Thursday, December 27, 2007

CONGRESSMAN DUNCAN HUNTER & GENERAL CHUCK YEAGER MAKING CAMPAIGN STOPS IN NORTHERN NEVADA

Republican Presidential candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter will be making a stop in Northern Nevada on December 27 and 28, 2007. He will be accompanied by his Honorary Campaign Chairman General Chuck Yeager. Congressman Hunter and General Yeager will be in the area after the Christmas holiday to get the message out about Duncan Hunter’s vision for our nation as President. The public is invited to attend this event and have the opportunity to voice their questions and meet with Congressman Hunter and General Chuck Yeager.

A townhall meeting is scheduled in Reno, NV on December 27, 2007 from 5-6pm at the Airport Plaza Hotel in the 2nd floor ballroom. Congressman Hunter will be discussing issues like immigration and border control, 2nd amendment rights, trade with China, national security, Christian values and other topics that are important to our nation.

The Carson City County Republican Party is hosting a townhall meeting in Carson City, NV on December 28, 2007. This event will be held at the Gold Dust West Casino in the conference room located at 2171 Hwy 50 East from 5pm – 7pm. The public is also invited to attend this event and meet with Congressman Hunter and General Yeager.

If you would like to schedule an interview with Congressman Hunter or General Chuck Yeager while he is visiting Northern Nevada, you can reach Gary Becks at (619)334-1655 or dlhunter08@yahoo.com

If you would like more information or to speak with a campaign representative from Nevada please contact Tim Shepard at 775-997-5918 or tim.shepard@gohunter2008.org or Kristie Parker at 775-313-7206 or kristie.parker@gohunter2008.org

(http://www.washoecountygop.org/2007/12/24/congressman-duncan-hunter-general-chuck-yeager-making-campaign-stops-in-northern-nevada/)

DUNCAN HUNTER endorsed by Terry Anderson

There has been no one more steady and true on the illegal immigration issue than Radio's own Terry Anderson in Los Angeles. Last night on his program he stated in his unmistakable fashion, "DUNCAN HUNTER IS MY FIRST GUY!" and "The only one I would consider is Duncan Hunter!"

To candidates Romney and Huckabee, Terry had this thought about their 'registration' or 'touch back' schemes for illegal aliens. "Register them as they're leaving the country so we know who to NEVER let back in!" and "Anything short of deportation is amnesty"

From the show, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007 Does "Peace on earth, good will toward men" mean amnesty?

(excerpt...see http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/2007/12/duncan-hunter-endorsed-by-terry.html)

NumbersUSA’s Roy Beck Assesses Republican Presidential Candidates On Immigration Issues

SOURCES & EXPLANATIONSASSESSMENTS CHANGE WITH THE CANDIDATES: The NumbersUSA staff updates the candidate information pages every day. NumbersUSA Founder and CEO Roy Beck looks at those updates and adjusts his grading of the candidates based on the newest information of changes in candidate comments.

ROY BECK’S CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING: “I look at these candidates ONLY in terms of what they have done about immigration and what they are promising to do on the issue.

“I grade all these candidates on how well they promise to carry out the recommendations of two national commissions in the 1990s and on other widely accepted goals for reducing overall illegal and legal immigration.

“I know that citizens choose to support a candidate based on many issues and on character and on past experience. I don’t endorse candidates because I don’t consider all those other aspects of the whole candidate. But I do candidly assess how each of them stacks up on immigration issues.

“I give the most weight to an official statement of promises, unless the candidate has said or done something since stating the policy to cast doubt on the promise.

“Absent an official policy, I give considerable weight to recent public statements. I leave room for candidates to shift positions; I don’t forever label them based on past statements or actions. The point here is what a candidate is most likely to do in the future as President, not grade them on past performances. But when current statements are ambiguous, contradictory, less than enthusiastically embraced or non-existent, I use past actions to help assess.

"If a candidate has said or done something new that calls into question a rating in a category, we will place black question marks (? ? ? ?) until we have sorted out where the rating should be."

“If you don’t like my assessment of a candidate because you think I have used faulty information, contact us with your information. If you want your favorite candidate to get a better assessment from me, work to get that candidate to make better, more convincing promises on immigration.”

Comparison Chart:
http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/prez08_gop1.html

Duncan Hunter:
http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/HunterPres08.html

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Vision vs. Pandering: Why Duncan Hunter is the ONLY choice – Part 1

I had a recent opportunity to have some holiday cheer and briefly talk politics with two longtime conservative associates; one a Mike Huckabee leaner and the other a Fred Thompson guy. The arguments (paraphrasing) went like this:

Huckabee guy: Huck is the one who can truly re-energize the Christian Conservatives in the party, he has a good sense of humor, presents himself well and his personality surely will attract moderates, not scare them off. His recent ‘surge’ is evidence of a winning political ear, which we will need to beat Hillary. He also was a successful governor from a Southern state, and despite a few missteps that all politicians have, he has a solid, conservative platform, just check out his website. Besides, Hunter does not have traction.

Thompson guy: Fred is the guy to beat Rudy McRomney. His record on fiscal issues and government reform and federalism is impressive and no one ever considered him a liberal, like some of these other schmucks. And his endorsement by the National Right to Life organization last month over Huck and Hunter shows that he is fully capable of carrying the values voters. And his recent position papers on social security and Illegal immigration are the type of clearheaded thinking the country needs in a President.

Me: Just look at their records in totality. Hunter is strongest and most consistent on borders, military affairs, foreign policy, sovereignty, tax cuts, anti-communism, all the most important things we need in a commander in chief right now. Hunter’s warnings about China and porous borders and losses of industrial might have all come home to roost, and most of the other candidates have been far less than helpful in these areas throughout their careers.

Three reasonable arguments for three Republicans in good standing? So it would seem.

But there is a significant difference that my friends both grudgingly admitted to: Hunter has been the most consistent of the three throughout their careers. However, both stressed the ‘here and now’, using Huckabee’s recent “strong” position on enforcing our borders and Fred’s willingness to tackle entitlements, respectively, as more proof of their candidate’s veracity and viability.

But if we are to give great weight to what a politician says during the course of a campaign for the GOP nomination, then one could argue that Rudy and McCain and Romney also deserve accolades and support for their candidacies. And indeed, they do have a fair amount of support and accolades at this time. If you read the position papers and policy statements and see the debate answers from each of these men, it is possible to coherently argue for any one of them being the superior man for President.

Though both of my friends were more than happy to rake Rudy and Romney and McCain over the coals for their past ‘sins’ against conservatism, they were able to minimize and basically ignore the less savory aspects of their chosen man’s record with ease. I do not argue that all transgressions against conservatism are equal, they are not. But giving undue weight to the rhetoric of a candidate’s stump speech or policies posted on a campaign website is an exercise in rationalization, not prudent evaluation.

So how do we separate them as they all dash for the title of ‘strong conservative leader’? The answer: Vision.

Vision is what separates a man like Ronald Reagan from a man like his Vice President, George Herbert Walker Bush. Vision provides the ability to see what lies over the horizon, the courage to confront it before it spins into chaos, and the wisdom to apply conservative solutions, regardless of how tantalizing or expedient a more liberal remedy may be. Vision also entails the ability to clearly recognize history for what it truly is, including the underlying wisdom our founders espoused, and including the knowledge of man’s nature. Vision is what separates those whose values are anchored like roots of a 200 year old oak tree from those who use a moistened finger to assess the political winds.

Vision is what sets Duncan Hunter apart from ALL of the others. That vision is reflected in his consistency, his record, his press statements, his long held beliefs and his current platform. No other candidate, other than Ron Paul (who espouses an odd hybrid of libertarianism and leftism), comes close to the having a rock solid vision that has animated his entire life and public service. The winds of change may have devastated large swaths of the Republican Party in recent years, but they just caused Hunter to dig in deeper and to fight even harder. While others pander to the current circumstances of a Republican primary and to subgroups within the GOP, Hunter is as he was; an America-first, conservative patriot with the unflinching vision of what our country stands for.

This article compares Hunter to the other candidates on China & Trade, Tax Cuts, and Bureaucracy and the Nanny State. It's a different format from other articles posted, and it is well done. Other of Mr. Madison's essays for Duncan Hunter have been posted here, and they are all phenomenal. (excerpt...seee http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/2007/12/vision-vs-pandering-why-duncan-hunter.html)

Tancredo Backers Support Hunter Over Romney

Tom Tancredo may have thrown his personal support to Mitt Romney, but Tancredo's fans aren't buying it. Who are the Tancredo folks themselves backing now?

This from the TANCREDO FAN CAMPAIGN Blog. I am turning my endorsement to Duncan Hunter for President

Folks, the Primary is about conscience, not about who can beat Hillary. Duncan Hunter was always my second choice. For conscience sake, I must now turn my endorsement to Duncan Hunter.

It's been said, why would anyone endorse another candidate that is lower in the polls than the one that you supported (who dropped out)? Simple: for conscience sake.

Duncan Hunter is a true believer. We both happen to be Baptists too. He is a true Conservative. He will protect our sovereignty as a nation. He will fight Islamic terrorism. He's the only choice we have and he can still win if we get behind him.

I cannot dictate to you what to do with your own vote in the GOP Primaries. But, as the President of the TANCREDO Fan Campaign, I want you to know that I am endorsing Duncan Hunter for President.

How does this affect the TANCREDO Fan Campaign? It doesn't. I support Tom Tancredo. I am one of his biggest fans. And that is what this site was all about. So, I look forward to the next great thing that Tom does or plans and I am behind him 100%. Go Tom GO!

(http://redstaterusa.blogspot.com/2007/12/tancredo-backers-support-hunter-over.html)

Congress cuts funding for Mexican trucks

But opponents believe Bush will find other ways to keep program rolling

Congress has passed a bill that cuts funding for the controversial Mexican truck program, but lawmakers expect the Bush administration to keep the foreign vehicles rolling on American roads amid safety and security concerns.

Joe Kasper, spokesman for Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., told WND that "without federal funding, it will be difficult to continue the program. However, we must expect that the administration will continue looking for ways to do so."

The newly passed 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act prohibits the Department of Transportation from using the funds in it "to establish a cross-border motor carrier demonstration program to allow Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones along the international border between the United States and Mexico."

(excerpt...see
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59340)

The China Threat Goes Unchecked

I may not agree with everything in this article, but it disucssues the impending threat of China that only Republican Candidate Duncan Hunter points out and mentions him being the best choice.

Churchill said in the British parliament that “democracy is the worst form of government,” and when the parliament gasped, he finished to its relief . . . “except all others” (that is, all other forms of government).

Churchill spoke after the victory over Nazi Germany (totalitarian dictatorship) to which victory he contributed as prime minister of Britain. But as of today the post-nuclear attack of China (totalitarian dictatorship) on the West (democracy) is within the realm of a future possibility, and so far the West has been barely aware of the existence of China, except recently, as a producer of toys, wonderfully cheap (slave labor), but sometimes toxic (absence of inspection).

Aristocracy (“the power of the best individuals”) as a form of government competed in ancient Athens with democracy (“the power of the people”). When John Stuart Mill published his “On Liberty” (in 1859), the form of government in the constitutional monarchy of Britain was still to some extent aristocracy. Even today, the prime minister, corresponding to the U.S. president, is elected by the parliament, which, in turn, was elected, at the beginning of the 19th century, by “the best,” accounting for a small percentage of the male population.

(excerpt...see http://www.newsmax.com/navrozov/china_threat_unchecked/2007/12/20/58618.html)

CQ Politics’ Presidential Candidate Profiles: Duncan Hunter

As a virtual unknown nationally, 14-term congressman Duncan Hunter is trying to build a presidential campaign on his sturdy conservative credentials on defense and security policy at a time of war. The decorated Vietnam War veteran has focused his efforts in South Carolina, an early primary state where his hawkish views have found appreciative audiences.

Though he represents a San Diego-based congressional district in Southern California, Hunter kicked off his race for the White House in January 2007 in Spartanburg, S.C., with the slogan “America: The Strength of Freedom”. The state is one of the few places where Hunter’s long-shot campaign has broken through even marginally. His strongly conservative message emphasizing military might and protecting American markets from unfair foreign trade plays with voters in a state with several military installations and with a textile industry that’s been battered by foreign competition.

Hunter’s campaign was initially boosted by his top-three finish in two South Carolina countywide straw polls conducted in the spring of 2007, but Hunter continued to register in the low single-digits in statewide South Carolina polls through December.

Wonderful article! (excerpt...see http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002615203)

FORMER NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATOR BOB SMITH ENDORSES DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2007

CONTACT: Gary Becks (619) 334-1655,
dlhunter08@yahoo.com

Tuftonboro, NH–Former Senator Bob Smith, a staple of the New Hampshire Republican conservative movement, today endorsed Congressman Duncan Hunter for President of the United States. Describing him has an "inspirational leader" and the one best qualified to carry the "Reagan Torch," Senator Smith sent a letter to his fellow conservatives throughout New Hampshire making them aware of his support, a copy of which is provided.

Smith was initially elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1985-1990, before being elected to the U.S. Senate where he served until 2003. During his congressional tenure, Senator Smith established himself as a strong Republican and the most conservative leader in the Northeast.

"I am honored and privileged today to receive the endorsement of my good friend Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire," stated Hunter. "For many years, we have worked together to bring conservative values to Washington D.C. On several issues, including building America's military, the sanctity of human life, and protecting American's 2nd Amendment rights, Senator Smith has led with conviction and principle. It means a great deal to have the confidence of a leader who has done so much for our nation."

Senator Smith's endorsement letter follows:



Dear New Hampshire Friends:

After spending several weeks listening to all of the candidates, I have decided to support Congressman Duncan Hunter for President. I do not take this decision lightly. There are a lot of fine men running for this office and I know that many of you may have already made your choice. Your vote in the "First in the Nation Primary" is a very precious and personal right. Your decision will likely determine who will be the next leader of the free world. What an awesome responsibility! I only ask that you give serious consideration to the points that I make in this letter of endorsement for Congressman Hunter before you vote.

The Republican Party, but more importantly our nation, needs strong conservative and inspirational leadership as we continue to face the threats to our liberty in the form of immorality, corruption, terrorism, a mountain of debt, border insecurity, loss of jobs and attempts to weaken our national defense. Here is why Duncan Hunter is that leader!

I am sure that you are aware that I fought the battle for the conservative cause in New Hampshire for over 20 years. It was not an easy battle. Conservatives pay a heavy price for standing up for their principles. I can speak from personal experience on that. The Republican Party has lost its majority in Congress because it slowly and steadily has walked away from the "core values" that have made it a great party for the past 150 years in America. Remember Ronald Reagan? Liberals and moderates worked hard to defeat him in the New Hampshire primary in 1980 but he prevailed in spite of them! He will be remembered as one of our greatest Presidents because he stood on principle, but also because we conservatives in New Hampshire gave him the victory that propelled him to the White House! When President Reagan came into the oval office in the morning, he knew exactly where he wanted to take the country. He did not need an inbox full of directions, consultants, polls or focus groups to tell him what his core values were. There will never be another Ronald Reagan but fellow Californian Duncan Hunter can pick up the Reagan torch and light the way for America to come back from the dangers we now face. Congressman Hunter is a moral man, an inspirational leader and a no nonsense conservative who will always put "principle above politics" in the image of the late great New Hampshire patriot Meldrim Thomson.

I had the enormous privilege to serve with Congressman Hunter for 18 years in Congress. He has been my personal friend for nearly 25 years. I can personally attest that he is a man of impeccable moral and family values, a great patriot and a leader. I have seen him fight even when others were prepared to give up. Congressman Hunter inspired me and many other young conservatives in the 1980s to continue the fight even when it was bleak. This has not been an easy campaign for Congressman Hunter. While he has been out on the campaign trail his son has been serving in Iraq and the Hunters lost their entire home in the recent fires in Southern California. He has been largely ignored by the pollsters and the media. I urge the people of New Hampshire to send a message to the pollsters and the Washington media elite. The people elect a President not the pollsters! You have the opportunity to do for the nation what you did when you elected President Reagan in 1980 by sending Duncan Hunter out of New Hampshire with a big win and on to the White House in January of 2009! Can you imagine listening to CNN and all of the talking heads trying to explain how they were wrong as Hunter claimed victory? Wouldn't that be worth the price of admission? You can make it happen with your vote in January! Do not be intimidated by these spinmasters. You control the destiny of America and not them!

The American people need to take control of this country. We are a republic, not a democracy. We elect leaders to stand up for us as they make decisions. Duncan Hunter has proven that he can lead. He has been tested. If given the chance as President, he will inspire people, young and old, to rally to our nation in this time of need. Congressman Duncan Hunter for 25 years has stood up for the rights of the unborn, to balance the budget, to cut the pork out of the spending bills, to strengthen our national defense by supporting our troops and providing them the weapons they need, to seal off our borders by building a fence along the US/Mexican border and to keep American jobs in America. He is a known entity. You do not have to guess about what he might do on these critical threats to our security. Imagine President Duncan Hunter leading our nation and using the "bully pulpit" to lead on these issues! I am proud to support this great American patriot for President. If you really want to see change, then I urge you to vote for him. He is what American needs now more than ever! Thank you!

Senator Bob Smith
Tuftonboro, N.H. and Sarasota, Florida

# # #
______________________________________________________

As always, thaks for your support!

Hunter for President!

Hunter for President,Inc.
9340 Fuerte Drive
La Mesa, California 91941
United States

Friday, December 21, 2007

Duncan Hunter Is 0% Green

Duncan Hunter, arepresentative in Congress for Southern California and Republican presidential candidate in 2008, seems to hardly have ever met an environmental cause that he gave a damn about. In fact, in 2006, Congressman Hunter didn’t meet a single piece of environmental legislation that he was willing to support. His rating in the League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard for 2006 was zero percent. Duncan Hunter didn’t vote in favor of keeping the environment clean one single time.

That kind of extremist, stubborn refusal to act as a steward of the Earth has no place in the White House in this time of escalating environmental crisis. (Source:
League of Conservation Voters, National Environmental Scorecard, 2006)

(
http://irregularnews.com/stateprogress/2007/12/20/duncan-hunter-zero-lcv/)

If you are a conservative, you know there's always something fun about ticking off the envirowhackos. :) Hunter certainly doesn't follow in the footsteps of the Mighty Goracle (al gore).

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Tancredo Drops Bid for White House

Rep. Tom Tancredo announced Thursday he is dropping out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination and endorsing rival Mitt Romney.

Tancredo, a five-term congressman from Colorado, has consistently polled at the bottom of the nine-person Republican field. He based his campaign on fighting illegal immigration and has run television ads that link lax border control to terrorist attacks, rape and other crimes.

He announced his withdrawal in downtown Des Moines two weeks before Iowa begins the presidential nominating process with the state's precinct caucuses.

(http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4034388)

In the Hunter camp, we are dissapointed that Tom Tancredo didn't throw his support behind Duncan Hunter. He says in the following article:

"True to his single issue focus, Tancredo chose to throw his support behind former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney out of a mixture of agreement and spite. Romney, 'has actually got a record,' said Tancredo. 'He was governor of a liberal state but opposed drivers licenses for illegal immigrants and instate tuition for illegal immigrants� at a time when they weren't issues on the national scene.'"

However, a supporter of Tancredo who heard the announcement as he arrived at Tancredo's campaign office to volunteer commented:

"When asked if he would follow Tancredo's endorsement and support Romney, Johnson said he'd be more inclined to support California Congressman Duncan Hunter, another dark horse candidate who's tough on immigration. 'I don't like Romney,' Johnson said, before driving off in his dusty grey sedan.

'God Bless him,' said Tancredo said of his last would-be volunteer. 'Duncan Hunter is a great guy. Duncan Hunter doesn't have a chance. I have better numbers than Duncan. One of the reasons I'm endorsing Romney is he can go the distance.'"

(excerpt...see http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1697551,00.html)

I think Tancredo is a good man, but Duncan Hunter is/was his friend and has indicated he'll be in it until the end. They worked together on border control issues. To not endorse Hunter, especially when Hunter has the best record on immigration, is wrong. The good news is that many supporters of Tancredo also like Hunter. Hopefully we will gain a lot of his supporters in our camp. Hunter can win. All you have to do is get behind him, believe, and work. We can do it!

Video: Duncan Hunter slams Congress for gutting the border fence

This is one of those stories that we at Hot Air fully expected to have to write. Where Washington and border security are concerned, the course of events is always predictable: Congresscritters say what they think they have to say to calm us yahoos down, and then they strike some midnight deal to render everything that they said a lie. We may have to unleash YouTube on these weasels again.

In this clip, Rep. Duncan Hunter lays into the miscreants in Congress who have once again proven that our political class is corrupt and uninterested in what the majority of the country wants done. I left in the tail end of Beck’s opening rant prior to Hunter’s interview to give you a couple of nuggets to prove my point on that. It’s another day in Washington, basically.

Glenn Beck also makes an excellent point about border patrol officers, which could easily be applied now to military members and the CIA agents who had to deal with high-value al Qaeda targets: Why do those jobs when you know with 100% certainty that the denizens of the Beltway will sell you out every chance they get?

(excerpt...see video at
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/12/19/video-duncan-hunter-slams-congress-for-gutting-the-border-fence/)

De-Fence, De-Fence

Immigration: Congressional Democrats, and some Republicans, gut the Secure Fence Act in the omnibus spending bill against the wishes of the American people. In a bill with 9,000 earmarks, border security takes a back seat.

The Secure Fence Act of 2006 required the construction of 700 miles of border fence, modeled on the success of the border barriers in the San Diego sector of the U.S. border. The operative word is "secure."

That legislation specifically called for "two layers of reinforced fencing" and listed five specific sections of the border where it should be built. The omnibus spending bill removes the requirement for two tiers and the specific list of locations.

Duncan Hunter in the article. (excerpt...see http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/IBD-0001-21797675.htm)

HUNTER FIGHTING TO OVERTURN HOUSE DEMOCRATS FENCE REDUCTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2007

CONTACT: Gary Becks (619) 334-1655, dlhunter08@yahoo.com

Washington, D.C.–Presidential candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter returned to Washington this morning to immediately begin his efforts to overturn provisions contained in a Democratic spending bill that eliminates current legal requirements for double-layered border fencing.
Congress last year passed legislation authored by Hunter, the Secure Fence Act, mandating double-layered fencing and related infrastructure at strategic entry points along the Southwest border.

“Now is the time when those who take the threat to our nation’s borders seriously stand up and be counted,” said Hunter. “Last year, Congress successfully passed legislation that mandated a double fence requirement based on the success of the border fence we’ve built in San Diego. The Democrat majority in this Congress has taken it upon themselves to overturn federal law to pursue a policy that does nothing but harm our border enforcement capabilities. This is not leadership, it is irresponsibility.

“Border enforcement is too serious of an issue to pursue only when politically convenient at election time. If Congress is to reverse its border stance after just one year, what message does that send to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers who are watching to see how serious we are about protecting America’s borders? I believe we must uphold our nation’s immigration laws, support our agents serving on the border and protect our border communities and I am going to make every effort to overturn the damage this Democrat leadership has caused.”

H.R. 2764, a bill that provides funding for several federal departments and agencies, was brought to the House floor and passed late last evening by the Democratic leadership. Not only does the bill contain provisions removing all specific locations as outlined by the Secure Fence Act, it also removes all requirements to construct any fencing or physical barriers along the border. This action basically repeals the Secure Fence Act and undermines past efforts to secure our nation’s border.

H.R. 2764 has been referred to the Senate for consideration and then will be returning to the House with any changes in the form of a conference report. Congressman Hunter is working with his colleagues in both the House and Senate to ensure that these dangerous provisions do not remain in the final version of the funding bill.

Video: Hunter on Iowa (and other things)

Dec. 18: Republican presidential candidate Rep. Duncan Hunter talks about the importance of Iowa and his appearance in previous debates.

(http://video.msn.com/video.aspx/?mkt=en-us&fg=rss&vid=cb5cf67e-2d6a-411c-96a8-2a0c51b2d36e&from=34&wa=wsignin1.0)

CFR - Duncan Hunter

Throughout his nearly thirty years in Congress, Rep. Hunter (R-CA) has been a prominent voice on national defense and military issues. A Vietnam veteran, Hunter previously chaired the House Armed Services Committee and has long supported increased defense spending. He is the co-chair of the House National Security Caucus and supports the Bush administration’s efforts in Iraq.

Hunter has pressed for the construction of a fence on the U.S.-Mexican border, which borders his district. Under his leadership, nearly sixty miles of fencing along the border in San Diego County have been constructed. A member of the Congressional Jobs and Fair Trade Caucus, Hunter made fair trade one of the central issues of his platform and has often pointedly criticized the U.S.-China trade relationship as unfair.

After his military service, Hunter earned a law degree from Western State University Law School in California and worked as a trial lawyer in Los Angeles’ Hispanic community for a few years before his 1980 election to Congress.

Polling in the single digits nationwide, Hunter remains a lower-tier candidate for the GOP nomination. Still, Hunter’s conservative views on social issues, his military experience, and hawkish positions on Iraq and Iran may give him some credibility among Republican voters disillusioned with the frontrunners.

Campaign Issues
U.S. Policy toward Africa
U.S. Policy toward India
Military Tribunals and Guantanamo Bay
Domestic Intelligence
War on Terror
Democracy Promotion in the Arab World
Energy Policy
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
North Korea Policy
Cuba Policy
U.S. Policy toward China
Defense Policy
Iraq
Trade
Homeland Security
Iran
Climate Change
Immigration
United Nations
U.S. Policy toward Russia

To read Duncan Hunter's position on all these issues, please follow the link. (excerpt...see http://www.cfr.org/bios/13302/duncan_hunter.html)

Presidential Candidates Change Answers on Homosexual Issues

Candidates aspiring to be Commander-in-Chief should state their position on military social policies that directly affect discipline, morale, and overall readiness. Voters need to know, for example, what standards and principles will the next president apply on issues such as homosexuals in the military? To obtain answers, on November 1 the Center for Military Readiness began conducting a non-partisan 2008 Presidential Candidate Survey.

Responses so far raise more questions than provide answers. We are left wondering how far would some candidates go in forcing feminist and homosexual agendas on the armed forces? And why are other candidates slow to take a principled stand against harmful social engineering in the military? These are inconvenient questions, but Americans need answers before primary votes are cast in 2008.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee provided solid responses to most of CMR’s questions, which assign highest priority to military necessity, and support compliance with regulations and law regarding women in or near direct ground combat. Huckabee also opposes Selective Service registration of young women, female sailors serving on submarines, the still-unratified CEDAW Treaty, tax-funded feminist power bases in the Pentagon, and problematic family policies that subsidize and increase single parenthood, particularly in the National Guard.

Read on for the other candidates, both Republican and Democrat, especially Duncan Hunter. (excerpt...see http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=24013)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

November Was HUGE! Let's make December BIGGER!

Fellow Duncaneers, the final results are in! You made the month of November huge for online giving! READ BELOW: for a special thanks from Duncan Hunter!

In just over 3 weeks time, YOU raised over $25,000 to help take Duncan Hunter to the White House!

Now here's the most amazing number: that was accomplished with only 1% of Hunter's online supporters donating.

WOW!

$25,000 in a mere 24 days with only 1% . . .

Do the math!
What if 5% respond in this season of giving?

That's over $125,000 . . . with just 5%. And that's not counting the tens of thousands raised OFF-line during the same period!

And we're confident we can do it together . . .

. . . After all, a large portion of the November donors pledged to give again in December already!

Folks, as we remember the true "reason for the season", giving is on all our hearts.

So, while we're out there sifting through the crowds or browsing the web to fork over our hard-earned dollars for gifts for loved-ones . . .

. . .
Why not sacrifice a few dollars for the future of our country? Is that really too much to ask?

Congressman Hunter and the entire campaign team are dedicated to make sure that we run a lean-mean machine!

We've done that. And we'll continue to do that.

Duncan Hunter refuses:

-to throw hordes of critical cash to mass media advertising like the other guys-to take money from folks who don't share his principles, unlike some of the other guys-to kowtow to special interests in dictating where he spends his time-to allow the media to define him

Duncan Hunter stands rock solid as a man of character . . .

. . . And that's reflected in the nature of this presidential race.

While the other guys sling mud at each other and go for the jugular, they have nothing but praises for Duncan Hunter:

"He's a man of great character.""I think very highly of Duncan Hunter.""Hunter is a very likable guy and a good man.""Duncan is a man of integrity."

The Hunter strategy of staying below the radar while maintaining a course of character and Reagan leadership is working!

Watch Duncan Hunter debate in Iowa!

If you missed Hunter in Wednesday's debate in Iowa, catch the highlights
here.

. . . And pay particular attention to the "Voters Voice" meter as Hunter lays out his principles to the American people!

Worried about the polls?

In all the early primary states, ALL of the "top-tier" candidates are falling . . . ALL of them.

Only Huckabee is trending upward . . . And ONLY in Iowa.

Duncan Hunter is the ONLY presidential candidate maintaining or increasing in EVERY state and EVERY poll.

Friends, strap in and hold on tight!

As we press on toward the early primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan, Nevada, Wyoming, and Florida . . .

. . . There will be some VERY BIG SURPRISES!

So, now is the time!

If you haven't yet given to the ONLY Reagan-conservative candidate . . .
GIVE NOW!

If you've given and see how things are moving in our favor . . .
GIVE AGAIN!

If you've given and plan to give again, ask your friends and family . . .
JOIN AND GIVE!

Friends, if we're serious about taking back our country, we have to be willing to sacrifice a very little with just the same heart the Founders gave their all for freedom . . .

They pledged their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor" for the prospect of freedom for their posterity . . .

And, as a mighty winter storm blows through the heart of our nation, depriving more than a million fellow Americans of electricity . . .

I am reminded of those great patriots who risked their very lives in the winter at Valley Forge to fight a war for freedom . . .

. . . a war that was "unwinnable" . . . a "lost cause" . . . a "million-to-one shot" . . .

And yet here we stand, FREE because they dared to believe and risked EVERYTHING!

Are you willing to offer even a degree of that risk, and sacrifice for the one true patriot for president?

If you're part of the 99% who have not yet given, the line is drawn, the die is cast . . . Will you join us?

For Freedom,
Brett FarleyHunter for President '08Fundraising Team
http://www.gohunter08.com

P.S. As we close out a truly historical year in the story of our republic and as we look upon the horizon of a very uncertain future, now we must put everything on the line for freedom. We have the right man in the fight. Will you help him? Can we count on you now for $25, $50, $100, $500, or even $1,000?

NOTE FROM DUNCAN HUNTER: Folks, we're campaigning very hard in the early primary states and with every new stop we're winning more Americans for Reagan conservatism. I want you to know how much I appreciate your sacrifice on behalf of our efforts here.they are really paying off. I'm committed to fighting this fight all the way to the end. Thanks so much for standing with me! Brett and the Fundraising Team are doing a great job for us, and I hope you'll continue to help them. Onward, for America!

Duncan Hunter and the family doctor

On 10 December 2007, I had the opportunity to attend the “Secure Borders Christmas party” at the Italian American Club in Las Vegas. Duncan Hunter was the guest speaker. Mr. Hunter spoke informatively for 2 hours to a packed dinner hall of enthusiastic Republicans. Although the event was mostly for individuals involved with the border issue, Mr. Hunter expanded on several other issues that will affect our population in the future. The audience responded to Mr. Hunter’s innovative and common sense platforms with round after round of applause and standing ovations.

In 2017, the average age of the baby boomer will be 70 years old. If medical costs continue to inflate 10 percent a year, it will only take another 7.2 years for these costs to double. Add the baby boomer generation that is 80 million strong, and our present healthcare system is untenable. I asked this same question to Duncan Hunter. Unlike many of the other candidates, both Republican and Democrat, who want to expand government or mandate coverage, Mr. Hunter has a different approach.

Duncan Hunter wants to bring back the family doctor. He feels that most doctors would love to have a simpler method of payment from patients. When a doctor gets paid, a little goes to the insurance company, a little goes to the lawyers, a little goes to several different book keepers etc. Some 30 percent goes to just administration. 10 to 15 percent of medical costs go to attorneys and patient malpractice awards. Some doctors pay in excess of $120,000 a year in malpractice insurance.

(excerpt...see http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/29780.html)

At BAE visit, Hunter blasts GOP rival on link to China

NASHUA – Speaking to about 40 BAE Systems workers in what he called a "town hall meeting," Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter again blasted an opponent because his former company is doing business with a Chinese defense contractor.

Hunter, a U.S. congressman from California, called on Bain Capital, a company founded by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another GOP presidential contender, to drop its strategic partnership with Chinese defense contractor Huawei Technologies in a bid to buy U.S. defense contractor 3Com.

Hunter will also ask Romney to use his influence with Bain to end the proposed merger between Huawei and 3Com.

(excerpt...see http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071218/NEWS01/866662371)

Bill guts border fence requirement

Would eliminate 854-mile barrier approved by Congress

Republican presidential hopeful Duncan Hunter is blasting a Democrat-sponsored bill that would eliminate the requirement passed by Congress to build a double-layered fence covering 854 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"By eliminating the double fence requirement, the Democratic Congress is going to make it easier for drug and human smugglers to cross our Southern land border," said Hunter. "This goes against the interests of any family that has been touched by illegal drugs or any American who has seen their job taken by an illegal alien."

The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations bill would specifically eliminate the mandate of the Secure Fence Act of 2006.

(excerpt...see http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59251)

Countdown 2008: Meet Duncan Hunter

From Bob Deans in the Palm Beach Post-Cox News Washington Bureau:

In his own words: “I think I’ve got a chance, and that’s what you get in America, you get a chance. And you don’t whine about the odds or the difficulty, you go out and you take your best swing at this thing.”

Personal: At home in Alpine, Calif., Hunter attends the 400-member Trinity Baptist Church in nearby El Cajon. The pastor, Bob Winterton, often calls on him to deliver the benediction. A perfect day for Hunter: hiking, fishing, camping or hunting with family or friends. His wife is a crack shot: In Wyoming last month, she bagged an antelope at 453 yards. Aviation legend Chuck Yeager is a longtime friend of Hunter and his family and is an avid supporter of his campaign.

His prospects: Flagging. In a recent Gallup poll, Hunter was backed by just 1 percent of the Republicans surveyed nationwide. Of the eight major Republicans running for president, Hunter is tied for eighth place with Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado. As of the end of September, he had just $3,227 in his campaign war chest, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

(excerpt...see http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/floridapolitics/entries/2007/12/17/countdown_2008_meet_duncan_hun.html)

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Hunter lays claim to Reagan mantle

A Vietnam veteran elected to the U.S. House at the age of 32, Rep. Duncan Hunter might be the most "Reagan-esque" candidate among a field of Republican presidential hopefuls claiming the Reagan mantle.

Like his political hero, Hunter, R-Calif., is and has been a hawk and leads the fight for more resources for the military.

Although he doesn't agree with President Bush all the time, he has backed the president on every Iraq vote. He silenced the war critics two years ago when he introduced a resolution calling for the deployment of troops to Iraq to end immediately. He opposed the resolution but made his point that the majority of House members supported the war. His resolution was defeated, 403-3.

(excerpt...see http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/IOWACAUCUS/159857430/1011/IOWACAUCUS)

Another Fundraiser!

First of all, I and the Hunter campaign would like to thank anyone who donated to Duncan Hunter's campaign during the November fundraiser. Whether you donated $10, $100, $200, you helped move the campaign forward. We appreciate it! Unfortunately, Duncan Hunter is not a wealthy man. He isn't as flashy as the top tier candidates. With the advancing primaries, Duncan Hunter can use any help you can give, no matter how small.

Dear Friend,

We are just beginning the home stretch of this campaign as we are less than three weeks from the Iowa Caucuses. Our grassroots campaign is in full gear both in Iowa and New Hampshire and we have even started running our television and radio commercials.

In order to continue our momentum in these early states we need your assistance to support our volunteers on the ground.


https://contribute.gohunter08.com

Our Iowa team has the tremendous responsibility of making sure our core supporters turn out on caucus night in Iowa and they need your support. Right now is a crucial time for our campaign! Your donations will keep this campaign going strong over the next month as we travel to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.

Over the next week we have set a goal of raising $250,000 online and you can make that happen.

https://contribute.gohunter08.com

I believe that we can achieve the goal of raising $250,000 over the next week because I believe in you, just like you believe in this campaign.

https://contribute.gohunter08.com

Best wishes,Duncan Hunter

P..S. When you think about all we need is just 2,500 people to make a $100 donation and we can achieve our goal. Let's make this happen together!!!

Thank you! Remember, every little bit adds up, even it's $5.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Duncan Hunter Is The Only Candidate To Get An "A" Rating From God Voter!

Current Status: Congressman Duncan Hunter has shared his Christian testimony.

While we don't agree with all of his opinions, we were impressed with the majority of them and particularly impressed with his candor and courage (e.g., see his answer to question 9).

We knew very little about this Congressman from California until receiving his answers, which made us take another look. Frankly, we liked what we found, including the following:

He walks his talk. His pro-life, anti-embryonic stem cell research, anti-pornography, anti-illegal immigration and pro-strong defense positions are backed by the bills he authored, the border fence he built, his service as an Army Ranger in Vietnam and his own son having served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a US Marine.

Congressman Hunter, who has been married to one wife, is a Christian who testifies about the Lord when asked, has been re-elected six times, has gravitas, and his tenure as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee should be useful to leading a nation fighting two wars.

Why isn't Congressman Hunter doing better in the polls?

The main reason may be most people knowing as little about him as we knew prior to receiving his answers, simplistically as the "border guy" from a border area. We think the problem is exposure, not quality. In terms of the latter, he is the strongest candidate in the field.

Congressman Hunter, we thank you for your Christ-honoring testimony, congratulate you on your candidacy, and strongly encourage you and your staff to remain in the race to the end. We want you to win the Presidency. But even if you don't, we think the Lord will be pleased with a candidate who ran the race focused on Him instead of the poll numbers.

Our rating for Congressman Hunter as the next President of the United States is an A.

Please click here or on Congressman Hunter's photo above to visit his campaign website.

Hunter's Answers


1. Are you a Christian?

Congressman Hunter: "Yes!"

2. When and how did you become a Christian?

Congressman Hunter: "I was sixteen years old."

3. How has becoming Christian changed you?

Congressman Hunter: "Being Christian has given me the foundation to living with divine purpose."

4. How would you define and describe your relationship with Jesus today?

Congressman Hunter: "My total dependence is knowing the Lord and walking with Him daily."

5. In the past 12 months, how many hours have you read the bible per week?

Congressman Hunter: "I read my Bible consistently. There are scriptures that I quote daily."

6. Which gift has the Holy Spirit given you, and what fruits has it borne?

Congressman Hunter: "My leadership skills of patience and humility are from the Holy Spirit."

7. What has been your greatest failure as a Christian?

Congressman Hunter: "Spending more time in knowing Him."

8. What is the greatest challenge you face today as a Christian?

Congressman Hunter: "Honoring the Lord in all that I do as a leader."

9. If you had to choose between God and country, which would you choose?

Congressman Hunter: "By choosing the Lord, I honor my country."

10. Whom do you think Jesus wants as our next President, and why?

Congressman Hunter: "The Lord has led me to be a part of the 2008 Presidential Race."

11. Do you believe Jesus to be God or the Son of God? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "Jesus is Lord!"

12. Do you believe Jesus was born to a virgin, died and rose from the dead? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "Yes!"

13. Do you believe Jesus ascended to the Father and will return riding on clouds? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "Yes!"

(Note: Congressman Hunter responded as above to a version of question 13 that had been altered by him or his staff to omit the phrase, "riding on clouds." )

14. Do you believe the bread & wine turn into Jesus' flesh & blood when blessed? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "The bread & the wine are symbols of what Jesus did for us."

15. Do you believe that Jesus and Satan were once brothers? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "No."

16.Do you believe heaven and hell are places that really exist? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "Yes."

17. Do you believe only those who obey Jesus as their master will go to heaven? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "Yes."

18. Which books do you believe to have been inspired by God and without error? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "The Bible is God’s Word."

19. Which passage(s) from those books troubles you, and how do you deal with it?

Congressman Hunter: "I honor the Bible from Genesis to Revelation."

20. The beliefs of which Christian leader alive today resembles your beliefs?

Congressman Hunter: "Dr. Billy Graham."

21. What is your position on a Constitutional ban on abortion, and why? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "I support a Constitutional ban on abortion, because I have authored the law, 'Life Begins at Conception'."

22. What is your position on a Constitutional ban on same sex marriage, and why? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "I support a Constitutional ban, because marriage is between a man and woman."

23. What is your position on embryonic stem cell research, and why? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "I am opposed to stem cell research because of my bill, “Life Begins at Conception.”

24. What is your position on prayers and bible studies in schools, and why?

Congressman Hunter: "People have the freedom of religion and schools should honor voluntary groups that want to exercise religious freedom."

25. What is your position on capital punishment, and why? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "I do support and honor our American justice system concerning those who take the life of another person."

26. If elected, the ban on what type of guns, if any, would you support, and why? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "I do not support any ban on guns for American citizens. Americans can be regulated and trusted to handle any type of guns."

27. If elected, what will you do about (Internet) pornography, and how? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "I will continue to enforce laws that require the pornography industry and others to protect our children and youth."

28. If elected, what will you do about the health care system, and how? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "Seek ways to provide health care at more affordable cost such as removing barriers from state to state pricing."

29. If elected, what will you seek to achieve in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how?

[discuss]Hunter: "Our goal is democracy and victory! Stay on the present course we are on and soon American troops will be coming back home."

30. If elected, what will you seek to achieve in Iran and North Korea, and how? [discuss]

Congressman Hunter: "My goals for Iran and Korea would be a determined elimination of any threat concerning all nuclear programs."

(http://www.godvoter.org/Duncan-Hunter-rating.html)

'Where's the fence?' activist asks Congress

Budget amendment 'threatens' border security plan

Steve Elliott, the president of Grassfire, says he still wants to know, "Where's the fence?"

Elliott, in a telephone interview, told WND an amendment submitted by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, for the Department of Homeland Security 2008 budget would gut the already-approved Secure Fence Act, which was adopted with the promise hundreds of miles of physical fencing would help secure the U.S. border with Mexico.

But the budget bill now in a conference committee contains the Hutchinson amendment, and Elliott says it simply would drop the requirement for the security project.

The article talks about Hunter because he had the border fence built in San Diego and wrote the bill signed by Bush to have the fence extended 854 miles across the Southern border.(excerpt..see http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59159)

Republican Debaters Ignore China Threat

After seven Democratic presidential candidates debated on Nov. 15, CNN treated us to a debate of eight Republican hopefuls on Nov. 28.

The transcript of the debate numbers 25 pages. Its first major subject is “illegal immigration,” which runs to Page 10, or about a third of the debate.

Illegal immigration?

Gets into China and Duncan Hunter being the best on this issue. (excerpt...see http://www.newsmax.com/navrozov/republican_debate/2007/12/13/56857.html)

China ship building challenges US, top admiral says

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The chief of the US naval operations expressed concern Thursday about competition from China's flourishing ship building sector, while a lawmaker said it could soon be building more warships that the United States.

"The fact that our shipbuilding capacity and industry is not as competitive as other builders around the world is cause for concern," Admiral Gary Roughead told the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.

Singling out China, he said: "They are very competitive on the world market. There is no question that their ship building capability is increasing rapidly."

Hunter mentioned. (excerpt...see http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iBjttPaEbH0JCxi-hOq1ncAIId6g)

Hunter: Pardon our Border Patrolmen

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) made the following statement today regarding President Bush’s announcement yesterday to grant pardons and commutations to 29 individuals, while refusing to pardon Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos.

“The President announced yesterday that 29 individuals have been granted pardons and commutations for a variety of crimes, from dealing drugs to the theft of government property,” said Congressman Hunter. “Two names that were conspicuously missing from the President’s list were Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.

“By refusing to pardon agents Ramos and Compean, the President has missed yet another opportunity to correct this miscarriage of justice. The fact that the drug dealer, whose testimony sent the agents to jail, has been indicted for running drugs across the border while serving as a federal witness necessitates a Presidential pardon.

“Agents Ramos and Compean deserve to be pardoned and returned to their families for Christmas.

“Mr. President, pardon our Border Patrolmen.”

(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ca52_hunter/pardons_agents.shtml)

Lack of pardon for agents ripped

Several members of Congress derided President Bush yesterday for not including former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean among the 29 pardons that he issued this week.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican and presidential candidate, said that "two names were conspicuously missing" from the list, which included carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner, a man convicted of stealing government property and another sentenced for receiving kickbacks in military procurement contracts.

"By refusing to pardon agents Ramos and Compean, the president has missed yet another opportunity to correct this miscarriage of justice," he said. "The fact that the drug dealer, whose testimony sent the agents to jail has been indicted for running drugs across the border while serving as a federal witness necessitates a presidential pardon.

(excerpt...see http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071213/NATION/112130041/1002)

Duncan Hunter In the Iowa Debate 12/12/07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hW7k73O1ug

Abortion foes take new course: 'personhood'

Duncan Hunter has been introducing an act that would recongize personhood nationwide for years in Congress. On his Issues Page he says, "Likewise, I have also introduced the Right to Life Act, which would legally define “personhood” as the moment of conception and, therefore, guarantee all constitutional rights and protections, including life, to the unborn without utilizing a constitutional amendment."

Since this hasn't been able to get done federally, states are catching onto Duncan Hunter's approach.

Opening a new front in their assault on abortion, activists in half a dozen states are preparing ballot referendums that would grant "personhood" and constitutional rights to embryos from the moment of conception.

The drive is under way in Colorado, where activists have begun gathering signatures for an initiative, and Georgia, where the Legislature will take up the issue when it reconvenes in January. Abortion opponents in Montana, Oregon, Mississippi and Michigan are among those considering similar measures.

The new strategy takes an idea that has been central to the pro-life movement - that human life begins when an egg is fertilized - and makes it the centerpiece of state efforts to overturn women's legal right to an abortion. If the embryo is declared a person under a state's constitution, the reasoning goes, the termination of its existence must be considered murder.

(excerpt...see http://www.twincities.com/ci_7669270?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1)

Monday, December 10, 2007

The Transcript of the GOP's Univision Debate

In early November, I posted about Duncan Hunter and the Univision Debate.

(http://ohioforduncanhunter2008.blogspot.com/2007/11/duncan-hunter-will-particpate-in.html)

This debate was unique in that it was designed to appeal to Hispanic voters. It was shown on Univision in Spanish for Hispanics, but I have an English transcript for everyone to read. The only candidates that did not particapate were Tom Tancredo and Alan Keyes. Unfortunately, you'll note Duncan Hunter did not get introduced like the other candidates, and he did not get as much time. He did well for the questions asked and in the time alloted.

(http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/991cc1aa-b60f-421b-b3da-51592fe3cec2)

Posted here are Duncan Hunter's responses.

MODERATOR: Congressman Hunter, I want to ask you the same question. How are you going to think (inaudible) you’re going to recover the lost ground among Hispanics?

HUNTER: Well, you know what? I understand.

I talked to Donna Shalala, and she said actually a number of young people are going to register to vote tonight, and I want them to register for our party, for the Republican Party.

And I’ll tell you a great reason to be a Republican. And it’s a story that’s told 90 miles away and 1,500 miles away, because 90 miles away, in 1961, the Cuban freedom fighters fought on the beach in Cuba against Castro’s forces.

And a Democrat administration let their aircraft carrier sit there, while those freedom fighters were machine-gunned, because they felt there was too much pressure coming from the United Nations — either machine-gunned or captured.

Many years later, 1,500 miles away, in a little place called El Salvador, a Republican president, Ronald Reagan, provided that little shield around that government, while they stood up and had free elections and brought freedom to El Salvador.

It’s a story of two parties. It’s a story of the party of freedom. That’s the Republican party. That’s why I would register Republican and support our party this year.

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Congressman Hunter, why not support the (amnesty) legalization?

HUNTER: Did you ask the same question?

MODERATOR: OK, why you’re not support that idea?

HUNTER: Listen, when I was — when I came back from Vietnam, I was a practicing lawyer in the barrio. I was the only lawyer there, and I never turned away a family that came in and needed help.

But I told them a couple of things. One thing is, you have to be here legally, because the first thing you’ve got to learn in this country is the rule of law. And the second thing is, you have to make sure that your kids learn English, because that is the American opportunity.

Now, in 1983, we gave an amnesty, and when we gave that amnesty, 3 million people came in who were allowed to stay in who were here illegally. We said at that point, no more, and we’re not going to let anybody else come in.

After that, 12 million more people came in. If we give an amnesty to this next batch of 12 million people, you will have a third wave of people coming in expecting to catch the third amnesty.

You know, this lady behind me represents a lot of things. One is welcoming immigrants to America. The other is the rule of law. We have to establish the rule of law, and people who are here illegally have to go home.

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: The vast majority of Hispanics, four out of five, are either legal residents or American citizens. Many of them feel affected by the negative tone of the immigration debate. How would you — what would you do to curb this anti-Hispanic sentiment?

First of all, Congressman Hunter...

HUNTER: You know, I represent a district in San Diego, California and Imperial County, California, and that county for many, many years is a majority Hispanic and two-to-one Democrat. And I’m known as the guy who built the double-border fence that lowered the crime rate so dramatically, that stopped all the drug trucks from coming through, that stopped the smuggling of people and narcotics by more than 90 percent.

You know what you do? You look people in the eye and you talk to them frankly.

I would say this: I got more votes from the Hispanic community — known as the guy who built the border fence — from the Hispanic community, than anybody running for office, whether it was President Clinton on a presidential year, or one of the local or the state assemblyman or U.S. Senators.

That means that the Hispanic community in the United States does not agree with the idea of having open borders. They do agree with the idea of having order on the border and having a regulated system where this lady of freedom standing behind me, the Statue of Liberty, says: Come in, but follow the rules.

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Thank you.

The next question, of course, if regarding Iraq.

Congressman Hunter, surveys show that two out of three Hispanics think that the United States should withdraw its troops from Iraq. How would you convincethem of the fact that they should stay there — the troops should stay there?

HUNTER: Well, you know, there’s lots of Hispanic Americans serving in Iraq.

And my son came back from his third tour as a U.S. Marine on Thanksgiving, having served in Iraq twice and Afghanistan.

(APPLAUSE)

And, you know, if you check with the Hispanics of the 1st Marine Division or the 10th Army Division of the 1st Cavalry, you’ll get a lot different poll than the poll that you’re telling me right now, because the young men and women who are serving over there know we can win in Iraq.

(APPLAUSE)

And let me tell you what they’ve done. With blood, sweat and tears they have brought down the attack rate in Anbar province by 80 percent. They brought it down over the entire nation.

The Iraqi army is now standing up, all 131 battalions. That government’s going to hold and the army’s going to hold, and we are going to leave Iraq in victory, and we’re going to leave an Iraq that will be a friend, not an enemy of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

So we’re going to be victorious in Iraq, and Hispanic Americans who serve there know that.

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Congressman Hunter, you know that problem of dropping out of Hispanics...

HUNTER: You know, in California there was a great teacher named Jaime Escalante, who taught calculus. And he taught calculus in the barrio so effectively that his kids when they took the test were accused of cheating by the school district because they scored so high.

Jaime Escalante brought to the school system the one thing that we need throughout America, and that is inspiration, because young people are deciding what they want to do when they’re in third, fourth, fifth, sixth grade.

And what we’re going to have to do — and incidentally, Jaime Escalante ultimately left that school district and the calculus program went down because he had a run-in with the teachers union.

What we have to do in this country is to take away all this old credentialing. We’ve got to bring in aerospace engineers and pilots and mathematicians and scientists and business-people, and we have to bring in people who can inspire kids at a young age to reach for the stars, and then convince them to work hard enough to get there.

Inspiration, that’s how we increase our capability in education.

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Congressman Hunter, what would be — what role would Hispanics play in the future of our society?

HUNTER: Well, first, I want them to play a role as Republicans. And I want to invite, again, all the young people who are — registering to vote — tonight — to just remember a couple of things.

One thing is that that lady in El Salvador who stood there in the line for the elections after a Republican president, Ronald Reagan, had protected El Salvador and provided for free elections, and she had a bullet hole in her arm and she was asked, do you want to go to the aid station, and she said, yes, but first, I vote.

So, remember, Republicans stand for freedom.

Secondly, I want you to remember the Republicans stand for life, that the man who founded our party, Abraham Lincoln, did so on the basis of the value of human beings.

And lastly, I’d like you to remember that, you know, Democrats think this is a great country because of what government does for people, while Republicans think this is a great country because of what free people do for themselves.

I think Hispanics have a great role with this great nation.

(APPLAUSE)