O'Donnell - Witches, Sex and Silliness

I've seen the Mainstream Media sources, from FoxNews to CNN and MSNBC spending an exorbitant amount of time covering some clips from late night nobody Bill Mahr's former show "Politically Incorrect with Bill Mahr" and from MTV (what news sources! *please note the sarcasm*). Most of these clips come from the mid - late 90's when O'Donnell was in her 20's. O'Donnell has said, when asked at a debate at a Jewish Community Center in Delaware, that the statements on sex and masturbation were made when she was in her early 20's and perhaps overly excited in her youth about her new faith. She has said that her faith has matured now and that she sees sex as a personal matter.

Her statements about witchcraft made to Bill Mahr on his show in the late 90's have recently become news after Mahr began a public blackmail campaign against O'Donnell. Mahr has said that he would release 1 tape per week until O'Donnell agrees to come on his show. Interestingly enough, Mahr and his friends John Stewart and Steven Colbert who are all good for a laugh but who can't be considered "serious" commentators are rumored to be involved in a "Million Moderate March" this October right before the November elections. Ok, I have to pause for a second to make this point, it's biased so I may lose you here but... I doubt I'll be proven wrong about this but, I can't see how Mahr, Colbert and Stewart could get 15 people in a coffee shop to all buy a cup of coffee, much less rally a million people on the mall. In fact, I predict that all three hosts are likely to draw less than 1 10th of the number of Americans who showed up at the Glenn Beck "Restoring Honor Rally" on Aug. 28th in D.C. That event drew between 500,000 and 750,000 Americans from all over the country. I challenge these Three Musketeers to get even 50,000 people to slither over to their debacle on the mall.

So what does all this mean? Well, it means that the MSM and the Delaware Democrat Party either didn't get the memo or just don't get it period. My guess is that it's a little bit of both. The News Journal, specifically liberal hit piece writer Ginger Gibson, spent the majority of the campaign peddling petty garbage stories to attempt to eat away at O'Donnell's credibility. They have paid a dear price for their disgusting display of hit journalism and yet the mainstream media is all too happy to walk in the same footsteps. Perhaps MSNBC and CNN have simply lost so many viewers that the don't care any longer how many more they lose. The mainstream media often beats it's head against the wall so that is less surprising than the maneuvers that the Delaware liberal/progressive crowd have taken. Consistently peddling the narrative that Christine is flawed because she believes in God, has had the same financial problems as the majority of it's own party members and has "acted stupidly" in the past. Specifically it is interesting that the focus of late has been on her mid 90's "dabbling in witchcraft".

Let's first point out the TV series' "Charmed" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". There is also the movie "The Craft". These TV shows and movies came out in the 90's because at that time there was a LARGE sect of young people who became fascinated by these subcultures. Many of us, especially liberals, became enamoured with the characters and the romantic natures of them. So she dated a witch...well guess what folks, I played a Vampire role playing game called "Vampire: The Masquerade" for over a year. I suspect there are many others who did as well. So she experimented with other ideas. Clinton smoked pot...despite his claims the man likely STILL inhales and is suspected of womanizing with countless women and yet the left loves him. So why the hate for O'Donnell? Because, like Palin, Bachman and Haley...she's a conservative woman which means she MUST be a radical fringe right winger.

The bottom line is that just like when Mike Castle went negative on O'Donnell, the attacks from the left only draw voters to O'Donnell. The assaults are part of an old brand of politics where the idea was to see who could destroy who faster. The American people have woken up and they're looking for more than the attack politics of the past. They are looking for who has a record of supporting policies that they agree with and who has the best ideas going forward. So to Bill Mahr and his Comedy Central goons I say, have at it. Attack away. Sticks and Stones may break her bones, but words will never hurt her. And to Chris Coons and his Progressive friends, be careful when casting stones. Your homes are made of glass made in Marxist communes.

In the end I guess the election will come down to an ex-Witch vs. a Marxist.

Who is Chris Coons? - Marxism

Chris has graciously said that he would like to keep this campaign about the issues and not about smears and personal attacks. I appreciate that and I hope he continues that position. This campaign SHOULD be about the issues that Americans and Delawareans specifically, care about. It should be about how to get the economy back on track and growing, how to stop reckless spending, what role the government should have, the most effective way to stem the rising tide of healthcare costs, how to best manage our energy resources and what the tax policy ought to be. There are other important issues but these are what I hear about the most. All of these issues come down to a difference in ideology. On one side you have those who seek to continue spending, often recklessly, your tax dollars, increasing those taxes to spend more and increasing government control. On the other, you have those who understand the need for a limited government, emboldened AND restrained by the Constitution who will control spending and lighten our tax burden.

Now I said before, that Chris wants to keep this campaign about issues and I agree, it should be about issues and not a few sound bites from someone's past. We have all made mistakes...yes, even me...especially when we were young. However, there is something about Chris' past that concerns me, and many of you as well. Back in 1985, he wrote an article entitled "Chris Coons: The Making of a Bearded Marxist". When I saw this I was hoping for a satire or some sort of joke. But as J.E. Dyer from Hot Air's Green Room tells us, Coons was quite serious.

Upon returning from a trip to Kenya, Chris wrote:

“I became friends with a very wealthy [Kenyan] businessman and his family and heard them reiterate the same beliefs held by many Americans: the poor are poor because they are lazy, slovenly, uneducated,” wrote Coons. “I realize that Kenya and America are very different, but experiences like this warned me that my own favorite beliefs in the miracles of free enterprise and the boundless opportunities to be had in America were largely untrue.”

He also wrote:

“My friends now joke that something about Kenya, maybe the strange diet, or the tropical sun, changed my personality; Africa to them seems a catalytic converter that takes in clean-shaven, clear-thinking Americans and sends back bearded Marxists,”

However, it wasn't as if just the trip to Kenya aroused some deep part of Coons' questioning temporarily. Before Chris even left for Kenya, he was questioning America:

A course on cultural anthropology, noted Coons, had “undermined the accepted value of progress and the cultural superiority of the West,” while a class on the Vietnam War led him to “suspect…that the ideal of America as a ‘beacon of freedom and justice, providing hope for the world’ was not exactly based in reality.”

Although Chris does say that upon returning to Amherst for his senior year, he accepted that had "returned to loving America" despite discovering the nations faults, one must ask what faults he has determined America has. If Barack Obama, son of a Kenyan Marxist leader is any indication, our faults are many and great and the only pathway out is financial slavery and redistribution of wealth. There is reason to believe that Coons and Obama have much in common.


On September 16th, at a debate in Wilmington, Delaware, Coons reiterated his support for Obamacare as currently written and indicated that there is little going on in Washington that he would change. He also indicated his support for extending Miranda rights to terrorists. In fact, Coons sounded eerily like the "pet" that Harry Reid described him as. Coons did try to move to the center around fiscal issues but despite his polished debate skills (remember, he is a 2 time national debate champ) his record unfortunately doesn't bear out his claims. He made the obligatory reference to his TV Commercials which portray him as a fiscal conservative. Sadly, Chris has raised taxes three times ('05,'07 and '09), raided the county's reserve fund and increased water and sewer fees. He also references the corruption rampant during the Tom Gordon administration in his television commercial and suggests that he fought corruption. What Coons fails to mention is that the Democrat Gordon/Freeberry scandal took place while Coons himself was on county council. Additionally, what is not mentioned in Coons' commercials is that when Coons took office, the Gordon administration had left him with a balanced budget and a reserve surplus.

Currently, Chris Coons is presiding over his own scandal. County Council President Paul Clark is advocating for a project which he personally stands to gain from. His wife Pam Scott (liberals apparently love to keep a different name than their spouse so as to create doubt in issues like this) is a lawyer in the case. Clark has said he would recuse himself from any vote regarding the proposal but his involvement in lobbying for the case stinks. Coons has thus far not stepped in to suggest that Clark stop lobbying for the deal his wife stands to gain from. He's certainly no corruption hound.

Finally, Coons consistently calls on people to recognize that he was able to give County Council a AAA bond rating. There is truth in that statement but he doesn't tell you how Fitch Ratings gave New Castle County that rating. The fact is that Fitch only granted that bond rating to NCC because the County raided the reserve fund and decreased its value by more than 30% while Coons raised taxes 25%. The size of County government has grown every year under Coons and the budget has steadily increased. In 2009, Coons did make some cuts...he cut county employee pay by 5% and cut their benefits by 3% while the state cut worker pay even further. Meanwhile, county spending plans stayed in effect and other cuts were "avoided".

Rush Limbaugh and Christine O'Donnell

This is a guest posting from Pat Fish...Pat is a resident of Georgetown, Delaware

Rush Limbaugh and Christine O'Donnell
.by Patricia Fish on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 2:16pm. I happen to know Christine O'Donnell. Have known her since 2005. She's not my BFF but I've had occasion to talk to her one on one, I've criticized her from time to time. But no mistake, she is a woman who has my admiration.

It's almost been a hurting thing to listen to the attacks on her character by the Blue Blood Ruling Class Republicans in this state, including mighty Mike Castle, her opponent who voted FOR Cap and Trade and that awful DISCLOSE act, voting with the liberals most of the time but calling himself a Republican, I don't know why.

Christine has had some financial issues in her life, as if this is anything new under the sun. We are all not Mike Castles or Joe Bidens who of course spend hours tracking their financial receipts and fret about money.

But the Delaware Blue Blood Ruling Class have deemed her unworthy of being a Senator because of...well because she's an ordinary person like most of us who's had to struggle at times. Christine WAS nominated by this same Delaware Blue Blood Ruling Class to run against Joe Biden in 2008. They didn't care about her past financial issues then as they didn't think anybody could beat Joe Biden.

Christine did not beat Joe Biden but she did okay. THIS year, now that Christine dares to challenge mighty Mike Castle, a Republican in name only who voted FOR Cap and Tax and was only one of two Republicans in the House to vote for that awful DISCLOSE act, the same folks who nominated her in 2008 are out calling her a nut, a wreck and her supporters are "pathetic".

I can't stand the lot of the hypocrites all beating on this poor woman who what? Took a long time to pay off her college loans, had some wrestles with the IRS, other financial stuff, all settled now and water under the bridge. Where in the constitution does it say that if you've had financial problems in your life you can't be senator? Besides, does anybody think that Mike Castle or Joe Biden spends hours everyday categorizing their receipts, fretting over their money?

I can forgive Biden and Castle beating up on a young woman seeking a public office, how dare she...the audacity!! They at least get something out of it. I will never forgive the simpletons who jumped on the band wagon to beat on this woman and I vow on all within me that let this election get over and I will rebuild this state's Republican party with my bare hands if need be, throwing out those entrenched Blue Blood hyenas with all my strength.

Mark Levin's been on O'Donnell's side, last night Sarah Palin came out with a quick tweet in support of O'Donnell though Palin has not officially endorsed Christine. I prayed that maybe Rush Limbaugh would give her a nod.

Today Rush launched into a lecture to those Blue Blood nothing burgers that leaves me in tears with his passion and truth.

WHAT IF WE ALL HAD TO SUFFER MOCKERY LIKE CHRISTINE ALL BECAUSE WE DARED TO DREAM OF A CHANCE AT A PUBLIC LAWFULLY ELECTED OFFICE AS IS OUR AMERICAN BIRTHRIGHT?

Who among us doesn't have issues?

My husband once suffered a brain infection. It was such a horrendous affliction that he eventually went into seizures and in a coma. Due to a series of monetary mishaps and financial procrastination on my part, I found myself all alone, husband in a coma in upstate Delaware, without one single dime to my name.

There was money out there, tied into a former 401K of husbands, some stock, an old IRA. Husband's paycheck was up in the air as he had used up all of his sick and vacation time and he did not have short term disability. I had recently had a heart bypass and was awaiting an SS disability decision by the powers that be.

I had to take a loan on my house just to survive.

When husband awoke from coma he kept worrying about some bills on his desk. We had an electronic bank account, like most folks today I suppose. HE paid his bills and I paid mine. There had been a large balance in the account from funds for the sale of our old Merryland home. I'm not trying to make excuses, I am an accountant by trade. I meant to get around to it.

Turns out husband had a bunch of credit card bills, small ones but alot of them. I too had run up a credit card but I thought I was the only one so hey, I really had plans to straighten out our finances, really I did.

It's been two years since then. I had to methodically contact all the companies. I told about the brain infection, the money confusion. Interest rates were dropped or removed. We had thousands of dollars in medical bills as well. Husband and I both did get Social Security, I applied for property tax reductions....I got the 401K's combined, the stock sold,created a reserve of money for these same such emergencies and it turned out okay.

God forbid I should ever run for Senator. PAT FISH HAD MAJOR CREDIT CARD ISSUES AND MEDICAL BILLS UNPAID UNTIL TURNED OVER TO COLLECTIONS, the headlines would read.

The Delaware Blue Blood Ruling Class Republicans would call me a nut, a woman who can't handle her money, a wreck totally underserving of being a Senator, HOW DARE SHE EVEN THINK OF IT!

Whatever went on in Christine O'Donnell's life, she too solved her financial problems. The college loans are paid, the IRS is happy....whatever happened, it's been handled.

This is how Rush framed his vignette today. How many of us have no issues that could be blown into a way bigger deal than the ordinary stumbling blocks of life that they were?

In fact, an argument could be made that those of us who've been through it, silly us, might better serve the public, having been there and done that.

Does anyone think either Biden or Castle, both lifelong politicos, very rich in fact, ever sat all alone deep into a dark night and sobbed for funds not there, despairing over actions not taken for want of a team of flackies, anguished over how it all will end,frightened and shaking over an unknow future?

Thank you Rush. Thank you for not joining the Blue Blood Ruling Class Delaware GOP in their relentless beating of this Christian woman who dares to seek to represent me. She's only asking for my vote. She's not a nut.

Who knows, maybe Christine will win on 9/14/10...that would be wonderful.

But I will never forget those who called her names, said she's a nut, mocked her mercilessly.

Because I know they would have done the same thing to me.

Coalition of Conservative Groups Demand Castle Debate O'Donnell

Wilmington, Delaware (September 7, 2010) -- The Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, along with Founders Values, the Conservative Caucus for Delaware, Diamond State Tea Party, the 9/12 Delaware Patriots, and the Delaware Conservative Coalition, are demanding that Congressman Mike Castle debate Christine O'Donnell before the upcoming September 14 primary.

Together, these groups represent thousands of Delaware voters.

In a letter being hand delivered, mailed, faxed, and sent via facebook, today, the coalition
is suggesting a 90 minute debate format with a single moderator and audience participation.

"During this primary season, Mike Castle has been given multiple opportunities to debate Christine O'Donnell. A range of organizations from the ABC News local affiliate, to WDEL, to the League of Woman Voters, to Founders Values have offered the Congressman countless opportunities to debate the issues and he has been a no show," said PAC vice president and Diamond State Tea Party founder, Kevin Street. "O'Donnell, on the other hand, has been present at every venue.

"We not only think Congressman Castle is afraid to confront Christine O'Donnell after running a campaign of vicious personal attacks against her but that he is also scared to appear in a forum before Republican voters, many of whom feel betrayed by his votes on 'Cap and Trade' and the 'Disclose Act.'"

Mr. Castle has refused to debate O'Donnell in the past, insisting that she is not a viable candidate.

However, national attention has been focused on the race in recent weeks due to a string of O'Donnell endorsements, including that of National Talk Show Host Mark Levin and Tea Party Express, which has vowed to pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign.

"There are strong indications that the race is tightening," said PAC president, Don Adams. "National attention is now being focused on the Delaware primary and the momentum is shifting in O'Donnell's direction."

Family Values Events Director, Kristen Sherman, says the coalition will make every effort to accommodate Mr. Castle should he finally agree to a debate. "O'Donnell has already given us the green light. All Mr. Castle has to say is 'when' and we will make it happen."

(Please find the letter of invitation below.)


# # #

Founders Values
P.O. Box 673
Bear, DE 19701

September 7, 2010

Congressman Michael N. Castle
United States House of Representatives
2 Mill Road Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19806

Dear Congressman Castle:

Founders Values, along with The Conservative Caucus of Delaware, The Diamond State Tea Party, The 9/12 Delaware Patriots, The Delaware Conservative Coalition and the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, are urgently requesting your attendance to publicly debate your primary opponent, Christine O'Donnell - - something that you have skillfully avoided this entire primary season. These organizations represent thousands of Delawareans that want an opportunity to hear the candidates debate the issues that are important to them.

We believe that the people of the State of Delaware have a right to know and understand where candidates for elected office stand in relation to one another. We also believe that the candidates themselves have an obligation to debate their positions publicly, so that the people may decide for whom they should vote. Hosting a debate between candidates for elected office is an excellent way for us to facilitate this kind of public information sharing.

We are very willing to accommodate you and your busy schedule in order to make this debate a reality. We are flexible on both date and time for the debate. We are proposing a debate as soon as possible and would prefer an evening time, as this would allow the most people to attend.
We will also be asking local media to attend the event and to broadcast it live. It is also our intention to video tape the debate and to make that video available on the internet.

The six sponsoring organizations are proposing a 90 minute debate consisting of a single moderator with written questions from the audience. These questions will relate directly to issues slated for discussion in the United States Senate this coming fall. The last half hour of the debate would be dedicated to rapid fire questions from the audience, followed by closing arguments. We would like to work with both campaigns to ensure a debate format that each of you can be comfortable in and are therefore open to modifying the format.

We respectfully request that you contact us within 24 hours of receipt of this invitation, to let us know if you are willing to debate and work toward an agreeable date and time. As you know, time is running out before the September 14th primary election and we need to move quickly on making this work for the voters. We look forward to having you at the debate and sharing your positions with the people of Delaware.

On Behalf of Founders Values, The Conservative Caucus of Delaware, The Diamond State Tea Party, The 9/12 Delaware Patriots, The Delaware Conservative Coalition and the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC,

Kristen Sherman
Events Director
Founders Values
302-463-1854

The Independence Hall Tea Party PAC was formed in February, 2010 to assist federal candidates in the tri-state region (PA, NJ, DE) who share the organization's commitment to limited government, fiscal responsibility, and lower taxes. Visit www.IndependenceHallTeaPartyPAC.com.

Castle's Mailers...Truth or Fiction?

You be the judge. Check his attacks against Christine's answers and decide for yourself: Christine Counters

Now let's look at Castle's claim of "Fiscal Conservatism". I'm still trying to figure out which genious he's paying came up with the idea of painting a tax and spend conservative with a 20 yr record of that behavior as a fiscal conservative.

The Differences Between Castle and O'Donnell

Mike Castle shows up with fanfare and streamers at GOP Headquarters to meet with the people.
Christine O'Donnell seeks out the people by attending TEA Party/9-12 meetings.

Mike Castle has a voting record a thousand miles long that shows his true positions.

Christine O'Donnell is a relative newcomer to politics.

Mike Castle SAYS he's a fiscal conservative but he's voted for Cap and Trade, Cash for Clunkers, Union Bailouts, $3 Trillion in spending and TARP.

Christine has opposed spending increases and called for Washington (and Dover) to tighten their belts and address fraud, waste and abuse.

Mike Castle is a multi-millionaire who has never struggled in his life.

Christine O'Donnell has faced adversity financially just like most of us have.

Mike Castle does not have a problem lying about, distorting and destroying his opponents.

Christine O'Donnell believes in campaigns about the issues, not mudslinging.

Mike Castle and his campaign has attacked Christine with rumors and lies.

Christine O'Donnell has pointed out the facts about Castle's votes and his record.

Mike Castle refuses to debate Christine because he feels that she is beneath him.

Christine O'Donnell has called for debates consistently and has accepted every invitation offered by 3rd parties.

Mike Castle has been in Washington since 1992 and believes he is entitled to your support.

Christine O'Donnell is working for every inch of support she gets.

Mike Castle is supported by Greenville millionaires, unions, law firms and huge corporations.

Christine O'Donnell is bringing in money from everyday Delawareans and Americans who believe in her message and want to see our nation restored.

Mike Castle has an F-rating from the NRA.

Christine O'Donnell has recieved the endorsement of the Gun Owners of America association and is strongly pro-2nd Amendment.

Mike Castle has refused to support a repeal and defunding of Obamacare.

Christine O'Donnell has promised that she would make defunding and repealing Obamacare one of her legislative priorities.

Mike Castle believes in big government and big business making the rules for the people.

Christine O'Donnell believes in small and limited government that supports the private market and while ensuring the safety of the people, leaves business otherwise free to create jobs, goods and services.

Mike Castle expects the vote of every Republican on September 14th 2010.

Christine O'Donnell is asking for the vote of every Republican on September 14th 2010.

Where will you be when the dust settles?

Castle goes all negative as O'Donnell gains

Mike Castle and the DE GOP have released a STRING of negative attacks against conservative TEA Party challenger Christine O'Donnell. They've done everything but claim that she's raped a child (maybe I shouldn't give them any ideas...especially with the lawsuit against the Wilmington Diocese and Christine's Catholic roots...). The problem for them is that their lies and distortions aren't winning them any friends. A poll released today shows O'Donnell trailing the LONG time incumbent Castle by just 2 points! That's right, 2...not 20...2 points. This is WELL within the margin of error, in fact, O'Donnell may be AHEAD by as much as 3 points.

By contrast, O'Donnell has stayed consistent and true to her roots in faith and denounced a video made by liberty.com in which it was suggested that Mike Castle was having an affair with a man. The comment was IMMEDIATELY qualified as being "a rumor" but the damage had been done. The video was released by former consultants to O'Donnell and based on a story done by failed left wing radio hacks "Down with Absolutes". O'Donnell addressed a crowd of over 200 supporters on Sept. 2nd when she said:

"I do not endorse that kind of mudslinging, and I’m asking all of my supporters
not to go down that route. I am challenging Mike Castle to publicly denounce GOP
State Chairman Tom Ross’ mudslinging and ask all of the Delaware State
Republican Committee to stop the thug politics.
From here on out, it should be about the stark contrast between our stances on the issues and let the voters decide based on our positions. Not only is it the high road for Mike Castle to take, it would be politically expedient. His personal attacks
have caused my supporters to rally to my defense."

O'Donnell has been the subject of smears and distortions about her past as well. One of the more virulent attacks recently has been that O'Donnell, who was not born into the lap of luxury that most of the Greenville Republicans were, has taken more than 10 years to pay off debts owed to her Alma mater and receive her diploma. This is something that many millions of Americans can relate to. 65% of 4 yr college students graduate with debt. Can you relate to the expense of college? Millionaires in the Delaware GOP can't, including Mike Castle. They don't understand REAL sacrifice and the effort it takes to go to college and try to make that tuition each month. For that they criticise O'Donnell.

So my challenge to the Delaware GOP is to stop the nasty mudslinging politics (which is the only way they MIGHT win, if we let them) and stand up behind your positions. Stand with CONVICTION the way O'Donnell has. Let's talk about who will best represent Delaware in the Senate. Can Mike Castle, who has an F-rating from the NRA, who has voted for Cap and Trade and who has consistently voted to increase spending and taxes, stand up to O'Donnell whose platform is to lower government spending, reduce taxes, protect the Constitution and get government out of the way so the private sector can create jobs?

O'Donnell picks up two more endorsements

First, here is a press release from the O'Donnell campaign that proclaims the endorsement of the Family Research Council PAC (FRC) which endorses conservative candidates across the country and who generally save their endorsements for those candidates who they feel stand an excellent chance of winning.

FRC Action PAC Endorses Christine O'Donnell for Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council Action PAC is endorsing Christine O'Donnell from the state of Delaware for the Senate seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden.
Also running in the primary to be held on September 14 is one of the most pro-abortion members of Congress ever to serve, Mike Castle, the key sponsor of a destructive embryonic stem cell research bill favoring the use of human embryos for experimentation. Congressman Castle has a 75 percent positive rating from the largest pro-abortion organization in the world, Planned Parenthood. He has a zero percent rating in FRC Action's annual scorecard.

"The Republican establishment might think they are backing a winner in Mike Castle, but they are only backing another Arlen Specter or Charlie Crist," said Tony Perkins, Chairman of the Family Research Council Action PAC. "We are proud of Christine O'Donnell for stepping into the race and challenging the candidate who has stood against life and the family consistently in his career on Capitol Hill. We will support her courageous effort every step of the way," concluded Perkins.
-30-
FRC Action PAC is the political action committee connected to FRC Action, a 501(c)(4) membership organization. FRC Action is the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Paid for by Family Research Council Action PAC (www.frcactionpac.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

But the news doesn't stop there for Christine. Later in the day the Independence Hall T.E.A. Party Association released the following press release.

August 11, 2010


Dear Friends,

On Sunday (August 8), the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC Board of Directors unanimously voted to endorse Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) for the US Senate Seat left vacant by Vice President Joe Biden.

Like PAC endorsed candidate Anna Little (R-NJ), Christine O'Donnell clearly articulates the values of our organization--limited government, lower taxes, and free enterprise--in a way that makes us proud.

Like Anna Little, Christine O'Donnell is very capable of pulling off an upset primary win. O'Donnell will face Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) in Delaware's September 14 Republican primary. O'Donnell is already polling ahead of her likely Democratic opponent in the general election.

If O'Donnell wins the general election, she'll be sworn in November 3rd and will take part in the lame duck session of the 111th Congress. Needless to say,
O'Donnell's votes, unlike that of her primary opponent, Mike Castle, will be reliable in stoppping the Obama agenda.

Independence Hall Tea Party PAC Executive Board

I'd like to as Miss Stephanie Hansen if she feels that the IHTPA or FRC endorsements are "like an endorsement from the Madhatter" as she said about the endorsement from the T.E.A. Party Express on WHYY. If you haven't checked out O'Donnell's campaign website I suggest you do so. It's not too late to through a few bucks her way, volunteer with her campaign or to tell your friends why she is the best candidate to help save America.

*UPDATE*
Christine O'Donnell has just recieved the endorsement from the Gun Owners of America association. Here is their press release:

August 2010

Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund is pleased to endorse Christine O’Donnell for U.S. Senate in the September 14 Republican primary.

Christine’s commitment to the right to keep and bear arms is unwavering. She understands that gun prohibitions turn law-abiding citizens into easier targets for violent criminals.

Christine O’Donnell respects the Constitution and will not support any laws that will disarm law-abiding American citizens.

The contrast between Christine and her opponent could not be clearer, as she is running against the most anti-gun Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mike Castle has been in the U.S. House since 1993, and the record he has complied voting against your gun rights could fill volumes. In his time in the House, Castle has voted:

* To allow the FBI to keep the names of lawful gun purchasers for months, effectively creating a registration list of gun owners;

* Against arming commercial airline pilots in defense of terrorism;

* For so-called campaign finance reform, which limits the ability of groups like GOA to communicate with the voting public about congressional legislation;

* Against repealing the gun ban in Washington, D.C.; and,

* Against repealing the gun ban on National Park Service land.

Mike Castle has not only voted consistently against your Second Amendment rights—he is an anti-gun leader as well. In 2004, Castle urged then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to extend the Clinton ban on semi-automatic firearms. Castle even introduced his own legislation to extend the gun ban for an additional ten years.

In the current session of Congress, Castle has authored a bill that will regulate gun shows out of existence. His legislation is cosponsored by over one hundred Democrats who are F-rated on gun issues.

This is a bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would love to pass. And if he were elected to the U.S. Senate, you can be sure that Mike Castle would team up with his old buddy from New York—Sen. Chuck Schumer—to push even more gun control.

Simply put, were it left up to Mike Castle the Second Amendment would be completely abolished.

Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund is working to keep this gun banner out of the U.S. Senate, and we hope you will join us.

Christine O’Donnell will stand up to the anti-gun leadership in the Senate. She will oppose any new anti-gun legislation, and work to repeal unconstitutional gun laws already in place.

On behalf of Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund, I urge you stand with Christine O’Donnell for Senate.

You can visit Christine on the web at http://www.christineodonnell.com to make a contribution to her campaign.

And please, make sure all your contacts know about the importance of this race and remember to vote.

It is time for a new way of thinking in Washington. We need legislators who respect our Constitutional liberties and who will stand up to anti-gun Senators like Schumer, Lautenberg and Feinstein.

Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund urges all voters who support the right to keep and bear arms to vote for Christine O’Donnell for U.S. Senate in the September 14 Republican primary.

Thank you for your support if Gun Owners of America

Sincerely,

Tim Macy
Vice Chairman

P.S.—Unfortunately, the Republican establishment in Washington is supporting anti-gunner Mike Castle. This makes it all the more important for gun owners to stand with Christine O’Donnell for Senate.

Mike Castle makes it clear, he won't be part of the Republican opposition

In case you missed it, the Washington Post told us yesterday that Mike Castle had made his decision about how he will vote if elected to the Senate. Columnist David Broder spent time following Congressman Castle around the state. First, let me show you the way Mr. Broder describes Delaware's lone Congressman:

"the early favorite is Mike Castle, the state's former governor and longtime congressman at-large, a throwback to the kind of progressive Republican the Northeast used to elect regularly." (Emphasis added)

David Broder has just told us that Congressman Castle IS a Progressive (although those of us who follow his votes could have told you that YEARS ago). Congressman Castle takes this to a new level when he describes to the house party (a high end fundraiser) attendees:

"His reason for running, Castle explained to voters at a house party here, is that "I'm in the minority in a [Republican] minority of 435 people, and the rules and procedures make it difficult to express my independence. In the Senate, I hope I will have more impact."(emphasis added)"

So Congressman Castle feels like he is in a minority of a minority in the Republican House caucus. Why is that? It could be because Mike Castle is a Progressive Republican in the House and tends to vote more often with the Democrats than the Republicans (the Americans for Democratic Action group lists Castle as voting with the liberals 65% of the time in 2008). Castle was not yet done describing his plans for the U.S. Senate. Broder says:

"Later, Castle told me, "I don't go there with any notion of just building up seniority, but I think I can make a contribution there in the fields I've worked in. I don't plan to be part of the [Republican] opposition. I think I can do more than oppose." (emphasis added)"

Friends, Republicans, Americans, lend me your eyes...(put them back in your head first)...Congressman Mike Castle is not your friend. He does not care about you, or me, or our children. He doesn't care about anything but Mike Castle. He is going to grow government, give himself and his friends in Washington more power and he WILL betray the Republican party and the people of Delaware.

Please do not let this man fool you anymore. He has made his intentions clear. Cap & Trade, DISCLOSE, Cyber-Security, Bail-outs, Government takeovers of business, tax increases, etc. These things WILL pass with his signature, he has guaranteed it. Please do not let this happen. Do not let him destroy America. I urge you to support Christine O'Donnell in every way that you can. She will go to Washington and fight for the people.

Hey Mike...Join the Club

As i was scouring the net today I came across a story over at WorldNet Daily called "Obamacare reversal? House 75% of the way there". It was written by Bob Unruh who generally does excellent work. So I stopped and did some reading. Apparently Representative Steve King from Iowa (a Republican of course) issued a discharge petition against the Universal Healthcare bill passed by Congress early this year.

As of July 27th the bill had 162 of the 219 signatures it needs in order to pass. One signature that has not yet been added to the petition is that of Delaware's lone Congressman Mike Castle who is embattled in a Primary race against Christine O'Donnell. The winner of the primary is likely to be Delaware's next Senator. This begs the question, "What are you waiting for Mike?"

His opponent Christine O'Donnell has been a strong advocate of defunding and repealing "Obamacare" since it was passed in March and has been at odds with Castle over how to best deal with the new law. Castle favors "fixing" the bill that amounts to a complete government takeover of the healthcare system. The bill came just months before Great Britain (the country that was touted as proof of the success of socialized medicnine) announced that it was going to begin privatizing it's healthcare system in order to correct problems with the system and stem the skyrocketing costs. Other European countries cited by Democrats are also considering scrapping their Socialized Medicine plans.

Yet still, Congressman Castle remains silent. Castle's office has not yet commented on the petition. His opponent O'Donnell has indicated that she would in fact support the petition if she were in Congressman Castle's place. When asked for comment Christine said:

"Obamacare is more about government seizing control of 1/6th of the American economy than it is about affordable health care choices. It will cripple American small businesses and discourage entrepreneurship. We need to replace Obamacare with a bill that will lower the cost of American health care by promoting competition.

Unlike my opponent, I will fight to defund and repeal Obamacare."

The Obamacare bill has been reported recently to cost the taxpayers more than $1 Trillion dollars including billions of dollars in new taxes, nearly $500 million from charity based non-profit hospitals and $70 billion from those who "don't buy government-approved health insurance". It's reported that "force some 87 million Americans to drop their current coverage" despite assurance by President Obama to the contrary.

I must ask again Congressman Castle, will you sign the petition and kill Obamacare before it starts killing Americans?

Delaware will cast deciding vote again

For those of us who grew up in the Delaware Valley, the story of Caesar Rodney's ride from central Delaware to Philadelphia is as legendary as Revere's ride through Massachusetts. Anyone who has seen the HBO Miniseries "John Adams" will remember Rodney bursting through the doors with Thomas McKean only moments before casting the deciding vote in favor of Independence from Britain. For those who may be reading this and are not familiar with that historical moment, Delaware has the nickname "The First State" and that nickname relates to the ratifying of the U.S. Constitution by the state. However, Delaware was also the first state to secede from England having done so 3 days before the whole of the states declared their independence. Rodney's ride overnight and through the rain from south of Dover, DE (present day capital) to Philadelphia, PA (approximately 80 miles) signifies what it means to be a Delawarean, you do what you have to do and you do the right thing.

Delaware is again poised to be in the position of casting the deciding vote. This time it is to save America from a lame duck Obama led Congress. Both the House and Senate have made clear their intention to stall major legislation until the fall. John Fund recently wrote a piece about the Democrat plans for passing bills like Cap and Trade in the Lame Duck session. You'll note this part of the post specifically:

"there have been signs in recent weeks that party leaders are planning an
ambitious, lame-duck session to muscle through bills in December they don’t want
to defend before November. Retiring or defeated members of Congress would then
be able to vote for sweeping legislation without any fear of voter retaliation."

This means that the Senate and House leadership has decided not to pass any major legislation until after the election but before the winners are seated. All of the winners except ONE actually. As Robert Stacy McCain (no relation) wrote the other day, Christine O'Donnell is now gaining significant ground against liberal Republican Mike Castle in the special election to replace Joe Biden in 2010.



The key words there are "special election" and you will learn why in a moment. Senate Democrat leaders on climate change have specifically targeted Cap and Trade legislation as one of the bills they do not have support for, yet. Thus far there has been opposition to passing this dangerous legislation from the entire GOP caucus. Keep in mind, the U.S. Senate has 4 "moderate" Republicans in it's ranks. Olympia Snowe, Orrin Hatch, Susan Collins and Scott Brown have all been known to support Democrat bills when given proper cover.



The "special election" in Delaware means that the winner is seated immediately. That can be both good, and bad depending on who wins. If Mike Castle wins, who passed Cap and Trade (raises energy costs by $3,000 per person annually), Financial Regulatory Reform (created massive government bureaucracy and kills jobs) and who wrote the DISCLOSE Bill (1st Amendment killer) all in the last year while a member of the House of Representatives and who has voted with liberal democrats an average of 60% of the time over the last three years, he will have the chance to do it again. That is unless Delaware decides that they've had enough. There is another choice and her name is Christine O'Donnell. Christine has promised to help kill bad legislation during the lame duck session and to hold the fort against the Progressive assault until the Conservative wave washes in reinforcements in January. She will be the key brick in the wall that holds back the sea. We MUST ensure that she is elected to the U.S. Senate and that Mike Castle has a GREAT retirement ceremony.

Senate delays Climate Change Bill till fall

Harry Reid (D-NV) announced today that the Senate would delay taking up climate change legislation until the fall. He cited a packed schedule before the 2 week August fall break and the fact that Senate Democrats cannot overcome the Republican filibuster on the issue. Senate Democrats have not been able to woo even Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe (both Republican Senators from Maine) to their side. Could there be another story at play here? Could Reid be waiting until after the November elections?

Two top climate change legislation supporters in the Senate echoed the Majority Leader's remarks about the lack of Republican support. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said

"we don't have any Republican support to overcome a filibuster on (climate change legislation) at the moment." (emphasis added)

Additionally, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) who has helped lead the effort to reach a deal on a Cap and Trade plan said Thursday that "the chances of this bill are very tough right now." (emphasis added) He also noted that those who have not yet signed on to support legislation relating to climate change fear possible retribution from voters.

That's 3 top Senate Democrat leaders all citing a lack of support for climate change legislation from Republicans in an election year. This begs the question, if Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) are drafted into the Senate this year, will it embolden Snowe and Collins in Maine, Orin Hatch from Utah and Scott Brown from Massachusetts? Snowe and Collins can usually be counted on to "reach across the aisle" and submit to Democrats, Hatch is a Progressive Republican and Scott Brown has enacted similar Cap and Trade legislation in Mass. Adding Mike Castle, who is both a global warming hoaxer and a Progressive with a history of voting with the Democrats and who last year voted to pass full Cap and Trade legislation out of the House of Representatives is almost a gimme for Senate Democrats to start the flip-flop express.

Remember, Mike Castle voted for the House Cap and Trade legislation that would raise energy bills nationwide by nearly $3,000 per person annually. The Senate version of Cap and Trade legislation does remove a mandate for alternative energy sources (like solar and wind) and alters some minor points of the House version which supposedly reduce the cost to consumers slightly. If Castle is willing to sell out and raise individual energy rates by $3,000 you can bet he'll do it again at $2,500 just as quickly. Castle's history of supporting the Democrat machine is well known and documented. According to reports from Americans for Democratic Action, Mike Castle voted with liberals 50% of the time in 2007, 65% of the time in 2008 and 55% of the time in 2009 (including Cap and Trade). Given this evidence, it's highly likely that Reid and other Senate Democrats await the arrival of Castle and Kirk to help sure up support for another job killing bill that will increase costs on Americans across the board.

It should be noted that Mike Castle's opponent Christine O'Donnell has pledged NOT to vote for any Cap and Trade legislation and has vowed to stop Congress from destroying the American economy and shutting down our energy production. You can read more about her at www.christine2010.com.

Christine O'Donnell lays out legislative priorities

One week after a Rasmussen Reports poll showed that Christine O'Donnell currently wins in a general election against Democrat Chris Coons and days after adding the Susan B. Anthony List to her ever growing list of endorsements, O'Donnell fires another shot at her detractors.

First, O'Donnell lays into her Primary opponent Mike Castle

"Mike Castle is an enemy of the free market," claims O'Donnell. "He voted for Cap and Trade, the single most dangerous bill proposed in American history. If enacted, that legislation will cripple American industry, cause energy prices to soar and destroy American jobs. Barack Obama himself said that Cap and Trade would make energy costs 'necessarily skyrocket.' Yet Mr. Castle continues to support the bill." (Read more about Cap and Trade here)

Time after time, Mike Castle's votes prevent the free market from functioning the way it should: rewarding winners and penalizing losers. His vote for TARP enabled a $700 billion never-ending bailout for the very financial industry wizards who caused the subprime mortgage crisis. With American tax dollars, Mike Castle has made multi-millionaires out of the worst culprits of the Wall Street fiasco."

"Mike Castle voted for Cash for Clunkers. He voted against a measure to balance the federal budget within ten years. He voted against earmark reform. The list goes on and on."

"Mike Castle's voting record proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he is for special interests, against the free market, anti-Second Amendment, pro-abortion and he's even for sanctuary cities. It's a preposterous record. Calling himself a Republican is borderline schizophrenic, confused about his own political identity."

"Mike Castle is the worst kind of career politician. To be a Republican, you must stand and fight for America's founding principles of limited government," continues Christine O'Donnell. "That notion is lost on Mike Castle, and Delaware deserves better leadership. Today, I'm releasing five legislative priorities that any Republican except Mike Castle can and should get behind."

For months, elite Republican leaders in Delaware and Progressives in the Republican party have claimed that even if Ms. O'Donnell can beat Mike Castle in the primary election and Chris Coons in the general, she has not given an indication of her legislative priorities. Their attacks have even caused rank and file Republicans and some T.E.A. Party members to be wary of voting for O'Donnell for U.S. Senate. To those who question what Ms. O'Donnell will do when she gets to Washington, she has issues the following 5 Legislative Priorities:

1) Lower personal income taxes, capital gains taxes and corporate income taxes so that we can restore economic growth, create jobs and stability for our small businesses and working families.

2) Defund and repeal Obamacare.

3) Enact a 2-year capital gains tax holiday to spur economic growth and new investment, inject capital into the consumer market and free up capital for lending to small businesses.

4) Secure the border.

5) Restrict the federal government from using taxpayer funds for abortion.

To learn more, please visit http://www.Christine2010.com/

What do you say Delaware? Is it time for Delaware's Senators to be fiscally responsible? Is it time for Delaware's Senators to be defenders of the Constitution? Is it time for Delaware's Senators to get government OUT of Free Markets? Isn't it time that the First State became a leader in America again? Isn't it time we brought out our inner Caesar Rodney?

O'Donnell garners major endorsement

“Delaware families deserve the pro-life leadership Christine O’Donnell so capably provides,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA List Candidate Fund. “Unlike her primary opponent who has an explicitly pro-abortion voting record, O’Donnell has expressed her strong determination to be a vocal advocate for women and unborn children in abortion debates on the floor of the U.S. Senate.”

These words came from the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund who endorsed Christine O'donnell today. This is a significant endorsement in a state like Delaware which although leans Democrat in registration is more of a pro-life state. This is not the kind of endorsement that can turn an election by itself like an endorsement from Sarah Palin or Jim Demint could. However, when you add it to the ever growing list of organizations and individuals endorsing Christine you end up witha whole new picture. The Susan B. Anthony List now joins Common Sense Communities Society (Delaware's T.E.A. Party endorsement), One Nation PAC, Erick Erickson of Redstate.com, Nationally syndicated conservative talk star Mark Levin, Citizens United, Pam Geller (Atlas Shrugs), Joanne Herring, and Catholic Families for America.

Couple this with the results of a poll released July 15th by Rassmussen Reports which shows O'Donnell now holding a 41-39 lead over New Castle County Executive Chris Coons and you have the making of a winner. Also, as O'Donnell's conservatism gives her campaign rise, the outright Progressivism of her primary opponent, Congressman Mike Castle is bringing the house down around him. Castle has lost 9 points since April and has dropped below 50% in polling against Chris Coons. Castle is holding on to a 47-36 lead which is STAGGERING when you consider that Castle has been Delaware's lone congressman since 1992.

Castle's fall, O'Donnell's rise and Coons' inability to rise out of the 30 percent range all are signs of the T.E.A. Party's positive influence on the 2010 elections in EVERY state. Those who would claim otherwise, are spinning the truth. Indeed, a look at the numbers behind O'Donnell's lead over Coons shows that Delawareans are every bit as T.E.A. Partied up as any other state. 51% of Delawareans favor repeal of the healthcare bill, 58% desire a law similar to Arizona's to be enacted in Delaware and 64% believe that the economy is getting worse or staying the same. Look for November to be a referendum on both Congressman Mike Castle and President Barack Obama.

Castle cites "scheduling conflicts" in his refusal to debate Senate candidates

A Newark based educational group called Founders Values joined with Smart Girl Politics to host a United States Senate candidates debate at Cokesbury Village on Friday July 9th 2010. The event was supposed to kickoff at 7PM and the 4 declared U.S. Senate candidates were invited. Christine O'Donnell, a conservative Republican candidate for U.S. Senate who is challenging Congressman Mike Castle for the right to run against New Castle County Executive Chris Coons (Democrat) and Libertarian candidate Jim Rash in the general election.





Both Christine O'Donnell and Jim Rash RSVP'd that they would attend almost immediately upon their invitation in the beginning of June. Chris Coons and Mike Castle recieved their invitations at the same time as O'Donnell and Rash but did not reply. After repeated contact attempts and discussions with senior members of the Coons and Castle campaign staff, the debate was canceled on July 6th due to the inavailablity of half of the invited candidates. While Chris Coons has still not officially declined or acknowledged the event, Mike Castle did release a written response which is dated July 7th. The following is from an email sent by a Castle campaing staffer:

From: Danielle Varallo [mailto: dvarallo@castleforsenate.com]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 3:58PM
Subject: Founders Values Event

Dear Evan,
This was placed in the mail yesterday, and we wanted to make sure you had
recieved a copy. See attached letter.

Thanks,
Danielle
--
Danielle Varallo
Mike Castle for U.S. Senate

(below is a copy of the letter they sent...ask yourself if this is acceptable)

Congressman Castle was given a full month to respond and chose to do so with a letter dated 2 days before the event? This is unacceptable.

Disclose Bill passes House - What was in it?

Mike Castle and Chris Van Hollen won a "bipartisan" victory with the help of progressive Democrats and Castle's Progressive Republican ally Joseph Cao of Louisiana (who voted for the wildly unpopular universal healthcare bill). Unfortunately for Castle and Van Hollen, opposition to the bill was even more solidly bi-partisan with 26 House Democrats voting against the measure. Admittedly, some of the angst among the opposition was in regards to the decision to give a special exemption to the NRA, Sierra Club and AARP from having to disclose anything.

Amendments that exempted Unions from participation, silenced anyone who holds a lease on the Outer Continental Shelf and which raised the the minimum limit that would bar government contractors from participating in campaign electioneering from $50,000 to $7 million were also included. As was a provision that exempted unions from adhering to disclosure of transfers of more than $50,000 among affiliate organizations if the money is used for electioneering.

The bill now moves on to the Senate which is historically the wiser of the two bodies. Here the bill will face a significant challenge in passing. This is where "We The People" will have a real opportunity to stop the insanity. This bill is nothing more than an Incumbent Protection Act that stifles the peoples voices. For DECADES liberals and progressives from both sides of the aisle have benefited from BILLIONS in union dollars without a word. Suddenly, when corporations, citizens groups (like your local T.E.A. Party/9-12 Patriot group) and other watchdogs get a bullhorn too, they want to shut the door on them, on YOU. This is where "We The People" must use OUR lobbying voice and make the phone calls...send the faxes and make them listen.

Call, write, fax and even show up to SEE your Senators and their staff. Engage them in a discussion about why OUR voice, the voice of the T.E.A. Party and of the small business owner is less important than the voices of unions and the huge activist groups like the NRA, Sierra Club and AARP. Click here to contact your Senator today. Below is a list of Senators who should be focused on:

Baucus, Max - (D - MT) 511 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2651 - phone
(202) 224-9412 - fax

Bayh, Evan - (D - IN) 131 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5623 - phone
(202) 228-1377 - fax

Brown, Scott P. - (R - MA) 317 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4543 - phone
(202) 228-2646 - fax


Carper, Thomas R. - (D - DE) 513 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2441 - phone
(202) 228-2190 - fax

Collins, Susan M. - (R - ME) 413 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2523 - phone
(202) 224-2693 - fax

Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC) 290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5972 - phone

Lieberman, Joseph I. - (ID - CT) 706 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4041 - phone
(202) 224-9750 - fax

McCain, John - (R - AZ) 241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2235 - phone
(202) 228-2862 - fax

Snowe, Olympia J. - (R - ME) 154 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5344 - phone
(202) 224-1946 - fax

Is Mike Castle capable of being a Senator?

Congressman Mike Castle joined Progressive Democrat Chris Van Hollen from Maryland in authoring the much talked about "Disclose Bill" also known by the bill number H.R. 5175. On Thursday June 17th, Congressman Castle and Congressman Van Hollen posted an op-ed in the Washington Post. It claimed that the Supreme Court ruling on January 21, 2010 in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission "dramatically expanded the ability of special interests to influence the political process." 49% of Americans disagree and believe that this bill is nothing more than a last ditch effort by desperate law makers to get reelected or elected to new positions in government.

However, the case brought before the Supreme Court by citizens United (whose President by the way has endorsed Christine O'Donnell in her Delaware Senate bid against Mike Castle) actually evened the playing field for all speakers. Up until January 21 of this year there were restrictions placed only on corporations spending its own money on running "political ads" not coordinated with political campaigns. However, labor unions, citizens groups and others were free to promote/denounce issues and contribute to candidates. By allowing corporations the same freedoms granted to all Americans and reinstating the rights of corporate speech which had been stifled for 20 years, the courts reintroduced a sense of fairness. Now small businesses, corporations, labor unions and citizens groups can speak out for or against their elected officials. Now the thoughts and concerns of your neighbors, local business owners and other groups are no longer stifled.

As for the "Disclose Bill" it self, the legislation is at best ambiguous and at worst purposely so. The bill which was written at the direction of President Obama by Castle and Van Hollen does little to keep "corporate money" out of the process and in fact, the toughest points of the legislation impact citizens groups who have members and rely on "donors". Corporations like Goldman Sachs and Hewlett-Packard would not be included in these provisions. These and other large corporations spent an estimated $3.48 BILLION (more than twice as much as they spent in '99) on lobbying to get around laws similar to the "Disclose Bill" in 2009 and they have PLENTY to continue doing that.

It's the non-profit organizations on all sides of the aisle that the legislation hits. The Disclose act will increase the costs of political speech for groups like your local 9-12 chapter, union or gun advocacy group. Disclosure and disclaimers are called for down to the top 5 donors for a particular ad and these disclosures will be costly to implement for groups who do not have the immense resources that corporations have. These disclosures ("My name is Ted Smith and i approve this message." or "Citizens United for Furry Fat Sloths paid for the content of this advertising.") which currently are only required to be around 4-5 seconds would be expanded to cover around 1/2 of a 30 second commercial by requiring the top 5 donors to be exposed ("My name is Ted Smith, My name is Jill Anderson, My name is Keith Richards, My name is Tyson Gray and My name is Megan Bacon and we approve this message" or "Citizens United for Furry Fat Sloths paid for the content of this advertising with the help of Megan Bacon, Ted Smith, Jill Anderson, Keith Richards and Tyson Gray who donated $250,000 for this ad.).

Also, membership-based groups are required to file a report with the FEC within 24 hours of running political ads. For organizations that raise funds via multiple sources (mail, Internet, telephone, etc.) this task would be nearly impossible in such a short time. Even candidates who file their FEC reports are given 15 days to complete the paperwork. The bill has undergone a few changes since it was written including increasing the previous $50,000 minimum to exclude contractors from being able to influence elections. The minimum was increased to $7 million on May 20th, 3 weeks before Congressman Castle joined Van Hollen in espousing the virtues of the bill in the Washington Post. Amendments offered by some representatives that would have extended the prohibitions on political activity by government contractors to labor unions (currently excluded); require that itemization thresholds be set at the same amount as required for candidates and finally to make the legislation effective on Jan. 1, 2011 were all rejected prior to Castle's joint statement. According to the Politico, Van Hollen has said impacting 2010 is the goal,

"Van Hollen has said he’s hopeful the bill could be implemented in time to
affect newly legal ad spending in 2010 congressional races"

So why is Mike Castle now turning against the bill? Some supporters of the Congressman who is seeking to become the next Senator from Delaware claim that his support hinges on the exemptions, Congressman Van Hollen noted that the op-ed published in the Washington Post referenced above was done so AFTER the NRA deal (which "would exempt longstanding groups if they have more than 1 million members and received less than 15 percent of their funding from corporations) was announced. Mike Castle has an F-rating from the NRA and while some pundits may assume that it was the groups like the Sierra Club and the Brady Center for Gun Violence who caused Castle to rethink his support for the bill my guess is that this is little more than finger in the wind during the campaign political spin. Spokeswoman Kate Dickens told The Hill that

“This is a slippery slope,” she said. “It’s just disclosure, for God’s sake …
now you’re just handing talking points to those who oppose the bill.”

Mr. Castle, these changes were already in the bill when you last told us you were for it. With your VAST "experience" in D.C. did you think you could pass a bill as written? If so it shows that you are completely out of touch with not just your voters and the culture in D.C. but with reality itself. You HAD to know that the liberal Democrats, who rely on Union money to get reelected would fight tooth and nail to exclude them. In fact you knew they would because the markup hearing on May 20th was 3 weeks before you defended the bill in the Washington Post. Which is it Congressman? Are you for the legislation or against it?

Mike Castle's opponent, Christine O'Donnell has called the bill a "grassroots gag order" and a "Power-player Protection Act" since day one. In an email blast to supporters Christine said that Castle's reversal on his own bill is,

"Shades of John Kerry’s “I voted for it . . . before I voted against it.” Does
the phrase flip-flopping come to mind?"

So, Congressman Castle, how can we trust you with becoming "Senator Castle" when you don't even appear to understand the process of passing legislation that impacts the freedom of speech of tens of millions of Americans and tens of thousands of Delawareans? Also, why is it that you were totally OK with the legislation as amended with the NRA deal in place as late as June 17th but 4 days later after public opinion began to turn on the bill (which YOU helped write) you're going to vote against it? Are you lacking the courage of your convictions? You certainly had no problem "voting your conscience" in 2009 when you voted FOR the Cap and Trade bill. Then again, you weren't in an election in 2009 were you?

O'Donnell campaign does it again...this time the numbers prove it

Just when the world counts Christine O'Donnell out...she bounces back stronger than ever. In three days Christine and her new team of dedicated volunteers from across the country rallied to bring in more than $10,000 in her race against incumbent Congressman and Delaware Senate candidate Mike Castle. The resident Head RINO-In-Charge of the Delaware GOP is loaded with cash and special interest money. Christine is raising hers from the source of real power in America, the citizens.

I must admit, a few weeks ago I was a bit of a skeptic about how the campaign would refire the engines but they have really done a great job. The website has undergone a complete makeover (Visit Christine2010.com) and in addition they have added a social networking site (Visit teamChristine) and have begun raising money through the ever popular money bombs. Her Facebook presence has nearly doubled in the last two weeks and with her successful fundraising effort last week she is poised to strike a blow to Mike Castle's thus far nearly impenetrable armor.

There's one missing piece to Christine's campaign resurgence and that is the voice of the Delaware voters. What do the voters think of Christine? Preliminary polling results from the educational non-profit group Founders Values suggests that conservative T.E.A. party candidate Christine O'Donnell out polls Congressman Mike Castle among likely Republican voters in Delaware by more than 3 to 1. In a survey of likely Republican voters the results give O'Donnell the edge 65%-18% in the race for the Republican to square off against Democrat Chris Coons in the November general election.

Also being released are the preliminary results of polling among the same likely voters for the U.S. House Republican Primary battle. The preliminary results in that race give Glen Urquhart the edge 53% to 18% over establishment candidate Michele Rollins.

Both of these numbers are a stark contrast to the results of the GOP convention which saw Mike Castle and Michele Rollins earning nearly identical 70/30 split wins over O'Donnell and Rollins respectively. More than anything else the poll shows the viability of O'Donnell and Urquhart going into their respective primary races this summer. If there is one certainty that can be gleaned from the results which are due to be released to the public on Friday June 15th it is that neither race is even close to being over and that the T.E.A. Party movement is certainly having an impact in Delaware.

Christine O'Donnell: Why I Am Running for U.S. Senate

This post was originally posted at RedState (link)

Posted by Christine O'Donnell (Profile)
Tuesday, June 8th at 8:00PM EDT

Our nation’s founding principles of individual liberty and free enterprise are no longer viewed by our leaders as indispensable. We must stand up to the Washington elites and fight back against a Congress and White House intent on saddling us with their reckless spending, unbearable taxes and unfair policies that stifle our freedom and weigh down future generations with enormous debt.

Our country is going broke. Voters deserve candidates who believe deficits are wrong, and that deficits destroy nations just as surely as they do families. Spending money America does not have has become an appealing option for too many politicians and common sense men and women of America know this is not sustainable.

My opponent in the Delaware Senate primary is incumbent Congressman Mike Castle, who has served in Congress for the past 18 years and first won elected office in 1966.

* I will support common sense legislation that does not cost us jobs and raise family’s utility bills -my opponent voted for Cap and Trade.
* I will support the earmark ban, responsible entitlement reforms, and a balanced budget – my opponent voted against balanced budget legislation.
* I will support policies that provide economic growth not dependent on hand outs from the federal government – my opponent voted for TARP.


These are just some of the recent highlights of a career on Capitol Hill that has witnessed a regular helping hand as our nation’s debt went from $4.1 trillion to over $13 trillion during his tenure in Congress. Organizations such as the National Rifle Association, Family Research Council, and National Taxpayers Union have been raising concerns for years through their voting scorecards. As Republicans we should once again fight for less government, lower taxes, and reduced spending. Our Members of Congress should stand for the values of the party of Lincoln and Reagan beyond just having an “R” next to their name for 18 years.

Delaware voters deserve new representation from someone who understands government cannot spend our way to recovery and cannot tax us into prosperity. I hope to be their voice in Senate.

Rumors Percolating

I've heard rumors and rumblings from an otherwise recently quiet Christine O'Donnell camp. The campaign has recently picked up support from renowned T.E.A. Party activists from across the country who helped push Doug Hoffman to prominence, Scott Brown to victory and propelled Rand Paul in the Kentucky GOP primary. These same activists have ousted incumbents and unprincipled party favorite RINO's across the country and after victories in NY, NJ, VA, MA, KY, CO, HA and FL they turn their attention to Delaware.

Christine's race has been drawing money, support and volunteers from across the country because her race with Congressman Mike Castle (whose record paints him more like an Arlen Specter Democrat than a Republican). They understand the kind of machinery she is up against. Mike Castle and his cadre of pawns, namely Priscilla Rakestraw (a.k.a. Prissy Rakes), Tom Ross (a.k.a. Tommy Boy) and Basil Battaglia (a.k.a. Bates) have recruited an army of elite GOP leadership thugs to smear any and all candidates who challenge him. They've tried to do it to Ms. O'Donnell.

Castle and his cronies have claimed that Christine has no job despite her being a freelance PR and Marketing Consultant who has worked for the Vatican, the World Education and Development Fund and Mel Gibson to name just a few of her clients. She's helped to orchestrate pro-family legislation in Washington and has participated in White House and Capitol strategy meetings. Additionally, Christine is a gifted political commentator who is called upon by Fox News and other major news outlets frequently and has appeared on "The O'Reilly Factor", "Hannity", "The Glenn Beck Show", "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and "Entertainment Tonight".

Christine has been an invited guest of the Royal Jordanian government and has met with former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. She has travelled the world meeting with leaders and dignitaries, seeing first hand what Socialism, Radical Islamic Terrorism and Communism leaves in their wakes. She's been endorsed by Atlas Shrugs editor Pamela Gellar, documentary film maker David N. Bossie and numerous national bloggers and T.E.A. Party activists. In fact, the Wall Street Journal even highlighted her race with RINO Castle as part of a growing national trend of incumbents and GOP establishment candidates who stand to lose their bids in 2010.

All that has been missing is an opportunity for her to show that she can beat Castle and Coons. Thus far both Mike Castle and Chris Coons have avoided a debate with her. Castle has instead resorted to tactics akin to domestic abuse. At the Delaware GOP convention, Castle instructed his goons to disrupt the convention during Ms. O'Donnell's nominating speeches, hired the Dover High School Band (a publicly funded school whose children wore Castle campaign T-shirts and while using public instruments emblazoned with the High School name and logo) which is a violation of campaign ethics in most states and attempted to embarrass Christine by shouting disparaging (and untrue) comments.

Despite all of the Castle campaign's attempts to smear Ms. O'Donnell she remains as viable as ever. With her new national help and much needed funding she is poised to strike back at RINO Castle and make public is record of voting with Democrats more often than with Republicans; to spotlight his votes for Cap and Trade and bailouts; and to call him to explain his fiscal record before the people of Delaware. Christine is THE T.E.A. Party candidate for Delaware's U.S. Senate seat and she is the PEOPLE'S candidate. Visit her website to learn more at Christine2010.com