I have an update from Les on 4/14/10.
Les has announced this day if elected he will be sponsoring the following amendment to the US Constitution:
Proposed 28th Amendment:
The right of the people to choose to participate in or reject various health care insurance products shall not be infringed.
Following is the explanation I received regarding this amendment written by one of Les’ associates:
People across the nation are looking for a way out of the Health Care Reform Law. Many different tactics are being used, all with the same goal in mind: prevention of government takeover of our heathcare system. While the “repeal and replace” strategy sounds reasonable and I would certainly support it as Congressman from the Fifth District, it is not as likely to occur as it sounds. It would require political will, a veto-proof majority, and would be difficult to repeal all sections of the current bill as evidenced by recent comments by some Republicans to “keep the good parts.” We cannot keep some parts and do away with others, it has to be killed as a whole. While reform is needed it should be “free market reform” rather than a government takeover.
Others are convinced the Courts will be the answer. First, it will be years before this would actually reach the Supreme Court-an estimate of eight years. Second, if current trends prevail, the court will be left-leaning and likely to rule that forcing Americans to purchase a product is Constitutional.
Another method being tried is by individual states, i.e. passing States’ Rights bills designed to “protect” the residents of the state from the Health Care Reform Law. While this is a Constitutionally sound method, many states are experiencing difficulty as is the case here in Alabama due to the State House and Senate being controlled by Democrats. There is also the issue of moving from one state to another, which may not afford one protection if the other state does not have a similar bill signed into law.
It is not my belief that the above-mentioned ways of attacking the Health Care Reform Law should not be used, I believe we need to use any and all legal means available to us. In consideration of the above, another tactic can be utilized.
What I am referring to is fighting the Health Care Reform Law using the Constitution itself. Article V of the Constitution is the most practical means to accomplish this goal. Under the Constitution there are two ways to add a Constitutional Amendment. The first method is through Congress, “The Congress, when two thirds of both houses deem it necessary shall propose amendments to this Constitution”. The second method does not require Congress, “On the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments.” While I am not proposing a Constitutional Convention, this opens up the Constitution and is in itself a dangerous proposition; I believe that Congress itself would be loathe to see Method #2 used and would take their chances with method #1.
At this time we are experiencing an ascendancy of Conservatism across the country. Conservative activists are waiting to crush this current Congress in November. Progressives are not nearly as motivated to defend the incumbents as Conservatives are to vote them out. This was proven by the Progressives’ willingness to force this bill on the American people. Along with US Congressional House and Senate members, state legislators are also up for re-election in November. If Conservatives come out in force, the political makeup of state and federal legislatures could be radically changed.
At last count 38 states are looking for ways out of the Health Care Reform Law, which is more than enough to pass an Amendment to the Constitution. This is 38 states despite many being controlled at this time by Democrats. With state legislatures considering Article V, this is the time that WE THE PEOPLE can take back control of the government.
Original post begins here.
The defection last December of Alabama Blue Dog Parker Griffith who currently represents Alabama #5, to the GOP will make for an interesting primary in June.
It’s a mixed bag of feelings at RedState on PG. He did vote against cap & trade, the stimulus, and healthcare. But because of his defection, does that make him more zealous or simply a turncoat? His voting record shows him to be fairly conservative, although he received only a 56 out of 100 from the American Conservative Union. Not great.
I had the opportunity for a phone interview with Les Phillip, Republican candidate also for Alabama #5. And I was mightily impressed. We spent about a half hour on the phone. Les is a former Navy pilot and has worked in the private sector since 1993. These few sentences from his webpage sum up his platform:
If elected to Congress, I will vigorously defend freedom of enterprise, fight for your right to bear arms and promote a limited role of the Federal government in YOUR life. I will not stand back and allow the status quo of politics as usual to continue eroding our rights and destroying our country.
My first question to Les was how he would rate himself on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the ultra-Conservative Rush, and 1 being the ultraradical Alinsky. Les gave himself between a 9-9.5. I then proceeded to ask him 43 yes-or-no questions prepared by the Independence Caucus. We touched on use of the Constitution, citizen taxation, the role of the Federal government, state sovereignty, national sovereignty, free enterprise, FCC vs. 1st amendment, the role of the U.N; treaties, code of ethics and more. And you know what? Les didn’t rate a 9, or even a 9.5. He rated a “10″ on my Conservative scale. And the most telling item of all about Les was this: I didn’t tell him ahead of time these were questions prepared to “test” the “Conservatism” of a candidate. I did let him know afterward, and he said to me:
I never would have guessed I was being “tested.” To me, this is just the way it should be.
Les’ final remark to me was:
If it’s not in the Constitution, the government has no business doing it.
That says it all my friends. This well-spoken, knowledgeable businessman, Veteran, ultra-Conservative needs everyone’s support for Alabama #5. Here is Robert Stacy McCain interviewing Les at CPAC. It may be slightly difficult to hear since the noise level is high, but he is questioning Les about the GOP’s decision to back Parker Griffith.
Yes, that is right my friends. The GOP has decided to back a turncoat. More developing on this story, I am sure.
You may follow Les on twitter @Lesphillip
