I support J.D. Hayworth

John McCain deserves our respect. He is a war hero who put his life on the line for our country. He served with admiration and distinction during Vietnam including while in a POW camp. He even turned down an early release that was offered for propaganda purposes since his father was commander of all U.S. forces in Vietnam. He chose to stay with his soldiers and continue to endure torture. Hearing the horror stories about the POW camps, it is hard to imagine making that choice. He continues to bear the physical scars and disabilities that he incurred during his plane's crash landing and his subsequent internment. This is not me merely "checking the box" before I explain why I do not support him, John McCain is an American hero.

That being said, he is not a conservative. Sure he has some conservative credentials like opposing earmarks but McCain cannot be counted on to stand with conservatives and fight the battle that we are now engaged in with the Democrats. He opposed Bush's tax cuts as "tax cuts for the rich", ran a lackluster Presidential campaign, and opposes enhanced interrogation techniques. He sponsored an immigration reform which would have thrown open our borders and another which unconstitutionally "reformed" financing of campaigns. He also co-sponsored a cap-and-trade bill with Sen. Lieberman. He advocates universal healthcare and affirmative action, he opposes the sale of cheap handguns (also known as midnight specials) which puts self defense out of reach for many poorer families who need it the most. McCain felt so strongly about the stimulus that he suspended his Presidential campaign to rally support for it. He also supported the auto bailouts. McCain supports stem cell research. Need I go on?

J.D. Hayworth first came to my attention with his book on illegal immigration titled "Whatever It Takes." I found the book filled with common sense and refutations of the typical liberal talking points. From blistering statistics showing that most crop-pickers are American citizens to anecdotal evidence about citizens standing outside recently raided Tyson chicken plants to apply for jobs, Hayworth demolishes the argument for illegal immigration. Far from being a nativist, Hayworth lays out the illegal immigration debate in dollars and cents. And, surprise, they are costing you money. In the form of higher taxes, higher medical bills, and reduced services you are paying for illegals.

Hayworth was decried in the Presidential primaries as a one-issue candidate but he stands firm in all aspects of conservatism. He wrote the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, he supports the War on Terror, he opposed TARP and cap-and-trade. He is unequivocally pro-life and has received a rating of 98 from the American Conservative Union.

In the days when we have learned that there is no such thing as a "moderate Democrat," isn't it time that we purged ourselves of the moderate Republicans? As in 1980, when the tide was turning against the Democrats don't we now, more than ever, need to remember Reagan's words, "No pale pastels but bold colored differences!"

Please support J.D Hayworth in his primary fight against John McCain.

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Conservative Ken