An Open Letter to My Friends

Hi,

This is Sean (in case you didn't know the Torial address), and I wanted to encourage each of you to vote in the Caucus for a principled candidate. Some of you may have received material from Duncan Hunter's campaign, and that was likely from me. I wanted to hilight this most excellent candidate, and ask you to take a second look at him while you are considering voting. Often the biggest critism I hear is that Hunter's campaign doesn't have any traction and so won't succeed, and there is certainly truth to that. However, my way of looking at it is the following:

1) I know that Duncan Hunter is the most consistent of all the candidates running. His platform (http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=1, http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=4) is borne out in his record over the last 27 years in Congress and he has received many excellent ratings from various conservative groups (see below). Most of the other candidates (Keyes is the only exclusion from this list) have platforms that their pre-presidential campaign lives never backed up. For some candidates, the inconsistency is abortion (like Romney), for others, it is the problem of Illegal Immigration (Huckabee, Romney, Guiliani, Thompson), handling the China situation (Huckabee, Thompson), Free Trade (Huckabee), or taxes (Huckabee, Guiliani).
2) I know that Duncan Hunter can articulate the conservative positions well, I've heard him do it. If you want a transcript or YouTube video link on a particular topic, let me know.
3) Many of the candidates are hiding things, but Duncan Hunter is not. Consider Huckabee's distorting his fiscal record (http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/huckabees_fiscal_record.html ), Thompson neglecting to mention his MFN votes for China, Romney's recent support for gay rights (as publically recent as Dec 2005, as well as his stated support of a non-discrimination law for all states, the same one that took a 100 year old Catholic adoption agency out of business because it wouldn't let gays adopt the children, or from the gay perspective: http://www.queerty.com/mitts-gay-support-taking-its-toll-20071228/), or that Guiliani marched in GLBT parades dressed as a drag queen. I could list many more (and if anyone wants links, let me know).
4) Many of the candidates are willing to lie about the other candidates, but Duncan Hunter is not. Consider Mitt Romney's attacks on Huckabee (http://www.factcheck.org/more_mitt_malarkey.html , http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/romney_on_huckabee_ii.html, http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/romney_on_huckabee.html).
5) Duncan Hunter has lead the charge on many issues, making sure that the troops had adequate provisions, that southern california would have a wall to prevent illiegal immigration and drug trafficking (according to the FBI crime index, San Diego crime dropped almost 50% between 1989 and 2000).
6) Duncan Hunter is gaining traction among strong conservative groups. He recently received an endorsement from Joseph Farah, editor of WorldNetDaily: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59399, as well as a former New Hampshire senator famous for his pro-Life stance (Bob Smith), and recently the endorsement of GodVoter.Org which I include below.
7) I look at the excellent character AND track record of Duncan Hunter and I have decided that he is the most principled, experienced, and capable man for the job and I have decided I will support him irrespective of whether the polls indicate he will win.

Please take the time to look at all the candidates and pick the most principled candidate out of the bunch. I have spent over 100 hours (ask Linnea!!) in the last few months researching the issues and the candidates and I believe that the best and most principled candidate is Duncan Hunter ( www.gohunter08.com) but perhaps you disagree with me and that is OK. But please take the time to reexamine the candidates and research if their record matches their rhetoric. The risks of having a candidate who is not an honest and consistent conservative is too great to just take for granted. Below are Duncan Hunter's ratings, and what GodVoter.org had to say about Duncan Hunter.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Sean McKay



Duncan Hunter's Ratings by various organizations:
ACLU: 7% (indicates very conservative)
American Conservative Union: 92%
Americans for Better Immigration: A+
Americans for Tax Reform: 88.5%
Campaign for Working Families: 100%
Christian Coalition: 100%
Concerned Women for America: 100%
Eagle Forum: 100%
Family Research Council: 100%
Federation for American Immigration Reform: 100%
** GodVoters.org: A ** NEW RATING (the ONLY A)
Gun Owners of America: A
NARAL: 0% (indicates a pro-life record)
National Federation of Independent Business: 100%
National Rifle Association: A+
National Right to Life Committee: 100%
National Tax Limitation Committee: A
National Taxpayers Union: B

God Voter.org Endorsement

Subject: DUNCAN HUNTER ACCEPTS GODVOTER.ORG ENDORSEMENT
Importance: High
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Duncan Hunter Accepts GodVoter.org Endorsement
December 29, 2007
Electing the most qualified candidate as leader is the aspiration of all
democratic societies and political systems. Trusting that America will
not prove to be an exception, GodVoter.org is pleased to endorse Duncan
Hunter for President, for five compelling reasons.
Firstly, a nation at war needs a war-time President. To protect our
national interest, America must win in Iraq, Afghanistan and against the
rise of Islamic terrorism and Iran. While John McCain's 5= years as a
POW in Hanoi proves his valor, Duncan Hunter's 26 years on the House
Armed Services Committee, which he chaired, is more directly applicable
to leading a nation engaged in a complex, multi-front war.
Secondly, the Hunter candidacy isn't a creation of political
strategists. Most of the candidates leading in the polls have
discrepancies between their present claims and past record. Some say
they changed their minds recently. Others claim lapses in memory. All
are stretching their persona and platforms to broaden their appeal, as
advised. Duncan Hunter has neither political handlers nor such
discrepancies, and is a refreshingly genuine exception to the norm.
Thirdly, Duncan Hunter is a man of action. He wanted secure borders, so
he built a double fence along the Mexican border. He wanted to protect
life and marriage, so he authored multiple bills to protect them. He
wanted to protect the country, so he fought in Vietnam, returned with a
Bronze Star, and sent his son to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. Actions
speak louder than words, and Duncan Hunter's actions speak the loudest.
Fourthly, Duncan Hunter is the most dependable person to protect the
Judeo-Christian foundation of America. While the other conservative
candidates' Supreme Court Justice nominations may be open to speculation
and doubts, Duncan Hunter's uncompromised conservative social values
record precludes the need for such speculation.
Fifthly, Congressman Hunter's low poll ratings can be reversed fairly
quickly. Little can be done about low poll numbers caused by a weak
candidacy, which isn't the case with Hunter. Most conservative political
commentators rave about Hunter's presidential qualifications yet remain
reluctant to support his candidacy, citing the lack of momentum behind
it. A stampeding herd can be redirected by a few at the front stepping
out with conviction, and the sudden rise of the Huckabee candidacy has
shown how quickly the conservative vote can be redirected. That vote is
still largely uncommitted.
Duncan Hunter isn't as suave, funny, telegenic or rich as some of the
other candidates. But based on the qualities becoming a President,
Duncan Hunter is the most qualified person to lead America for at least
the next four years.
In accepting our endorsement, Congressman Hunter highlighted, "Thank you
for your endorsement of my campaign based on my qualifications and
conservative positions of providing a strong national defense and secure
borders. As president I will work to restore opportunity for the
American worker. I will bring high paying jobs back to this country by
stopping China from cheating on trade. By restoring economic opportunity
for the next generation we re-gain the majority position in U.S.
politics. Recent world events point to the need for conservatives to
choose a nominee who is ready on day one to lead. I am grateful that you
have chosen me as that candidate."
For details about GodVoter.org and our ratings on all 15 candidates,
which range from A to F, please visit www.GodVoter.org.

GodVoter.org
www.GodVoter.org