Mike Castle: Delaware's Corrupt Congressman

Dear Friends: The following information about Delaware's political "culture of corruption" is long, but it tells us a great deal about the way politics "works" in "the first state" (the first state to ratify the Constitution). Mike Castle, one of the most corrupt people in the US Congress, has raised nearly $4 million. No one who believes in American traditions and values would contribute a nickel to Mike Castle. He thinks that he can bury Christine O'Donnell in an avalanche of ill-gotten money -- money he has received for providing political (and economic) favors (see opensecrets.org). If Christine O'Donnell wins -- and she can -- she will change politics -- transform it -- not only in Delaware, but in America. Her goal is to effect a transformation that would make our country once again recognizable to the Founding Fathers. Please help her. AND PLEASE USE THE MATERIAL BELOW -- IN YOUR BLOG, YOUR YAHOO GROUPS, AND YOUR E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE. Direct your friends to this blog post (at: http://stevemaloneygop.blogspot.com). God bless all of you for help.




Obama has the labor unions throughout the country. Castle has the corporate lawyers in Delaware. I’d like to introduce you to one firm in particular who stands to benefit greatly from NOT ONLY the Corporate Bailouts, but also the Environmental Regulations Internationally that will come from Cap & Trade! Young, Conaway, Stargatt and Taylor is a firm of about 120 lawyers headquartered in Wilmington, DE. They occupy the 17th floor of the 18 story historic Brandywine Building (pictured below) in Wilmington, DE. For the last 50 years, Young Conaway has helped to shape legislative and case law in Delaware. They specialize in bankruptcy and corporate law and serve some of the largest firms in America, State and local governments, school districts and land developers in the legal system. The firm has a number of highly prized attorneys across those specialties. I will introduce you to a few of these attorneys a little later on. Yet, YCS&T has another connection, Congressman Mike Castle. The firm has joined MBNA Corporation (purchased by Bank of America in 2005) as the largest donor to Congressman Mike Castle’s campaigns since 1992. The firm has given $256,546 in individual contributions to Mike Castle over that time period whereas MBNA Corp (including their PAC) has given $364,650 to Castle. The next closest donor to Castle’s campaigns is Bank of America whose contributions from PAC and individuals total $106,000. I’d like to introduce you to some of the attorneys who are contributing to Congressman Castle

Timothy Houseal – Specializes in Environmental law – Career giving to Castle $220,554 – 2010 DE Senate election to Castle $22,080

Last time I checked, the contribution limits per person were $9,800 per election cycle (Primary and General combined). This man RUNS Mike Castle’s fundraising arm.

Here are some headlines featuring Tim:

Tigani files for bankruptcy to stop sale of house – Houseal represented Wilmington Trust (loan originator) who allegedly colluded with Tigani’s father.

DeLuca, Diocese Accused of Destroying or Hiding Evidence – Houseal represented the Diocese of Wilmington whose Priests sexually assaulted children.

POLI-TICKING - Houseal has been Castle’s co-counsel for years
Open Secrets on Timothy Houseal

Name – Amount donated in 2010 - Specialty

Rolin Bissell - $1,000 to Mike Castle - Corporate law
C B Flynn - $1,000 to Castle - Corporate law
Anthony Flin - $320 to Castle, $280 to Castle - Enviornmental law
Edward Harron - $500 to Castle - Corporate and Tort law as well as bankruptcy law
Pauline Morgan - $300 to Castle - Bankruptcy law
Michael Nestor - $3,000 to DSCC, $600 to Castle (interesting) - Corporate and Bankruptcy law
Mike Stafford – No direct monetary contributions but runs a blog called Delaware Tomorrow which consistently attacks Christine O’Donnell and defends Mike Castle
Robert Thomas - $250 to Castle - Commerical/Corporate law
Stephanie Hansen - no money but on air with WHYY to attack the T.E.A. Party Express (Chapter 5 “State of Play”) - Enviornmental law

What has Mike Castle done in return?

• H.R.4506 - Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2010 - Castle votes YES
• H.R. 788: To provide a safe harbor for mortgage servicers who engage in specified mortgage loan - no vote on this bill
• S.1920 for the 108th Congress - Farmer Bankruptcy Bill - Castle votes YES
• H.R. 5982, the Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2010 - would repeal portions of the Healthcare law - Castle votes NO (not related to the law firm but rather interesting…plays into Christine’s pledge to defund and repeal Obamacare)
• H.R. 2454 Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") - Castle votes YES
  http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/rep-mike-castles-conflict-of-interest-pt-ii/
  Delaware State laws relating to Corporate Laws - SB 58, SB 126 - Relating to the Court of Chancery SB 127 - Amending the Delaware General Corporation Law SB 128 - Amending the Limited Liability Company Act HB 200 - Amending the Revised Uniform Partnership Act HB 201 - Amending the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act HB 202 - Relating to Exculpatory Clauses
  Delaware's corporate dominance threatened
• Federal intervention could put at risk a third of state's budget -- 'Overnight we would go broke.' - http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20080302/NEWS/803020319/Delaware-s-corporate-dominance-threatened
  

GREAT BLOG POSTS: One Delaware blogger, Frank Knotts (http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com/), has done some excellent work on the strong appearance of impropriety in Castle's fundraising, and we will outline more details in our news release. The basic information is in Castle's FEC report and replicated in http://opensecrets.org.

Knotts's links, Castle Stories:* Rep. Mike Castle’s Conflict of Interest Pt. II - April 4, 2010 by frankknotts *

Rep. Castle: Member of the House Financial Services Committee - March 30, 2010 by frankknotts A Delaware law firm, Young, Conaway, et al, specializing in bankruptcy law, gave Castle more than $146,000 in 2008 and is on pace to do the same this year. Why? Firms that benefitted directly and indirectly from the bank bailout (TARP), which Castle voted for, have given him huge contributions. Why?

What is the relationship between the actions Mike Castle has taken in Congress and the fact that the bankruptcy business in Delaware is booming? * Rep. Mike Castle’s Conflict of Interest - March 28, 2010 by frankknotts (note full posting below...)March 28, 2010 by frankknotts Now that we have learned that Christine O’Donnell intends to primary long time Washington insider Rep. Mike Castle (RINO-De) for the Senate seat, formerly held by even longer Washington insider Joe Biden (unfortunately currently our vice president), there has been questions raised of Ms. O’Donnell’s ability to run a campaign , let alone to make financial decisions on the national scale.

So, I believe since Mr. Castle’s supporters think it right to bring up past deeds of Ms. O’Donnell, then I would say that Mr. Castle should clean his closet as well.

Let us start by looking at the 2007-2008 election cycle . . .

Here is a link that show contributions to Mr. Castle for that cycle.
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009775&type=I&mem=

As you will see, the number one contributor, amounting to 10% of his campaign contributions, is the law firm of Young, Conaway. This is a law firm that deals primarily with bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. They contributed $146,915.

You will also see that Mr. Castle’s next two largest contributors were Bank of America at number two with $27,950 and coming in at #3 was Morgan Stanley with a paltry $14,850.

Now those last two sound very familiar [as recipients of bank bailout money] and may explain Mr. Castle’s yes vote on the TARP legislation. Of course this is exactly the type of voting you would expect from someone whose supporters describe him as a fiscal conservative, right?

Oh and by the way , for those who don’t know it, Mr. Castle sits on the House Financial Services Committee, you know the one that oversees and regulates banks and the financial sector. But of course I’m sure that Mr. Castle’s supporters will see absolutely no conflict of interest there.

In the eyes of Mr. Castle’s supporters, this is exactly the kind of experience that we need to send back to Washington in the Senate, to continue the good work that he has been doing in the House for oh so many years. While those who feel as I do , believe that this is exactly why he must be defeated.

And one last note to those of you out there still clinging to the idea that Mr. Castle is any kind of conservative. In 2009 while serving on the House Financial Services Committee . In a Vote of 39-29 on legislation to create yet another government bureaucracy that would be known as , The Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Mike Castle was the only, as in no other, as in single Republican vote, to vote with, that’s right you guessed it, he voted with the Democrats against all of his so-called fellow Republicans in favor of growing government once again.


Mike Castle, Delaware Politics, Corruption, Young, Conaway, et all, House Financial Service Committee, Castle RINO, Timothy Houseal, Wilmington, DE, Bankruptcy Law Firms, Financial Regulation, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Mike Stafford, Pauline Morgan, Michael Nestor,
Anthony Flin, Rolin Bissell, C B Flynn, Edward Harron, Joe Biden

Ideological Purists: Destructive Political Forces

There was a great exchange on Facebook today between three political activists: Angela Young Lash, Charley Dez Eilar, and me. If you're on Facebook, sign us up as friends. We are trying to explain how you actually win elections -- not just vent and blow smoke.

Angela Young Lash said: "People who practice scorched earth politics, who intentionally split the vote, and who refuse to get behind great candidates because they're pushing their own personal agenda will do nothing but ensure liberal victories in the fall. Patriots, we must work SMART and stop the insanity being pushed by some of the "patriot..." groups who are splitting the vote." [Note: Angela worked in the Tim Burns special election campaign in PA CD 12 and is working to get Tim elected in November. http://timburnsforcongress.com.

Stephen R. Maloney said: " Ideological purists make terrible political allies. They bolt whenever a candidate disagrees with them on anything. Usually, such purists are egomaniacs on their way to being solipsists. They mistake rigidity for 'principles.' Stephen is working on Christine O'Donnell for US Senate campaign: http://christine2010.com.

Charley Dez Eylar said: I totally agree with her. We are NEVER going to find a candidate that we all agree with on every point. We are working on a multi-tiered, long term strategy here. we will not take the house or senate with pure bred hard right types. To win either or both we need independents. Independents are not going to vote for the hard core right types. What's wrong with voting to repeal KEY elements of the Obama agenda...that's the ones we are worried about...the ones that will destroy our country. Quinn...the dems love us spitting the vote....they are counting on it, lets get at least a foot in the door...then we can work on the rest of the body...What did Obama do to get elected? He moved to the CENTER to get the independent and republican vote...we could learn from that...doesn't mean we aren't still on the right but we need to be in office first . . . "

If you're not on Facebook, well get over there and sign up. We're having fun, even in the Dark Age of Obama.

Angela Young Lash, Stephen R. Maloney, Charley Dez Eylar, Tim Burns, Facebook, Delaware US Senate

Conservatives: Wake Up, Listen Up!

The Tim Burns loss in PA, a bad loss, shows we're NOT going to win just by showing up. I wish my fellow conservatives were not ideological purists to the point that NO candidate is acceptable. I wish my fellow conservatives would donate more money, a lot more, to truly conservative candidates (like Christine O'Donnell at http://christine2010.com/). I wish my fellow conservatives would spend less time expressing their "opinions" and more time writing checks, going door-to-door and making phone calls.

On Facebook these days, some "libertarians" and "conservatives" (who may be neither) are busily denouncing Scott Brown and Sarah Palin. The absurd basis for the denunciations is that "half-a-loaf is worse than no loaf at all." In other words, candidates who don't agree with us 100% of the time are beneath contempt. The nonsensical point is that Scott Brown is no better than his predecessor Teddy Kennedy, which is ridiculous. Brown is a major step forward for Massachusetts and the country.

I hear some people saying, "We need to throw all incumbents out, Republicans and Democrats." Gee, who are we supposed to vote for, since the only people seriously contending are Republicans . . . and Democrats? Some incumbents, Paul Ryan, Michele Bachman, Tom Coburn, Mike Pence, and others, are patriots and excellent legislators. Are we really supposed to vote them out? If so, why?

Yes, Scott Brown certainly is not perfect, and the same is true of Sarah Palin. But they are much better than the alternatives. Conservatives who don't recognize those simple realities are very suspect. They will be little or no help in the elections.


Christine O'Donnell, Scott Brown, Sarah Palin, Conservatives, Teddy Kennedy, Ideological Purists, Paul Ryan, Mike Pence, Tom Coburn

BLOGGERS EXPOSE MIKE CASTLE'S LIES

Evan in Delaware recently blogged at http://bluehenconservative.blogspot.com about the pack of lies liberal Rep. Mike Castle had on his web site. Right after the blog posts appeared, Castle immediately changed his web site. The whoppers he had up went down what George Orwell (of 1984 fame) called "the memory hole." I had also reprinted Evan's piece on my own blog (see below). Here are the comments Evan sent to his fellow Delaware bloggers:

"Make sure you screenshot Everything from here on out. I wrote the following blog (http://bluehenconservative.blogspot.com/2010/05/mike-castle-fiscal-responsibility-fact.html) on Wednesday of this week and after that blog and my guest post on http://DelawarePolitics.net hit the air, the Castle website changed. Every quote there was absolutely on his website two days ago. They are doing as Obama did and rewriting their history."

Bloggers working together can change the world and help ensure that the truth about liberals like Mike Castle gets out. The MSM is in the tank; bloggers aren't.

Let's turn the feisty Delaware blogs into household names:

David Levi Anderson's DE blog: http://delawarepolitics.net
Frank Knotts's DE blog: http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com
Jason C. O'Neill's DE blog: http://delawarerepublican.wordpress.com
Scott's DE blog: http://marklevinfan.com
Diane Hernandez's, Evan's, Jason's site: http://bluehenconservative.blogspot.com (DE)
Bill Miller's blog: http://teapartypapers.com/ (NJ)
Bill Miller blog (2): http://www.projectshiningcity.org/

Of course, Mike Castle has been conducting a campaign of falsehoods and innuendos against his conservative Republican opponent, Christine O'Donnell, in the US Senate race. In that effort to mislead voters, Castle has been assisted by his minions in the GOP Establishment and the local version of the MSM. Right now, the best way for Delawareans to get accurate information is through the blogs.


Mike Castle, Christine O'Donnell, David Levi Anderson, Frank Knotts, Jason C. O'Neill, Diane Hernandez, Mark Levin Fan, Bill Miller, Delaware Bloggers, BlueHenConservative, Delaware Politics, Delaware Republican, PoliticallyFrank, ProjectShiningCity

Liberal Mike Castle: Congressional Slimeball

Congressman Mike Castle, a frail desperate career politician is waging a smear campaign -- one full of lies and innuendos -- against Christine O'Donnell, a fine young woman who has the temerity to challenge Castle for the Delaware US Senate seat. Castle is now running around Delaware pretending to be a fiscally responsible "conservative." This is a little like Madonna claiming to be a virgin. Castle is disgusting. He is an even uglier version of Arlen Specter.

The following piece about fiscal conservatism appeared in a fine Delaware blog: http://bluehenconservative.blogspot.com/. It tells the truth about Mike Castle, which is something he never wants voters to hear.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010


Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Mike Castle - Fiscal Responsibility Fact Check

On his website Mike Castle claims to be Fiscally Responsible. I decided to do some Fact checking. I thought, maybe I'm WRONG about Congressman Castle. Maybe he IS a budget hawk. This is what I found:

FACT - Castle voted for TARP (the $700 Billion bailout of the financial industry) in 2008

FACT - In 2008 the American Conservative Union and Club for Growth (Fiscal conservatism) rated Mike Castle at 28% and 26% respectively.

FACT - Castle voted FOR the Auto-bailout that resulted in GM being owned by the unions and taxpayers

FACT - American for Fair Taxation rated Mike Castle as a -1 against the FairTax measure

FACT - Castle Voted FOR permanently raising taxes on businesses

FACT - In 2008 the National Tax Payers Union gave Congressman Castle a D rating

FACT - AGAINST making the Bush tax cuts permanent, capping discretionary spending
at $973 billion and imposing a moratorium on earmarks

FACT - Congressman Castle supported the interests of the National Small Business Association 60 percent of the time from 2007-2008

FACT - Castle voted FOR the Obama Omnibus spending bill that increased spending 8% on TOP of the Stimulus packages

Castle's website states:

Economic Stimulus - Mike Castle has supported the federal initiative to return millions of taxpayer dollars back to individuals and families, spur business investment, and expand refinance options for homeowners.

The $787 Billion stimulus package (which is projected to cost $3.27 Trillion) has resulted in $514, 012, 482.38 in Delaware dollars or put another way 6 one hundredths of one percent of the total stimulus package (assuming $787 Billion is correct).

The Stimulus package has resulted in 1,174 jobs gained; however, by December of 2009 Delaware had lost 11,400 jobs which resulted in a net loss of 10,226 jobs. Home foreclosure filings are still averaging 13 per day.

The website also states:

Financial Services Committee: Mike Castle serves on the House Committee on
Financial Services, which has jurisdiction over banking and the securities and
insurance industries. In this capacity, he has worked to ensure the viability of
low income housing programs and has introduced legislation to shield consumers
from identity theft.

This committee failed to stop Fannie and Freddie from bringing down the entire national housing system, failed to properly regulate and evaluate the banking industry and is largely responsible for the financial services bailouts (which Castle voted for).

Finally, Castle's website states:

Budget Reform: One of the reasons Mike Castle first ran for the United States
Congress was to bring to the federal government the same principles of fiscal
responsibility that he practiced as Governor of Delaware. Castle has fought for
solid budget reforms in Washington, including a presidential line item veto,
rainy day accounts, pay as you go for both tax cuts and spending, and a
no-excuses balanced budget process.

Despite this statement, Mike Castle has voted against PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) amendments. The most recent of which was on February 14th 2010. He has a 2008 rating of 26% from the Club for Growth and has voted AGAINST making the Bush tax cuts permanent, capping discretionary spending and imposing a moratorium on earmarks 3 times since 2005.

He's also voted FOR Cap and Trade, the auto bailouts, cash for clunkers, the 2008 stimulus package, the Omnibus spending bill (increased federal spending 8% ABOVE stimulus package) and believes that Social Security works relatively well despite the fact that it owes more than $14 TRILLION in unfunded liabilities and is the second largest budget item in federal spending (2nd only to Medicare/Medicaid which he has also praised).

Congressman Castle is CLEARLY not fiscally responsible with the people's money. He has time and again voted in ways that go against what is "fiscally responsible". His votes tend to contradict his campaign promises in the area of fiscal responsibility.

Mike Castle, TARP, Bank Bailout, Christine O'Donnell, Unfunded Liabilities, Fiscal Responsibility

Burns, Specter Looking Like Losers

I hope to goodness I'm wrong, but in tomorrow's special election, Tim Burns in the PA 12th CD is looking like a loser. Of less interest to me -- but a source of pleasure -- Arlen Specter is an almost certain loser.

If (key word), I'm right about Burns, this is a race he could have -- should have -- won. As for Specter, former Democrat turned Republican turned Democrat, he's been an embarrassment for a long time, and he will have gotten his defeat the old-fashioned way -- i.e., he earned it. At age 79, Arlen has the charisma of a salamander, coupled with a Godzilla-sized ego.

Whoever ran the Burns campaign should seek another field of "expertise." Poorly run Republican campaigns (remember Jim Tedisco in a New York special election?) are becoming almost a fact of life. The Democrats ceaselessly attack -- and the Republicans respond with hurt feelings and lame commercials. A candidate who becomes a punching bag for Democrats is not a happy sight.

Tim Burns should have won in a walk. He was ahead in the polls (but not by much) several weeks ago. I hear that the polls (I hate the things) have gone South for Burns -- and no wonder. This is supposed to be a Republican year, right?

Burns's opponent is a guy, Mark Critz, I'd never heard of until recently. As Jim Geraghty pointed out in a National Review article, Critz was John Murtha's bagman. He was the guy who worked out the earmarks deals, figuring out who would get the tax-dollar handouts -- and how much Murtha would get in campaign "donations." In short, Critz is a petty crook. (Here's the link to Geraghty's article: http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=ZWEzZmYyNWI1YWYxNmE2MjI4YTcwMmNmOTZlZDA4YTE=)

In speeches and in (endless, expensive) ads Burns started out with happy talk -- "hey, I'm a hockey dad -- get it?" Meanwhile, Critz, led by the Democratic Campaign Congressional Committee (DCCC), was hitting Burns both in the jaw and the solar plexus. He branded Burns as a millionaire (not a good thing in PA, or most places), a job outsourceer, and "not one of US." In western PA, if you're not one of us, you're not going to win elections. John Murtha, even when he was calling us "rednecks" and "racists," remained -- somehow -- "one of us."

Thus, Burns, born in Johnstown and pretty much a lifetime resident of the district, came across as the (dreaded) . . . outsider. Critz, a Washington insider, is about as much a part of the district as Mt. Rushmore, but he -- in commercials -- became "the hometown boy." Critz talked with emotion about how he, through Murtha's earmarks, had "created thousands of jobs." He forgot to mention that the 12th is a place of chronic unemployment, rapid population loss, and low per-capita income. Tim Burns forgot to mention that either.

It's a mess. Tim Burns is a good guy. But he's rich (less rich now, after having spent one of his millions on this campaign), and rich people sometimes have a false sense of invulnerability. For all the money he and the national Republican entities spent, this was a campaign that almost always gave off the scent of a loser. Tim listened to the experts, and they gave him a steady stream of bad advice.

I'm in western Pennsylvania, and I got to see the train wreck happen. I'm not saying everything Burns did was wrong, but he always seemed at least a step behind the opposition. In politics, being a step behind means the other guy wins the race. A campaign needs A PLAN TO WIN. If Tim's did, it was undetectible by ordinary mortals.

Admittedly, Critz is a good liar. He proclaimed that he was "pro-life" and "would have voted against the health care bill" (that Murtha voted for). He was "against the Medicare cuts" in the health bill. These comments were all incredible, but he said them with a straight face. Pelosi, whom Critz will worship as he once did "Mr. Murtha," will tell Critz what to do, and he'll salute and stand at attention.

Let me say it: if I'd managed this campaign, maybe we still would have lost, but we would never have allowed ourselves to be beaten senseless day-after-day, week-after-week. We would have turned Mark Critz into a four-letter word that also begins with "cr" and ends with "p." Everybody in the district would have gotten a free copy of the Geraghty article.

As for Arlen Specter, I have only four words: goodbye and good riddance. Sestak will be the favorite in the race against Republican Pat Toomey. "Republican year?" Hmmm.

Tim Burns, Mark Critz, 12th congressional district, Arlen Specter, Joe Sestak, John Murtha, Nancy Pelosi, Johnstown, PA, Pat Toomey

Delaware Area Blogs Worth Following

Christine O'Donnell, conservative candidate for US Senate from Delaware

The battle for an open Senate seat in Delaware this year will be a barn-burner. The Republican Primary pits career politician -- and liberal -- Mike Castle against conservative Christine O'Donnell. In a small state, bloggers play a critical role in getting out information. I've written several pieces on Christine and her race, and you can find them by scrolling down.

David Levi Anderson’s DE blog: http://delawarepolitics.net/ [non-partisan]
Frank Knotts’s DE blog: http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com/
Jason C. O’Neill’s DE blog: http://delawarerepublican.wordpress.com/
Scott’s DE blog: http://marklevinfan.com/
Diane Hernandez’s site: http://bluehenconservative.blogspot.com/ (DE)
Bill Miller’s blog: http://teapartypapers.com/ (NJ)
Bill Miller blog (2): http://www.projectshiningcity.org/

Bill Miller is in NJ but is also very worth reading.

Mike Castle, Christine O'Donnell, Delaware, US Senate, David Levi Anderson, Frank Knotts, Jason C. O'Neill, Diane Hernandez, Bill Miller

America's Agony: "Burn, Baby, Burn"

Super-blogger Nancy Hayhurst ("ChicagoBluesGirl") asked me to comment on a superb American Thinker article that says America is in much worse trouble that even ardent Tea Partiers believe. Here's the link to the article, followed by my response.

"American Thinker: Let It Burn"

Here are two excerpts from this profoundly important article: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/let_it_burn.html

"Passage of the health care bill has sparked a revival of small-government thinking, causing many to predict significant Republican gains in Congress this fall. But despite some short-term success, this small-government revival is doomed to fail. The depressing truth is that the only way to regain the full measure of those freedoms proclaimed in our Founding Documents is for our current federal government to completely collapse under the weight of its own excesses."

"'They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety.' This quote by Ben Franklin is often used by civil libertarians in opposition to government security programs such as the Patriot Act. But this sentiment is equally applicable to those who would give up economic liberty to obtain economic safety. The economic attitude of the nation has shifted. We are no longer a nation of self-sufficient, rugged individualists; we are now a nation of addicts, hooked on a politician's promises of economic safety."

In general, I agree with the article's thesis on our addiction to Big Government. I say that with sadness, Nancy.

One solution to our spending problems would be to put a cap on Social Security, perhaps for at least five years. I am on Soc. Sec. and so is my wife. It would hurt us, but not kill us. Any politician who recommended such a thing would probably be defeated.

On Medicare, my wife has been disabled since 1991 and has been on Medicare since 1994. In all but two of those years, she has "paid" more into Medicare than she's taken out. She's taken great care to make sure she's not raiding Medicare. But she's the exception. There are zero incentives to encourage people to take good care of themselves (as my wife does). She does so because she's responsible and, to the degree possible, self-reliant.

I've been on Medicare for several years now, and I have NEVER spent more in a year than I've paid in premiums. We need a national commitment from people not to overuse Medicare. But that won't happen if most Americans remain clueless about the economic dynamics of the nation.

I believe we MIGHT be approaching a revolutionary situation. So many people want, want, and want, but the "government" (taxpayers) are running out of money to pay, pay, pay for those wants. A demagogue like Obama is making promises it will be financially impossible for the nation to meet.

Nancy, one reason I support Christine O'Donnell so strongly -- and hope you will also -- is that she tells the truth, as I'm trying to do in this piece. Maybe there's little room nowadays for truth-tellers, but I'm more optimistic than I was in 2006 and 2008 that there MAY be a market for truth-tellers.

Christine's point is that the government has been "stealing" (and using) the payments Americans have made into Social Security. And she's absolutely right. The feds have been stealing the money and using the money to make people more dependent. It's shameful. Obscene.

Will people, activists of modest means, contribute enough to ensure that Christine O'Donnell wins? I sure hope so. "Attagirls" for Christine will not be enough. If we don't provide financial support to people like Christine, we're just kidding ourselves.

Somebody told me this week that he can't contribute to Christine because he's "saving every cent for [his] family." He's living in fantasyland. All the money he's saving will be taken (literally or through inflation) by Obama and friends. It will be "redistributed" to those who didn't save a nickel.

The TeaParty and 912 movements are a sign of hope. But even they may not have grasped (Glenn Beck does) how dire our situation is. This may be the first time in history that we've experienced both deflation and inflation. It's like somehow getting fat and thin at the same time.

P.S. I hope you'll pass this e-mail on to as many friends as possible. Also, put it up on your blog(s). Let the life-and-death debate begin! Love to hear your thoughts . . .


American Thinker, Christine O'Donnell, Glenn Beck, TeaParty, 912 Movement, Barack Obama, Nancy Hayhurst

Delawareans Must Reject Mike Castle

Christine O’Donnell gives the voters of Delaware a choice, which is always a good thing (essential) in a constitutional republic (representative democracy). In my own humble opinion, no Republican can vote in good conscience for Mike Castle.

He voted for all the measures that have led this country to the brink of ruin. Did he ever warn us during his decades in office about the looming financial crisis? Of course not. He was busy accumulating millions in contributions from companies that later benefited from the bank bailout; he has voted for cap-and-trade, which would of course turn companies like DuPont into something resembling convenience stores. He voted for Obama's bloated "Omnibus" Spending Bill . . . and then grumbled something spending beyond our means. "Hypocisy and mendacity," as Big Daddy said in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Also, Castle has voted for every possible form of abortion, except perhaps the kind involving coat-hangers. Christine is against such things; she doesn’t believe they’re compatible with America’s core values. She’s right.

Will Mike debate her? Will the cow jump over the moon? We’ve had enough career politicians, enough creatures of the establishment, enough liberals like Castle masquerading as Republicans.

People who care deepy about our country will vote for Christine O’Donnell. The American people are waking up, and there’s no reason to believe Delawareans will be the only ones who remain sleeping.

Mike Castle, Christine O'Donnell, Delaware, US Senate, Castle Pro-Abortion,

Christine O'Donnell and Scott Brown

In late December, 2009, I got the following e-mail from a person in the Scott Brown Campaign -- Scott Brown then being a relative unknown from the Dark Blue state of Massachusetts:

"I am the policy advisor on the Scott Brown campaign. I have been getting your emails since Sarah was announced as the VP. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. Also how many people do generally send this email out to? We have seen an enormous surge of interest in our website."

I was delighted to receive that message from "RK," but she was giving me more credit than I deserved. The people who won the election for Scott Brown were you, the bloggers, online communicators, and activists who made people aware that Scott Brown (1) existed; (2) could win.

Christine O'Donnell, conservative Republican candidate for the US Senate in Delaware, is in the much the same position as Scott Brown was last December, an intriguing candidate facing what "seems" (key word) to be an uphill battle in Delaware.

Fact: Running an "impossible dream" campaign against Joe Biden (who was on the ballot for Senate and VP), Christine got 140,509 votes in tiny Delaware. That was 35,000 votes more than ANY Republican had received against Biden in his six previous victories.

Now, running against the most liberal Republican in Congress -- against the next-Arlen-Specter-in-waiting -- Christine needs only a TINY fraction of the votes she got in 2008 . . . to win. For very complex reasons, the Democrats are nominating an incredibly weak candidate.

Right now, there are four people working full-time on the campaign (including Christine and including me) and many more working every spare hour. We can not only smell victory, we can taste it. We have MANY people who played key parts in ensuring victory for Scott Brown.

What can you do for Christine, an intensely conservative, extremely likable, deeply principled woman? If you do the same kinds of things you did for Scott Brown -- get the conservative universe to commit to her campaign -- she will win. We will have accomplshed a "Delawre Miracle" on top of a "Massachusetts Miracle."

In the Book of Common Prayer, there's a line (and this is from memory) about a "love that demands not less than everything" -- speaking about Christ's love for humanity. We are under no illusions. Winning what Democrats wistfully call "the Biden seat" will demand that many people, especially Christine, give not less than everything. We're prepared to make that effort; we are making it. We believe that much in Christine and the kind of leadership she can bring to our country.

Will bloggers and others embrace Christine, write about her, and support her with their time and money? Those are always the questions in an insurgency candidacies; I've been involved in many, but this one -- and this candidate -- are special. Christine will get some big endorsements from men and women who are household names, but the endorsements -- and actions -- of people like you are the crucial ones.

You're the ones who will contact friends and allies; you're the ones who will make the phone calls; you're the ones who will knock on the doors in Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown and other Delaware locales. One women receiving this e-mail -- Sharin -- has pledged to come from California to campaign for Christine. She's also contributed, as I hope many of you will to Christine.

You're the ones who will make the early contributions that are absolutely essential to any winning campaign. There are people receiving this letter (and one writing it) who are basically out of money; they spent it all on conservative candidates; and on going to places like Massachusetts (for Scott Brown) and to western Pennsylvania (for Tim Burns) and Hawaii (for Charles Djou). Yes, people receiving this e-mail actually went to Hawaii and helped energize Tea Party and 9/12 groups to ensure Djou's victory in a key congressional race.

Christine's Republican opponent in Delaware has received contributions from 390 PACs. In my humble personal assessment, the PACs aren't throwing money at liberal Mike Castle for "good government." As for Christine, she is not the darling of Goldman Sachs or the $400,000 per annum lobbyists.

But I hope she's the darling of people dedicated, as she is, to taking back America. That's why I'm asking you to do two things:

One, go to her web site -- http://christine2010.com -- and sign up; you'll get twice weekly e-mail updates.

Two, invest in America's future by making a contribution to Christine's campaign. I assure you that your $10, or $20, or -- if you're flush this week -- your $100. I assure you the money will be spent wisely and well.

http://christine2010.com

In the final analysis, we take America back -- or we hand it over to the socialists and big-government elitists who now control things in Washington, DC. I know Christine O'Donnell well, and I know that she will not let you down.

God bless you all.

steve maloney
TeamChristine2010

P.S. I'm putting this on my blog, and if you have one, I hope you'll do the same. The more people that see this, the closer Christine will be to victory.


Scott Brown, Christine O'Donnell, Mike Castle, Delaware, Massachusetts, Washington Elitists, Goldman Sachs

Mike Castle: Next Arlen Specter

In my opinion, the most likely Republican to be the next Arlen Specter -- who once pretended to be a Republican -- is Delaware's Rep. Mike Castle. Like Specter, Castle is one of Barack Husein Obama's most reliable votes in Congress. In one statement, Specter says he became a Democrat "to be re-elected!" If anything is more important to Castle than being re-elected, he's neglected to tell us what it is. (Below: Why the long faces Mike and Arlen?)

Is it really really possible that Castle would "pull an Arlen Specter?" Only if it was necessary, to paraphrase the morose Specter, for the Delawarean "to be re-elected."

Like Specter, Castle has always liked Democrat presidents -- and Democrat legislators -- more than the Republican variety. Consider the following quotes from Michael Barone's The Almanac of American Presidents regarding Castle's record:

"He was one of 10 Republicans to support the Clinton Administration positions on most issues, forging compromises [i.e., weakening conservatives] on gun control [which he favors], taxes, and education."

"In early 2007, after the GOP had lost its majority, he was one of three Republicans who voted for all six bills in the Democrats' 'first-100-hours' agenda."

"In 2005, when the conservative Republican leadership pressed for a budget with spending cuts, Castle and the Main Street Group [liberal Republicans] resisted, demanding the removal of a provision allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge."

And on and on and on . . .

Like Specter, Castle fell all over himself to vote for the bank bailout and for "cap-and-tax." Both men are big backers of almost every conceivable form of abortion and federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Is Castle likely to be the next Arlen Specter? In fact, he already is. He's done everything to prove he's a Democrat other than change his registration.

Should any Republican in his right mind vote for Mike Castle over conservative Christian Christine O'Donnell? I'll let you answer that.

Note: See http://removerinos.com/.

Mike Castle, Christine O'Donnell, Arlen Specter, Delaware, US Senate, Michael Barone, Arlen Specter, removerinos.com, abortion

Christine O'Donnell: Christian, Conservative, Constitutionalist

Christine O'Donnell, candidate for US Senate in Delaware, is running against "the machine." What is the machine? It consists of career politicians, lobbyists and "big donors," and members of the political establishment. Christine's campaign will be a model for all insurgents. It will rely on massive volunteer support from all 50 states. And it will require patriots to dig deeply to provide the essential money needed to get her message across. Please sign up at Christine's web site: http://christine2010.com And please distribute these graphics to everyone you know. If we do these things, Christine will win . . . and help crush the political machine.

The sign at the pro-illegals rally says it all: "Give us Free . . . Health Care . . . Jobs -- No Taxes . . . House . . . Food . . YOU OWE US AMERICA! We will shoot . . . more police in . . . Arizona until . . . WE GET FREE!

Christine O'Donnell, GOP Establishment, Delaware, US Senate Delaware, Illegal Immigrants

Smear Attacks on Christine O'Donnell

"Where there's smoke there must be fire." (An old, questionable statement)

"Where there's smoke, there's sometimes a smoke machine." (A truer statement)

I absolutely hate it when my friend, Christine O'Donnell, gets smeared -- as she does. The Christine I know is a smart, funny, eminently likable human being. She's deeply religious but not at all "preachy." To her, "love thy neighbor," is an admonition she must do everything in her power to follow. That can be tough in a world -- the world of politics -- where so many people are frankly unlovable.

Christine is a candidate for the US Senate, and as I've suggested previously, she needs -- and deserves -- your backing, including your financial support. So, before you keep reading, please go to her web site and contribute as generously as you can:

http://christine2010.com/

Okay, don't you feel better?

Christine is running for a US Senate in a state where women just don't do such a thing. She's running in a state where monied, male interests have always held power . . . people like Caleb Boggs (former US Senator), William Roth (former US Senator) Joe Biden, Pete duPont, Thomas Carper (US Senator and former Governor), and Rep. Mike Castle, who's been in political office nearly as long as Senator Robert Byrd. Sen. Byrd isn't from Delaware, but with his longevity in office he'd feel right at home in "the First State," as Delaware (rightly) calls itself.

In Delaware, it sometime seems as if you have to be a Governor before you can be a US Senator and before you can be a US Representative. It seems that way, because it's almost always true. People go to the polls to vote in Delaware, but actually the choices have all been made for them. Voting is a sham . . . and that's a shame.

The smears sometimes launched at Christine have this theme: "How can you run for high office? You're a girl . . . and you're neither rich nor from a famous family. You struggled to pay your student loans." It's almost as if some of her political opponents -- and their media minions -- wonder why Christine has strayed out of the kitchen. She can in fact "stand the heat," but she won't stay in that comfortable kitchen, much as she loves to cook. Hey, she's half-Italian (like my own wife).

Christine will be a wonderful US Senator. The Senate could use a real American, someone who does in fact "feel our pain," because she's experienced it herself. She needs your support. Please give it to her. (For more about Christine O'Donnell, please scroll down on this blog.) http://christine2010.com.

Christine O'Donnell, Mike Castle, Joe Biden, Delaware, US Senate, Monied Classes

Contribute Now to Christine O'Donnell

As soldier Jim Rodgers makes clear below, it's time for American conservatives -- people who love this country -- to fish or cut bait. Please donate what you can at: http://christine2010.com/

Hi friends and fellow conservatives. I would like to encourage everyone to make a monetary contribution to help Christine O'Donnell succeed in beating a RINO in the Delaware primary election. She is a candidate for Joe Biden's US Senate seat. I realize you don't live in Delaware, however her election to the Senate is critical in order for us to take our country back. Christine is a Constitutional Conservative. Delaware's primary is September 14th, only weeks before the general election. She is in a tight race against a liberal RINO and she needs our support. Please send as large or small of a donation that you can afford. I am confident she can win the general election if she can beat the RINO Mike Castle that she is up against. I can't over emphasize the importance of her winning Joe Biden's Senate seat. This would send a signal to Washington every bit as big as the signal sent by Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts. Below is her site where you can make a contribution and help in other ways if you desire. Thank you for your support. Jim Rodgers

http://christine2010.com/

Christine O'Donnell, Mike Castle, RINO Mike Castle, Christine2010.com, Jim Rodgers

Bloggers: Christine O'Donnell's Victory Keys

Dear Friends: Thanks so much for your participation in last night's amazing conference call "starring" Christine O'Donnell, candidate for the US Senate seat from Delaware. We'd like to have another conference call next week to continue discussing concrete steps -- actions -- that will enable us to take back America. Christine's race is now "below the radar," especially for the Lamestream Media -- always the last to know what's happening in our country.

Bloggers (and other online communicators) are going to play a critical role in this race, just as they did with Scott Brown -- and are doing with Marco Rubio in FL and with Sue Lowden and Sharron Angle in NV and Pat Toomey in PA. Bloggers have let the world know such candidates exist and CAN WIN. The "Massachusetts Miracle" was the product of Internet "buzz" that ended up sounding like a billion busy bees. So, buzz away.

Early in the game -- and the Delaware Primary is four-plus months away -- money is crucial. Don't get me wrong: to win, the O'Donnell Campaign only needs to spend perhaps one-tenth as much as Mike Castle. That's because, with a fired-up campaign (and volunteer staff), hard work can trump hard cash. The battle now is for Christine to get just enough money . . . to win. Even small contributions help a lot.

Bloggers can assist by reminding people to go to Christine's web site, sign up for updates, and contribute what they can. If we, all of us, ask people to help Christine win this race, many of them will. We -- again, all of us -- are trying to reach a cascade effect, as with the Scott Brown campaign, where -- all of a sudden -- tens of thousands of activists are deeply engaged in "Team Christine."

To that end, bloggers can make the world aware who Christine is . . . and who her Primary opponent is. To see an example of what I mean, go to Frank Knotts's web site: http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com and see what he's been doing with exposing Mike Castle's conflicts of interest in campaign financing. Again, the Lamestream media won't touch this issue, but a blogger like Frank, with his fact-based columns, is performing a public service.

If you don't blog now, please consider doing it soon. If you do short, hard-hitting blog pieces two-or-three times a week, it will consume just a portion of your time. Consider using links to other blogs, such as the five below in Delaware. Blogger.com is a great place to start blogging. When you do, you'll find yourself -- "live and in black-and-white" -- appearing on Google. If you start blogging, please let me know so I can include you on the list.

Again, we'll plan to have another conference call next week. The emphasis will be on what we can do -- actions we can take -- to win. God bless all of you.

Important Delaware blogs:

David Levi Anderson's DE blog: http://delawarepolitics.net
Frank Knotts's DE blog: http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com
Jason C. O'Neill's DE blog: http://delawarerepublican.wordpress.com
Scott's DE blog: http://marklevinfan.com
Diane Hernandez's site: http://bluehenconservative.blogspot.com

Christine O'Donnell, Mike Castle, Delaware US Senate seat, David Levi Anderson, Frank Knotts, Jason C. O'Neill, Diane Hernandez, Marco Rubio, Sue Lowden, Sharron Angle, Pat Toomey, Delaware Primary

Congressman Latta: Obama Destroying Country

Republican dinner last night

Just thought I would share with you a little bit of what we heard at last night's Republican dinner here in Crawford County Ohio. John Kasich (running for Gov. of Ohio ) was the keynote speaker. Also present were many politicians, most notably, Bob Latta, our U.S. Congressman.

Mike and I walked up to Bob and thanked him for his conservative voting record and voiced our concern about what is going on in Washington. He made some funny botox remarks about Pelosi and then agreed with us that we have every reason to be concerned. As there were others waiting to talk to him, our time was brief. Although what took place later that evening should make chills run up and down everyone's spine to hear.

He had asked to speak a few words at the end of the night and went up on stage. He proceeded to tell the crowd how bad things really are in Washington . He said he only had a few minutes to speak, but if he could tell us even half of what the agenda is and what this administration plans to do to our country we couldn't sleep at night. He said he only gets about 4- 4 1/2 hours of sleep a night and worries constantly about what they want to do to this country. He said that Pelosi, Reid and Obama have to be stopped.

He said, "You know, you always hear this is the most important election blah blah blah, but I am telling you people...whatever you have to do to wake people up you need to do! We have got to vote them out in 2010 or with the things they have planned for this country we won't even be a country by 2020! Ten years. You could see the look of almost desperation on his face.

He talked about the huge debt. He talked about how the CBO gets their "figures". He sits on the finance committee of some sort and listens to the ramblings of Geitner and Bernanke.

He said "If you think that the Chinese won't hold this over us with all our debt you have another think coming. Our children will have nothing. I don't care if you have to go out door to door, tell at least 10 people who will then tell 10 people. We have to do this. This is the single most important election ever in the history of this country. The change that Obama promised us is NOT the change people thought he meant." Chilling.

God bless all of you who



Congressman Bob Latta, John Kasich, Geithner, Bernanke, Ohio Republicans, Nancy Pelosi, Obama Administration

Mike Castle: Another Arlen Specter

The following piece appeared in RedState.Com on March 10, 2010, the day Christine O'Donnell announced her candidacy for the Delaware US Senate seat.

Today [March 10], Christine O’Donnell announced that she would run for Joe Biden’s vacant seat in Delaware. O’Donnell made a brave run in 2008 against Joe Biden, likely knowing full well she could never win in the political environment that existed in 2008, but went for it anyway.

But that was 2008, this is 2010. The Dems are choking on their own vomit with this socialistic healthcare bill, and we need to Kick them while they are down. There is very little doubt in my mind that DE will go red in the Senate due to the fact that the lamester liberals are running a candidate who has never run at the state level and not someone who could make it competitive like Beau Biden. So here is my proposition:

RUN A REAL CONSERVATIVE

Sure, we have Mike Castle who has been a career politician for literally more than half his life (45 years, he is 70), who is with us on some things, but against us on important things, here is a small list:

• Supported SCHIP (HR2, 7/14/2009)
• Supported Omnibus Appropriations (HR1105, 2/25/2009)
• Supported Mortgage Loan Modifications (HR1106, 3/5/2009)
• Voted Against Balancing the Budget in 10 Years (HRes 85, 4/2/2009)
• Supported Hate Crimes Bill (HR 1913, 4/29/2009)
• Supported Parental Leave for Federal Employees (HR626, 6/4/2009)
• Supported Cash for Clunkers (HR2751, 6/9/2009)
• Supported funding for Legal Services Corporation (HR2847, 6/18/2009)
• Voted Against Missle Defense (HR2647, 6/25/2009)
• Supported Cap & Trade (HR2454, 6/26/2009)
  Supported funding for Planned Parenthood (HR3293, 6/24/2009)

This is simply inexcusable to me, and this is one of the reasons why we need O’Donnell as our GOP nominee.

It’s time for a fresh face who will be with us 100% of the time as opposed to an old face who will be with use 80% of the time, and stab us in the back on close votes like what Specter, Snowe, Collins, and Brown have done in the past. It is disturbing to me that an organization as inept as the Democratic party is able to field candidates against incumbents because they feel they aren’t representing their best intrests.

I feel that us as conservatives are just willing to play it “safe” to win an election, and then everyone is surprised why we have RINOs running the senate. When was the last time a conservative primaried an incumbent? Toomey and Rubio. Look at them now, they are both poised to win seats in bluish/purple states.

It’s time to get real and time to support candidates that will fight for us, and that we can be proud of. This doesn’t just pertain to Delaware, but also in Arizona, New Hampshire, California, and wherever there is a conservative willing to put their neck on the line for our movement.

Americans are tired of Obama’s ideas, but people won’t vote for us unless they are able to differentiate on a policy level, not just a party level.

As primaries move closer, I will be examining specific races around the country where the Establishment choice is not essentially the best choice for us Real Conservatives.

"The Argument Against Career Politician Mike Castle"
January 25, 2010 by Jason O'Neill

http://delawarerepublican.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/the-argument-against-mike-castle/#comment-391

The biggest argument against current U.S. Rep and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Castle (R-DE) is that he is part of the establishment. Congressman Mike Castle has been on the government dole since 1967. Here is a breakdown of his elective office career:

Delaware State Representative (1967-1969)
Delaware State Senate (1969-1977)
Lt. Governor (Delaware) (1981-1985)
Governor (Delaware) (1985-1992)
U.S. Represntative (R-DE) (1993-Present)

So basically, with the exception of a four year break during the Carter Administration, Mike Castle has been on the government dole for over 42 years. Isn’t he part of the problem? More importantly, Congressman Castle is really an Arlen Specter Democrat! Here are some of his highlights:

FISCAL/ECONOMIC

• In 2008, the American Conservative Union gave Mike Castle a 28% rating.
• In 2008, Congressman Castle supported the interests (fiscal conservatism) of Club For Growth 26% of the time.
• Americans for Fair Taxation considered how each congressional representative stood on the FairTax, illustrated with +3 as a sponsorship, +2 as a co-sponsorship, +1 as support, 0 as does not support, and -1 as against. In 2008, the actions of Representative Castle is represented by -1.
• In 2008 National Taxpayers Union gave Representative Castle a rating of D.
• In 2007 Americans for Tax Reform gave Representative Castle a grade of 58.
  
• In 2007, the American Conservative Union gave Mike Castle a 20% rating. Source: VoteSmart.org
• Representative Castle supported the interests of the Americans for Prosperity only 63 percent of the time in 2007.
• In 2007 Traditional Values Coalition gave Representative Castle a grade of 0.
  Representative Castle supported the interests of the National Small Business Association 60% in 2007-2008.

SOCIAL/FAMILY

• Castle supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 75% in 2008.
• In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Representative Castle a grade of 100.
• Castle supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100% in 2006.
• Representative Castle supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 55% in 2007-2008.
• Representative Castle supported the interests of the American Family Association 0 percent in 2007-2008.
• Representative Castle supported the interests of the Family Research Council 23 percent in 2007-2008.
  Representative Castle supported the interests of the PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays 100 percent in 2007.

GOVERNMENT REFORM

Representative Castle supported the interests of the Citizens Against Government Waste 48% in 2007.

SECOND AMENDMENT

1. In 2008 National Rifle Association gave Representative Castle a grade of F, in its scorecard for candidates seeking office in 2008.
2. In 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Representative Castle a grade of F-.
3. Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2006, the National Rifle Association assigned Representative Castle a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

LABOR

1. Representative Castle supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 73 percent in 2008.
2. Representative Castle supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 57 percent in 2008.
3. Representative Castle supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 83 percent in 2008.

NATIONAL SECURITY

1. Representative Castle supported the interests of the American Security Council Foundation 50% in 2007-2008.
2. In 2007-2008 Center for Security Policy gave Representative Castle a rating of 54%. So how is Congressman Castle a CONSERVATIVE?

SOURCE: www.VoteSmart.org

RedState.com, Michael Castle, Christine O'Donnell, Arlen Specter, Joe Biden, Jason O'Neill, Cap and Trade, American Conservative Union (ACU), http://DelawareRepublican.wordpress.com

Mike Castle: Contemptible Career Politician

Note: Mike Castle has been in what they laughingly call "public service" since 1966. He held a "real job" (such as it was) for just about one year, as a novice lawyer. He's never run a competitive race; this year will be his first, and his campaign strategy is to spread rumors and lies about his Republican opponent, Christine O'Donnell. He refuses to debate the issues with Christine. Why? Because his stands on key issues, including cap-and-trade, repeal of ObamaCare, and the bailouts, are indefensible.

What's also indefensible is his use of surrogates, including one at the local paper, to go around spreading half-truths and outright lies about Christine O'Donnell. Christine is a thoroughly good woman. Castle, the classic rich boy who wants his "toy" (his federal office) may be a good something, but he's not a good man. And media people who do his bidding -- after all, he's a very important blowhard -- are beneath contempt. Does he offer 30 pieces of silver? Or is it all paper money?

Mike Castle's fundraising is a disgrace. He's collecting huge sums of money from companies and industries he's supposed to monitor and oversee. Where are the media stories about the companies that are funneling money to Castle for "services rendered." Mike Castle has never had a real job in his life, but he gets all sort of deference from media figures who are supposed to ask him hard questions. It stinks.

His campaign slogans might be: "Vote for me, I'm a career politician"; or, "Vote for me, I'm a charter member of the decaying GOP Establishment"; or "Vote for me; I've sold out to every special interest group imaginable." Castle's view seems to be that what the US Senate truly needs is one more reliable liberal -- i.e., him. No wonder, removerinos.com has Castle listed as the most offensive RINO in Congress. Delaware deserves better. Christine O'Donnell IS better.

See below . . .
Delaware's Crumbling Castle of Corruption

Michael Castle, Christine O'Donnell, Delaware, Republican-in-Name-Only, Cap-and-Trade, removerinos.com

Delaware's Crumbling Castle of Corruption

On the site http://removerinos.com Rep. Mike Castle of DE is listed as the "ace-of-spades," removerino's designation for the worst R-I-N-O in Congress. There's one blogger out there, Frank Knotts of Delaware, who has turned up the rocks around Castle's fundraising, and, as you see below, many creepy-crawlies have appeared. As Frank demonstrates, Castle is to political integrity as Hugh Hefner is to chastity. Frank shows how career politicians sell out to special interests in order to keep themselves in office forever. Mike Castle first got elected in 1966, several years before his Senate race opponent (and my friend) Christine O'Donnell was born.

What Frank Knotts describes below is not technically illegal, only unethical. Castle is receiving huge campaign contributions, mega-millions, from industries he's supposed to monitor and oversee. It stinks. I hope you'll link to Frank's pieces on your own blogs -- and forward it on to your political allies.



Rep. Mike Castle’s Conflict of Interest

March 28, 2010 by frankknotts

Now that we have learned that Christine O’Donnell intends to primary long time Washington insider Rep. Mike Castle (RINO-De) for the Senate seat, formerly held by even longer Washington insider Joe Biden(unfortunately currently our vice president), there have been questions raised of Ms. O’Donnell’s ability to run a campaign, let alone to make financial decisions on the national scale.

So, I believe since Mr. Castle’s supporters think it right to bring up past deeds of Ms. O’Donnell, then I would say that Mr. Castle should clean his closet as well.

Let us start by looking at the 2007-2008 election cycle shall we.

Here is a link that show contributions to Mr. Castle for that cycle.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009775&type=I&mem=

s you will see, the number one contributor, amounting to 10% of his campaign contributions is the law firm of Young, Conaway. This is a [Wilmington, DE] law firm that deals primarily with bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. They contributed $146,915. [Note they're also the biggest contributor this year, up near $30,000 already]

You will also see that Mr. Castle’s next two largest contributors were Bank of America at number two with $27,950 and coming in at #3 was Morgan Stanley with a paltry $14,850. [Note, both recipients of bailout money]

Now those last two sound very familiar and may explain Mr. Castle’s yes vote on the TARP legislation. Of course this is exactly the type of voting you would expect from someone whose supporters describe him as a fiscal conservative, right?

Oh and by the way , for those who don’t know it, Mr. Castle sits on the House Financial Services Committee, you know the one that oversees and regulates banks and the financial sector. But of course I’m sure that Mr. Castle’s supporters will see absolutely no conflict of interest there.

In the eyes of Mr. Castle’s supporters, this is exactly the kind of experience that we need to send back to Washington in the Senate, to continue the good work that he has been doing in the House for oh so many years. While those who feel as I do , believe that this is exactly why he must be defeated.

And one last note to those of you out there still clinging to the idea that Mr. Castle is any kind of conservative, in 2009 while serving on the House Financial Services Committee . In a Vote of 39-29 on legislation to create yet another government bureaucracy that would be known as The Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Mike Castle was the only, as in no other, as in single Republican vote, to vote with, that’s right you guessed it, he voted with the Democrats against all of his so-called fellow Republicans in favor of growing government once again.

So to all of you out there that are ready to condemn Christine O’Donnell for her mistakes, you may want to consider the fact that Mr. Castle’s actions were conscious decisions.

Rep. Mike Castle’s Conflict of Interest Pt. II

April 4, 2010 The following is a press release from March 12, 2010.

” Title: Castle Supports Bringing More Bankruptcy Judges To Delaware
Date: 03/12/2010
Location: Washington, DC
Press Release

Today, Delaware Congressman Mike Castle voted in favor of H.R. 4506, the Bankruptcy Judgeships Act, legislation aimed at authorizing additional federal bankruptcy judgeships. Delaware, which currently has one permanent and five temporary judgeships, would now have six permanent positions

.“With the financial crisis and economic downturn resulting in an increase in the amount of both corporate and personal bankruptcies, Delaware’s bankruptcy courts have experienced rising caseload,” said Rep. Castle.

“With the temporary positions set to expire soon, this bill makes the five temporary slots permanent. In addition to reflecting the seriousness of the economic challenges that we face, the rising bankruptcy rates are reminders that this Congress and Administration must focus on economic growth with policies that expand innovation and protect, instead of spend, taxpayer dollars.”

In 2009, the United States saw 1.47 million bankruptcy filings, up 32 percent from the year before. Currently, there are 352 bankruptcy judges in the federal system, of which 36 are temporary positions. H.R. 4506 would make the five judgeships permanent in Delaware that were created through the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act and the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act.

The Bankruptcy Judgeships Act is based on recommendations of the U.S. Judicial Conference, a body of 30 federal judges, including the chief justice of the United States, which makes recommendations to Congress on the federal judiciary.”

I especially like the this part, “In addition to reflecting the seriousness of the economic challenges that we face, the rising bankruptcy rates are reminders that this Congress and Administration must focus on economic growth with policies that expand innovation and protect, instead of spend, taxpayer dollars.”

So what does he vote for ? Increasing the number of government employees on a permanent basis. And how does having more judges help to expand innovation? It is also a good thing that we will have more bankruptcy judges, since so many of the things that Mr. Castle votes for will lead to more bankruptcies.

It is also notable once again that Mr. Castle’s number one contributor to his campaign is the law firm of Young & Conaway, this is a law firm that deals primarily in corporate restructuring and, that’s right bankruptcies. But I am sure that having more judges and bankruptcies in the state of Delaware will not in any way benefit Young & Conaway and has nothing to do with the way that Mr. Castle voted.


Frank Knotts' blog is: http://politicallyfrank.wordpress.com

Michael Castle, Christine O'Donnell, Delaware, US Senate, Young, Conaway, et al, Morgan Stanley, Hugh Hefner, Bank of America, TARP, Frank Knotts

Urgent: Volunteers for Christine O'Donnell

It's time! You've been asking for months how you can get involved and help the O'Donnell for U.S. Senate Campaign.

Well, here's your chance....your second chance.

This campaign is the Delaware people's campaign. But more importantly, this is YOUR campaign. You are the reason we will be victorious. You, the supporters and volunteers, ARE the O'Donnell Campaign...and it is because of you that Christine will defeat two entrenched career politicians, Mike Castle and Chris Coons.

This campaign is going to be huge. Volunteers are going to swarm Delaware to be a part of this campaign just like they did in Massachusetts, which produced the "Massachusetts Miracle" for Scott Brown. In fact, dozens of activists from around the country are already planning to do the same for Christine in September and November. But we can't get there without you.

This campaign is about taking back America and electing a candidate that will FINALLY LISTEN to the American people &, most importantly, the people of Delaware.

It's simple: your help, dedication and prayers are going to win this election. So, if you are ready to restore our country to what it once was, free ourselves from the scourge of Statism and Progressivism & TAKE BACK OUR STATE than join our volunteers force.

Our second Volunteer Training session will be this Friday April 30th, 2010 at 6:30pm. We realize it's short notice but we have a golden opportunity. The O'Donnell for U.S Senate senior consultant, who happens to be a top adviser for many U.S. Senators, will be coming to Delaware this Friday evening. He will be sharing with you, our chosen supporters, a new technology which the O'Donnell campaign will be utilizing to revolutionize Christine's ground game & this race. We'd like you to be a part of this. To join us, please RSVP by replying to this email.

The active people in Town Hall meetings, who are making their voices heard at Tea Parties, 9-12 & Founders' Values events have done their jobs. It's time for all of us to learn from their examples and get engaged. So let your voice be heard. Reply today and join our volunteer army that's going to win the war against RINOs and Progressivism. RSVP today.

-David Hust
O'Donnell for U.S. Senate Volunteer Coordinator
www.Christine2010.com




RSVP Instructions:
For security reasons the location will be divulged when participants RSVP. For the purpose of confirmation, officially RSVP for this event by replying to this email with your name, address, phone number & email. Once you RSVP, you will receive a confirmation email with the meeting location. If you do not receive a confirmation reply from the campaign within 24 hours, please call 302-468-7010. Please RVSP by Thursday. (To note: This particular event will take place in Kent County so that all Delawareans have the opportunity to join us.)

P.S. If you joined us at our previous training session, you don't need to attend this next session but as you know this information is exciting so you are more than welcome to come again. In addition, please feel free to bring along other ardent Christine O'Donnell supporters and patriots who you know want to bring about a positive change in Delaware. This is our time! The people's time! We can do this if we ban together and fight.

Christine O'Donnell, US Senate, Delaware, Kent County, Volunteers for O'Donnell

Mark Critz: Following Murtha's Lead

Mark Critz -- Democrat candidate in PA's 12th CD -- was a willing servant of the most corrupt member of Congress, John Murtha. Of course, "Mr. Murtha," as Democrats describe that odious man, specialized in trading earmarks -- our money -- for huge campaign contributions. If Critz would do it any other way, he's neglected to say so. If he wasn't going to be a willing political tool for Pelosi, he wouldn't have relied on her (exclusively) to finance his campiagn.

http://timburnsforcongress.com

"Mr." Murtha called his own constituents "racists" and "rednecks." Does Critz disagree? Apparently not. Murtha is falsely credited with "bringing home the bacon," but it's clear that he regarded his constituents much as his heroine Nancy Pelosi would: as know-nothing ne'er-do-wells. As Murtha served term after term, the 12th district sank deeper and deeper in poverty and hopelessness. The jobs Murtha created were a tiny fraction of the jobs he destroyed. But the millions he received from people he paid off with earmarks were always enough to keep him getting re-elected. John Murtha made out just fine; the 12th district continued its economic nosedive.

Murtha was also presented as a "conservative, pro-military Democrat." He was in fact a loyal Democrat, but he was neither conservative nor pro-military. He voted the liberal side twice as often as he did the conservative (check out the National Journal's liberal-conservative analysis). On the military side, he falsely described the brave Haditha Marines as "cold-blooded killers." If he really gave a hoot about the lives of American soldiers, he had an odd way of showing it.

On his bogus conservatism: Murtha voted against banning same-sex marriage (all the while presenting himself as a Roman Catholic); he voted against repealing the estate tax (known popularly as "the death tax"); he voted against extending the Patriot Act; and he voted against military tribunals for enemy combatants like Khalid Sheik Muhammed, architect of 9/11.

What's more, he voted against building the southern border fence to keep out illegal immigrants; he voted for early withdrawal -- actually, early surrender -- from Iraq. He voted for the Wall Street bailout. And he voted for expanding SCHIP -- the children's health program that took many young people off private insurance and put them on the public dole. And then Murtha capped off a disgraceful career by voting for ObamaCare.

Did the socially and fiscally conservative people of the 12th district know that "conservative" John Murtha was voting this way? Did they know Murtha was always there when Pelosi needed a vote for her far-Left initiatives?

Some people in the 12th did know. But many didn't. And, sadly, some didn't care. They'd bought the myth that Murtha was somehow providing economic benefits to the 12th. After 38 years of Murtha in Congress, the one amazing thing is that there are still people in the district. No business that refused to make political payoffs to Murtha and his bagman, Mark Critz, would even consider creating jobs in the 12th.

Would Mark Critz, Murtha's "deputy director" vote the same way as his old boss? There's no evidence that Critz wouldn't hew the Obama/Pelosi line. In fact, Critz would be one more Democrat disaster for western Pennsylvania.

If the 12th district is to have a future, it must not send another corrupt politician to the House. There is a much better choice: conservative Republican Tim Burns. All the lies the Beltway Democrat establishment tells about Burns can't hide one fact: he knows what's necessary to create jobs; Mark Critz doesn't have a clue.



Tim Burns, Mark Critz, John Murtha, PA 12th congressional district, Earmarks, Nancy Pelosi,,Haditha Marines, Barack Obama, ObamaCare, KSM

Mark Critz: Another Crooked Democrat

Jim Geraghty in National Review has Mark Critz's number. If you scroll down, you're find another essay on the abominable Critz, running to succeed his old boss, John Murtha, one of the most corrupt men ever to hold federal office. The following three paragraphs are from Jim Geraghty's article:

"In some ways, Mark Critz is exactly the right man to continue the work of the late John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who spent most of his last years in Congress surrounded by allegations that he traded earmarks for donations. Critz was Murtha’s district director, and he shares many habits with his old boss: malodorous deals, explanations to the public that don’t add up, conflicting political and public-office loyalties, and a cynical sensibility that “the appearance of impropriety” ceased being a worry a long time ago.

"The first questions about Critz’s honesty and propriety were raised by his work as a bookkeeper for a (now bankrupt) Johnstown firm, Parkins Concrete. According to the political blog PA2010, Critz testified that he worked part-time as the company’s bookkeeper and business manager from at least late 1997 until early 2000. During that time, the company racked up more than $13,000 worth of state tax violations and at least one federal tax lien of more than $127,000, according to public records. (One would expect the company’s bookkeeper to keep an eye on the payment of state and federal taxes, no?)

"Critz claimed he stopped working for the company before joining Murtha’s staff, but it appears the two jobs overlapped for a year. Bloggers for The Pennsylvania Progressive called him out on the contradiction; the Critz campaign’s response was to change the candidate’s LinkedIn page."


Note: If you want to help defeat Mark Critz, please go to Tim Burns's web site. The Geraghty article in its entirety is available at:
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=ZWEzZmYyNWI1YWYxNmE2MjI4YTcwMmNmOTZlZDA4YTE=

Burns's web site is at: http://timburnsforcongress.com

Mark Critz, Tim Burns, John Murtha, National Review

Mark Critiz: Murtha-Like Crook

Who's Mark Critz, besides being a Democrat candidate for the seat of his old boss, John Murtha, in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District? One writer (John Morgan) says that, when it came to Murtha's corrupt earmark deals, Critz was his "bagman."

http://timburnsforcongress.com/

In fact, Critz was the guy who gave Murtha what's called "plausible deniability." Before Murtha handed out multi-million dollars "earmarks" (our tax money), Critz would work out the deal.
That way Murtha wouldn't get arrested, as he should have been.

Specifically, Critz would tell the favored contractor exactly how much was expected in campaign contributions. Isn't that really a form of bribery? Well, yes, but it's the way Murtha did what he called "business." In Illinois, it's called "pay to play."

Now, somebody else is serving as Mark Critz's bagman. Critz been promoted. On television, he talks about how he was Murtha's "Director of Economic Development." (He was really a "depty director" of the Murtha Bribery Department, but what's a little exaggeration among friends?)

In the 12th District, one of Pennsylvania's true depressed areas, there's been no economic development that anyone would notice. In Michael Barone's The Almanac of American Politics, he notes that the population of Murtha's (and Critz's) hometown, Johnstown, has dropped somewhat.

Just before John Murtha was born, the city had 67,000 residents. By the mid-1990s, when Murtha had already been in Congress a long time, the population was 22,000. In this decade, the 12th's population has declined by 3% -- and it's not going to be heading upward any time soon. There's speculation the 12th might be redistricted; the real question is if it will dry up and blow away.

Economic development? No, economic disaster. The median income in the district is $37,000, the worst in the state outside Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The poverty rate is 14.8%. In an adjoining district (the 18th), the poverty is half that level. The median home price in the 12th is under $85,000, 40% below the level in the rest of the state. How much credit for this mess does "economic development" guy Critz get? He gets some, and Murtha gets the rest.

The 12th district has the largest elderly population in the state. Young people have been leaving the area in droves for generations. The proportion of college graduates in the 12th is a little over 16%. In my own western Pennsylvania district (the 4th, west and south of the 12th), the percentage of college graduates is twice as high. Any college graduates who stay in the 12th district are probably satisfied to be working at McDonald's or Wal-Mart.

This is the kind of economic "development" that resulted from all those earmarks . . . and the tens of million in campaign contributions Murtha solicited (extorted). What kind of company in its right mind was going to start a business in a district dominated by a blowhard (Murtha, abetted by Critz) who was always standing there with his hand out? When it came to creating real jobs, Murtha was radioactive.

I can say these things, because they're true. A great conservative candidate like Republican Tim Burns probably can't say them -- even though they're true. Critz's idea of economic development is to set a hefty price for an earmark. Did he get a percentage of the take? Overall, the number of "jobs" created by sleazy political deals is near the economic equivalent of absolute zero.

In Critz's latest commercial, he's telling western Pennsylvanians he would have "voted against" ObamaCare? When do we stop laughing? Critz would have voted for the heath bill just as John Murtha did. Of course, Murtha was Pelosi's strongest ally in the House. And Pelosi just raised Critz a truck-load of cash. Trust me, Mark Critz will do what he's told.

Tim Burns would be a godsend to the 12th district. He's a businessman who has actually created jobs. Mark Critz is John Murtha -- without the political clout, the red face, and the potty-mouth. If the 12th has any hope, it will come in the form of Tim Burns. Critz? He's another word that begins with "c-r." More on Monday about Critz and criminality . . .

Mark Critz, Tim Burns, John Murtha, Johnstown, PA, Pelosi, ObamaCare, John Morgan