It’s time for Tea Party activists in Southern California to put up, or shut-up.
Despite California’s “flakey” and leftist reputation, there are certain pockets outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco that very much resemble suburban and rural areas in the mid-west (except with much better weather and baseball). I happen to live in just such an area.
California’s 42nd Congressional District. It is a bizarrely shaped district that covers much of LA’s suburban mecca, Orange County (the place Ronald Reagan once described as “where good Republicans go to die”) and rural portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino county. The district is shaped the way it is so a Republican incumbent is sure to win year after year after year… and he has.
For the past ten years the district has been “represented” by Republican Gary Miller. I put those quotes around his name because looking at his record I can’t, for the life of me, see how he has represented me or my family or my neighbors at all. In fact, in light of recent revelations, it seems that Republican Gary Miller’s most important constituency is Republican Gary Miller’s bank account.
I will get into all of the reasons why Republican Gary Miller should be turned out of office in a bit. First, I want to address the Tea Party concept and why primary season is so important this year.
The loose coalition of citizens who refer to themselves as “Tea Party Members” have spent a lot of energy and resources voicing their opposition to specific legislation that grew the size and scope of the federal government. At the root of the protests was the fear that an out of control federal government would not only infringe on basic constitutional freedoms of every American, but the inevitable tax burden and growing federal debt would cripple our already hobbled economy.
Despite the Tea Party’s energy, publicity and momentum, the Obama Administration and Democratic Congress has been able to win every critical battle along the way because of one simple fact: They had the votes. If the Tea Party is going to be effective in actually changing legislation (or simply halting legislation) they must make their voices heard when it counts, on election day. And to be taken as a serious ideological movement, and not just a wing of the Republican Party, they must continue to turn away from Republican candidates that are part of the Washington problem.
And with Republican Gary Miller, Southern California Tea Party activists have the chance to send the same message that their compatriots in Utah did last month. Republican Gary Miller is “Candidate X” for the effectiveness of the Tea Party movement. If laid-back conservatives in Southern California can turn out a ten-year incumbent, all bets are off!
So, why Republican Gary Miller? Why focus on a seemingly un-offensive congressman who barely gets noticed on a national level and seems to toe the line for the Republican party on most issues? Because he has all the traits of an out of touch, entitled, self-absorbed politician who takes advantage of his position to enrich himself and his business associates. And, when questioned about it, he shows himself to be arrogant, vicious and downright deceitful.
In the coming days I will focus on a few specific examples of these problems. But for now, I will leave you with this video of Republican Gary Miller responding to a Los Angeles reporter’s questions about his questionable earmarks and land deals. And, my friends in Southern California please watch this and ask yourself: “Is this how I want to be represented?”
[youtube RPWSA4-Bn6o]
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