Published today!

It’s time for new leadership and new ideas in the GOP

By: Bill Shirley | Augusta County Republican Committee
Published: June 11, 2012

The direction our federal government has taken for the past 20 years must be reversed to preserve our Republic, our liberties and our economic stability. The two candidates I am supporting in Tuesday’s Republican Primary will lead the charge to accomplish these vital goals.

Karen Kwiatkowski, a 20-year Air Force veteran and retired lieutenant colonel with a Ph.D. in world politics, is challenging Bob Goodlatte for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives here in the 6th District. Karen was working at the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks and now lives in Shenandoah County on a small farm that she and her husband operate.

Her opponent is a 10-term incumbent who initially ran for office pledging to abide by term limits. Bob’s voting record in Washington reveals a pattern of spending, borrowing and expanding the federal government. He has voted for 13 successive increases to the debt ceiling (currently at $15.7 trillion) and increases in regulatory burdens in agriculture and education (he voted for No Child Left Behind). He reduced civil liberties by voting for the National Defense Authorization Act and the Patriot Act and supports limiting Internet freedom through SOPA.

Bob refused to debate Karen even after eight 6th District Republican unit chairmen called for his participation.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom that “truth is great, and will prevail if left to herself … unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate… .” Bob Goodlatte has disarmed truth by refusing to debate. He has turned his back on needed discussion of issues, policies and his voting record. Most importantly, he has turned his back on the residents of the 6th District by depriving them of information to make informed decisions about their representative.

Karen Kwiatkowski will uphold the Constitution and work relentlessly to limit the federal government to the powers enumerated by the Founders. She has proposed a “Read the Bills Act,”, a “Write the Bills Act,” and a “One Subject At A Time Act” to hold Congress accountable. Her voice will resonate in Washington and rock the status quo. We won’t be wondering what she’s doing. We will know.

Jamie Radtke, the co-founder of the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation, is running in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. She started in politics by serving under the late Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina as a special assistant on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Jamie graduated cum laude from Liberty University and earned a master’s degree in public policy from William and Mary. She is a staunch constitutional and fiscal conservative, and a devoted wife, mother of three and home-schooler.

Her chief opponent is former Sen. George Allen, whose voting record on spending is deplorable. Allen voted to add $3.1 trillion of new national debt and to extend the debt ceiling four times. He went on to vote for 40,000 earmarks, the “Bridge to Nowhere,” his own salary increase, and ethanol, sugar and farm subsidies. He also sponsored “national heritage areas” legislation (an Agenda 21 initiative) that tramples on individuals’ property rights. He did all this damage and much more in only six years. Such a voting record does not deserve a second term in office.

Jamie has a specific plan to cut spending and balance the budget that she calls “My Two Cents.” This plan freezes federal spending at 2012 levels and reduces it by 2 percent each year through 2016. At this point, revenues rally and catch up with outlays and the U.S. has a balanced budget. Jamie will fight to reform the tax code and reduce regulations. She will bring virtue to Washington, and we can count on her to stand on principle.

Jamie and Karen are outspoken advocates of life, liberty and property; the Bill of Rights; and the biological truth that life begins at conception. Both have a vision and a plan to restore our Republic. Both have the intelligence, fire and political will to lead this restoration. Let’s give them the opportunity. Vote for Radtke and Kwiatkowski on Tuesday.

Bill Shirley is chairman of the Augusta County Republican Committee.