My Principles

Sgt Dan Francis (left) & Sgt Steve Feliciano, Phu Bai
Vietnam, early 1966 [2nd BN, 1st Marines]

Grim Reminder:  American and allied combat deaths in Afghanistan in May and now in June have passed the monthly toll in Iraq for the first time. The Taliban are regaining strength and resolve and especially since they broke out some 800 prisoners from jail recently – I suspect they are being issued new weapons and old instructions: kill, or be killed.
  

In this race, I am the only combat Veteran, and I am the only one with extensive military experience. Also, I am the only one who is a trained and experienced interrogator. I know the rules and the rules have been broken with secret memos. Let me say as clearly as I can: Military experience is not critical to serving in Congress or in any other government office. However, in time of war, or while options are being discussed about going to war, having a combat Vet in the decision making process gives one pause to make sure we make the right decision about going to war and not have our decisions based upon a pack of lies like the run-up to Iraq.
 
Iraq is the wrong war at the wrong time and in the wrong place. I know war sometimes is unavoidable. But, going to war is the most critical decision any country can make, and we made it foolishly. Going to war must be made in a somber and honest way. Regarding Iraq, we made the wrong decision, and it has cost us dearly.

As for me, I gained my fundamental leadership skills in the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is a pretty good teacher about character, developing leaders, honing talent, stressing tough decision-making, and understanding our basic American values in time of war and peace. I have never forgotten my training.  They have guided me throughout my life. So, where do I stand, and what do I stand for? What are my principles?

First and foremost, I stand with the people. I have never lost sight of where I have come from no matter how bad things were around me. I will always stand on the side of the people. I will always try to do right. Our people are the backbone of our country. Today and over the past few years, we have been badly abused by our own government, and that is not right, and it has to change, and that’s what I stand for.

I am totally unlike Mr. McHugh, the professional politician, or like my Democratic opponent, Mr. Oot. I will not tell people what they want to hear – I will tell people the truth and what they need to know. I will not make promises for votes, nor will I take any special interest money for favors, either. I want to be able to look a person in the eye and express my feelings on Friday and then be able to tell them the same thing on Monday without any reservations or money involved – sadly, Mr. McHugh can’t say that.

At home, we have a totally different kind of war.  We are engaged in two nasty wars aboard, but now we also face a tough war at home: illegal immigration, and a sagging economy. Both are very serious problems and both are tied to each other. We continue to see record job losses, high unemployment, oil and gas prices out of sight, mortgage crisis, people losing their homes, food prices rising every single day, and a government with no solutions.

What we face with illegal immigration is a wink-nod policy that allows 12 million people to be in our country unlawfully. That is a huge National Security threat. It is plain to me that we do not have an immigration policy problem – we have an illegal immigrant epidemic. People want to call it by a lot of names to appease their political side, or their agenda, but the public understands the issue better than anyone else. They know what it means when people come here uninvited, illegally, and without permission. They know that means unlawful and that it is not right! The longer we wait to solve this serious problem the worse it will become. Coming to the United States for a good life or a better life are things we all cherish, but people must come here legally and through the front door invited. We don’t allow a man to rob a bank in the morning and keep the money just because he wants a better life and to help his family. Things are apt to get worse before the get better with this issue, whether it's across the Mexican border, or the Canadian border if we do not act and act now.

Some of My Basic Principles

1.  I support of the use of our military forces when our nation and our survival are at risk, or when our allies are under attack, or about to be attacked; but not the kind of decision our government makes that takes us on a road to war that follows a Vietnam or Iraqi model for intervention or invasion based upon a pack of lies. I do not say this lightly.  I served two full combat tours of duty in two Marine Corps infantry battalions. I know the horrors of war and the ugliness of combat. I am a staunch supporter of our Armed Forces, our Veterans, and their families. I come from a military family, and I know the hardships they go through, and especially the nasty treatment of our war wounded.

2.  I favor some logical and rational way to get us to some decent, workable form of health care for everyone that moves us forward from the mess, the very expensive mess, that we are in right now. The GOP message for helping hard working Americans who are not covered is no message - they offer the same old stale political scare tactics – and I say it’s time to change that mindset and become productive. We've had enough talk. We need action and reform, and we need it now. People using the ER, as their primary care facility is not good care or policy for anyone. Medicare and Medicaid are both cost-effective and work pretty well - they could, if done right, become a prototype for some national program.

3.  I’m a strong supporter of Labor and Union rights. I am also a staunch supporter for a strong effective Public Education. I am a product of those systems - they are part of my upbringing and I support them. I am for change and progress, but with common sense.

4.  I have serious concerns about our balance of trade and huge deficit with China and other countries where we borrow huge amounts of money. I am for smart spending of our tax dollars. We all hate taxes, but most people know they are necessary, and most people also know right now the tax code is not fair and that spending is foolish by favoring the top rich and corporate America. I oppose wild deficit spending and budgets year after year that are out of balance and debt ridden. Government budgets must be more manageable than they are right now. In short, the process is broken.

5.  I do not support any policy that allows citizens from other countries to be snatched off the streets and tortured by us in some third world country and call it a safety program.  I am firmly against torture of any kind against any person. I also do not say this lightly.  I was a Marine interrogator for many of my later years of service, and I know the law and the rules and right now, we are breaking the law and the rules. This question of torture should not be a question for our national leaders to be discussing as to whether or not it works, and we only tortured three detainees. What about the next time? Is torture of 30, or 100, or 1,000 going to be okay? Torture does not work and it should not be policy or taken lightly by the government of the United States.

6.  I place a large emphasis on crime prevention. Today, we have more than 7 million people in jail, in prison or on parole from jail or prison. That is a huge problem. I believe in strict enforcement of all our laws with constant review to make them effective and our justice system fair.

7.  I support the Americans with Disabilities Act. We must stop all discrimination against people on the basis of their physical or mental disability or any other disability. And, I believe that affirmative action works without any kind of quotas attached.

8.  I totally support a woman's right to choose her own medical care, treatment, and decisions about her own health.  Her health decisions must remain confidential between her and her doctor, and not between her and her member of Congress. I not like most Americans do not favor abortion. If we try to manage a person’s right to choose his or her own personal health care, then we take away the right to choose in anything.  I ask every man, “Do you expect or accept anything less about your own health care decisions?”

I will always work to find a solution that works best for all of us, and along the way, I will listen to all ideas from all sides. I hope you will join me.