot.
While every charge in the Miller flyer may be valid, why not simply put that information on your own web page?
And yes, Gary comes home every weekend to attend church in Yorba Linda. Great example for Christians.
Larry,
Alas, those portraying themselves as “Christians” in the political arena are not the best models, but are, unfortunately, the most visible. I thought that website may be a hit-site. Thanks for confirming that Miller will only get sleazier with every mailer.
By the way, I’m not a IP litigator, but I know that courts have been happy to require such efforts of taking someone’s website name to be handed over to the real public figures, with some hefty penatlies added on. While I’m surprised Phil didn’t take the name himself, he may have a nice little lawsuit over the deception.
Newbie,
Meg Whitman sued a guy for that. She lost and had to pay him for the URLs.
Miller has most of the conservatives as well as mainstream Republicans. Although McGroarty sounds good, he lacks funds to be in the race. His supporters include a few conservatives, almost no mainstream Republicans and an odd combination of folks who don’t align with any party. Liberatore has nothing except his hit pieces and campaign signs.
Liberatore and McGroarty will split the anti-Miller vote and Miller will win.
Prince.
Are you proposing a cap on campaign expenditures to level the playing field and make it easier for other challengers to step into the arena?
How about Term Limits for members of Congress just as we have term limits in our state legislature. Public service has led to career politicians like Sen Robert Byrd who has served in the Senate for over 50 years. Are we to believe that there are no other qualified residents in West VA who could bring some new blood and 21st century ideas to Washington?
I have no proposals regarding legislation. Those who want change should focus on egregious offenders. Trying to take out the most conservative of the incumbents is counterproductive and it takes the heat off the biggest offenders.
I don’t know about all of you, but my vote is for the young gun conservative who’s actually going to accomplish the Republican platform. We need someone who’s gonna have the guts to take on the machine and not just unplug it, but destroy it. I already placed my vote for David Su. I think he’s a fresh face and new blood that the GOP needs really bad. It’s encouraging how a young guy like this is willing to run and put everything out there. Vote for David Su guys. He’s the one for me! I know he’s got the Asian votes locked down hard in the 42nd CD.
McGroarty may be more dangerous than you think. At an open forum “get out the vote” event this afternoon down in Anaheim, Marc Harris refused to let Lee McGroarty speak. He did however provide ample opportunity to Phil Liberatore. Harris may have publicly endorsed Liberatore, but to deny the rest of the Tea Party Patriots in attendance the opportunity to make up their minds for themselves…shameful. This blatant attempt on his part to censor free and open debate would have our founding fathers rolling over in their graves. Harris is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and he needs to be exposed. I am a true Tea Party Patriot and I denounce Marc Harris and all other usurpers of the good will and patriotism spawned by our movement. I call for his immediate apology to the McGroarty camp and his removal from a position of authority in the North Orange County Conservative Coalition!