Senatorial Candidates speak at forum in Sequim
Citizen Review Online Staff
Posted on January 8, 2010
Sequim, WA - Four Republican Senatorial candidates appeared before a sizeable crowd on Jan. 7th, 2010 at the Paradise Restaurant in Sequim. Sponsored by the Clallam County Republican Party, the event was the first opportunity for many local folks to hear and question several of the Republican candidates running in the State Primary – one of whom will possibly face off against incumbent Senator Patty Murray in November.
The four – Clint Didier, Dr. Sean Salazar, Chris Widener and Craig Williams, made brief statements and then fielded questions from the audience.
All four of the candidates reflected strong conservative views, from getting back to “Reagan” economics, to supporting the military, from agreeing that the borders need to be closed and illegal immigration stopped, to stopping the tax-and-spend direction with ever-increasing bureaucratic government the federal government has taken over the past few years.
Clint Didier, Ex-Pro Football Player, Farmer & Tea Party Activist, stressed the importance of farming and pointed out that the Farm Bill is used primarily to pay for food stamps where there has been much fraud exposed (approximately 70%), rather than helping farmers. It’s an example of the lack of oversight in spending, he said.
Didier stated that he is in favor of term limits. “I am in strong support of using a Constitutional Amendment to limit Congressional seats to twelve years total (two terms for the Senate and six terms for the House). He also believes that Congressional salaries should be frozen. The congressional positions of the Senate and the House were not intended to be a lifetime career position for any individual,” he stated.
He expressed that the Federal Government has reached far beyond its original authority as granted by our Constitution. “Our ever-expanding bureaucracy consumes more and more of our hard-earned tax dollars to function. Government and its programs must be constrained,” he said.
Dr. Sean Salazar, Chiropractor, Navy Veteran & '01 Congressional Candidate, pointed out to the mostly over-50s crowd that “baby boomers” currently outnumber the other generations, but that won’t last. He urged action now to reach the younger generations with the message of conservatism. Some that he has come into contact with including Latinos and Blacks –have never even met a conservative, said Salazar.
Salazar stressed that we must protect and defend the U. S. Constitution at all costs, adding that the health care bill in its present form, is unconstitutional.
Regressive taxes, regulations, and an expanding government impoverish the average citizen and the ultimate risk-takers, small business entrepreneurs. He stressed that the philosophy of Europe’s Socialist Democratic Party system has infiltrated the nation’s government. This emboldening movement has given our Federal Government enough confidence to take its first step into socialism by nationalizing major banks, the “Big 3” auto industry giants, and multinational insurance companies.
If elected, Salazar said he will propose or support bills that reduce regressive federal taxes and vote against any bill that gives the government an opportunity to nationalize competitive businesses.
“The government is systematically destroying the United States economy by expanding the Federal government at unprecedented levels,” Salazar said. Unless the government implements serious reductions, we are heading for national bankruptcy, he added. “As demonstrated by John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George W Bush, tax cuts in a recession restore the economy.”
Chris Widener, Businessman, Author & Motivational Speaker, pointed out that our country is headed in the wrong direction. We can’t pay for the unsustainable debt the Congress is placing on our future generations, he said. “The national debt has placed America in a very precarious position,” he asserted. “We must begin immediately to eradicate the debt we have.” He believes in small, streamlined government, he said. It has become bloated, inefficient and ineffective, he stated. “By shrinking the size of government, we will help eliminate our deficits and debt,” he added.
Craig Williams, Energy Trader, Nuclear Engineer, '08 Clark County Commission Candidate & '94 US Representative emphasized balancing the federal budget as a high priority. He said it’s immoral to leave our great-great-grandchildren with the debt we have developed over the past few years. He said he has a plan to pay the federal debt over 20 years. Jobs is also high on the priority list, and Williams said the way to create jobs is by getting rid of the heavy tax burden and regulation on small business.
He stressed the importance of following the U. S. Constitution, and agreed that the Federal Reserve needs to be audited.
The challenge was issued by all four candidates to talk to neighbors – especially to those who may not like or understand your views – and share the conservative message: smaller government, fewer taxes, less wasteful spending, and individual liberty.
Each candidate has a website reflecting their views, and stressed they’d respond to questions and comments.
Clint Didier – www.clintdidier.org
Dr. Sean Salazar - www.seanforsenate.com
Chris Widener - www.chriswidener.org
Craig Williams - www.votewilliams2010.com