It has been suspected for some time now that the Alaska media has been playing favorites in their coverage of the Senate race between Joe Miller, Lisa Murkowski, and Scott McAdams. Media bias is one thing, but what Anchorage CBS affiliate KTVA got caught doing is even more outrageous. Their reporters were overheard on a message left on Miller campaign spokesman Randy DeSoto’s voicemail actually plotting stories to release that would smear Joe Miller’s campaign and those associated with it. BigGovernment reports:
The voices [on the voicemail] are believed to be those of the news director for CBS Anchorage affiliate KTVA, along with assignment editor Nick McDermott, and other reporters, openly discussing creating, if not fabricating, two stories about Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Joe Miller.
The following is a transcript of a call recorded after CBS Alaska affiliate KTVA called Joe Miller’s Senate campaign spokesperson. The call failed to disconnect properly. It was later authenticated by McDermott, who sent a text to Randy DeSoto stating, “Damn iPhone… I left you a long message. I thought I hung up. Sorry.”
To view a transcript of the recoded conversation between the reporters, click here.
Clearly the reporters were conspiring to set up some type of smear of Joe Miller. With glee, they even cite a recent controversy over an incident involving the Rand Paul campaign, while discussing how they would spread the story via social media after whatever incident they had in mind came off. It also brings to mind another recent episode that ended with Jerry Brown’s California gubernatorial campaign being caught up in controversy when someone from Brown’s camp called Brown’s opponent, Republican Meg Whitman, a “whore.”
Truly shocking to hear the joy these so-called “reporters” get as they plot to trash other people. It is especially disturbing considering these are the people who the public are supposed to trust to give them honest facts about key issues such as Senatorial candidates during elections. KTVA has some serious explaining to do.
Hot Air posted KTVA’s response to the allegations:
A press release issued Saturday October 30, 2010, by the Joe Miller campaign claims that KTVA personnel, “openly discuss creating, if not fabricating, two stories about Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Joe Miller.” KTVA General Manager Jerry Bever says, “It’s unfortunate that this recording has happened. It’s unfortunate because it does not accurately reflect the journalistic standards of our newsroom and the garbled context will no doubt leave more questions than answers. The Miller campaign’s analysis of the recording is incorrect in many material ways ranging from personnel involved in the conversation, the interpretation of conversation snippets and the reported transcript of the perceived garbled conversation.”
“While the recording is real, the allegations are untrue,” said Bever. “The recording was the result of a cell phone not being hung up after a call was placed to Randy DeSoto, Joe Miller campaign spokesperson, Thursday afternoon to discuss Joe Miller’s appearance on that evening’s newscast. That phone call was placed near the end of a coverage planning meeting in our newsroom regarding that evening’s Miller rally in downtown Anchorage. The group of KTVA news personnel was reviewing potential “what-if” scenarios, discussing the likelihood of events at the rally and how KTVA might logistically disseminate any breaking news.”
Bever continues, “The perception that this garbled, out of context recording may leave is unfortunate, but to allege that our staff was discussing or planning to create or fabricate stories regarding candidate Miller is absurd. The complete conversation was about what others might be able to do to cause disruption within the Miller campaign, not what KTVA could do.”
While Bever would not discuss any personnel issues linked with the recording, Bever says “Have we had internal discussions about the level of professionalism we need to bring to our conversations, internally and externally? Of course we have, this is a lesson to learn from.”
The following brief statement has been released from the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Joe Miller regarding audio posted on Big Government and Big Journalism last night:
Now the media has gone from trying to create stories to openly lying. The audio was pulled directly from the voicemail message. Nothing was altered. “Everything that was recorded on my phone is what we released without change,” said Randy Desoto.
Both Politicoand the Washington Postappear content to embarrass themselves by pushing a response from CBS-KTVA which Ed Morrissey termed “absurd,” in addition to some propaganda and an attempt at obfuscation from the Soros-funded Media Matters in its weak attempts to attack the messenger, be that Breitbart, Inc., or former Governor Sarah Palin.
We stand fully behind the original posting and view KTVA’s response as unserious, amounting to little more than, who are you going to believe, us or your lying ears?
The published audio and transcript of KTVA reporters conspiring against the Miller campaign make the truth abundantly clear for all to see and hear. A call to KTVA’s Nick McDermott made prior to publication has yet to be returned. In the event CBS-KTVA opts to issue a genuine response to these serious charges, we will publish it when received.
For now, all there is, is KTVA General Manager Jerry Bever’s ridiculous characterization the Miller campaign describes as a lie. It is difficult to disagree with that characterization. Consequently, as unfortunate as it may be, as things stand, we see no reason for Alaskans to trust CBS-KTVA’s campaign 2010 coverage given their unwillingness to honestly address concerns raised by their reporters disturbing behavior.
You have to hand it to Alaska politics. Nowhere else in the world can make such an issue out of online opinion polls or jackets…
After being an outside observer of this stuff for well over two years, I think I have a pretty good grasp on how this works. Conservative opposition (be they sponsored by the DNC or by VECO) use a willing media to hype up some supposed big scandal involving use of the court system to build said hype around, then release of targeted documents in order to build the perception of impropriety. Such was the case in the past with Democrat operatives abuse of the ethics system combined with their use of the media to attack Governor Palin. So it is somewhat disconcerting to see Lisa Murkowski implore those same tactics against Joe Miller in the lead up to the November 2nd election.
Due to a court order, Fairbanks North Star Borough released some of Joe Miller’s personnel records after a suit was filed by the Alaskan media following the leaking of records by a former mayor of the Borough, Jim Whitaker. According to the Alaska Dispatch:
The records released by the borough Tuesday in response to a lawsuit filed by Alaska Dispatch and joined by other news organizations add weight to allegations that surfaced this fall about Miller having found himself in hot water while working for the borough.
The media hyped the release of these records to the extent that some Conservatives were getting a little nervous about their contents. Once Miller spoke to the press about what was to be released, that nervousness quickly turned into laughter. After reading all the documents myself, that laughter has turned into eye rolling. I’m sure Murkowski supporters are felling a little underwhelmed right now.
I do have to hand it to the McAdams campaign for trying to stay above this nonsensical mudslinging. Scott McAdams has said he wants to stay focused on the issues. The fact that he and Joe Miller differ on the issues should be what Alaskans are focused on at this time. However, the Queen of Entitlement robbed Alaskans of that opportunity first by entering this race as a write-in, now by distracting voters away from both her record and the important topics facing this nation.
So let’s get to the content of the documents, but first a little background…
Joe Miller served in a part time position for the Fairbanks North Star Borough for seven years. He did resign his post, but it was NOT as a result of any wrongdoing on his part as has been suggested by the Murkowski campaign or their friends in the media. Stating in a press conference on Tuesday, the Miller campaign said that after serving the Borough for that duration, it was time to move on. Miller had planned to have knee surgery, which would have taken him out of of the office for an extended amount of time. Plus, there where ongoing policy issues at that time that he disagreed with. He cannot specify the details of those policy issues without Jim Whitaker agreeing to release documents regarding each matter.
The biggest piece of information the media is playing up from these records is the revelation that Joe Miller used government computers to take part in an online poll. Yes, that’s all they got out of this entire ordeal. An online poll…
Miller was asked during the last debate about this matter and confessed that what he did was wrong. Shortly after the incident took place, Miller offered to resign and was subsequently turned down by the Borough. His actually resignation took place two years AFTER what I’ll refer to as ‘online poll-gate.’ Miller admitted he made a mistake. He paid a price for that misstep and then he and the Borough moved on with the business of the day.
The Alaska Dispatch and other media outlets are trying to make a big deal out of the fact that the Miller campaign did not release these records earlier. One reason for that is that they did not want to compromise personal information belonging to others, such as private account numbers that were listed throughout certain pages. Joe Miller’s political opponents have even gone so far as to accuse him of covering up the Borough job entirely. That is simply not the case as he has posted this position on his Facebook page and on his online, Linked In profile. Joe Miller is an open book. All of his military records are publicly available on his website, and the scrutiny he has come under during this election process has been thorough to say the least.
The Miller campaign stated during a press conference that there were certain inaccuracies and claims made in the records released on Tuesday that they did not agree with. They said that there was a form included in the documents that discussed an issue about an insufficient notice given for his resignation from the Borough post. Miller says he had never seen that document before the release of these records.
The Murkowski camp has also been smearing Joe Miller by implying that he purposely deleted emails that were public record in order to cover something up. First of all, emails on the Borough’s server are backed up and can be retrieved at any time. The Borough IT professional verified this. Secondly, according to the Attorney General, not all emails are considered public. Thirdly, an individual who worked for the Borough wrote in one of the emails released in Tuesday’s batch that Joe Miller “kept a clean inbox” dealing with his daily mail. It was common for him to delete emails once he was done reading them.
Now back to Mayor Whitaker…
Jim Whitaker, former mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough is the person responsible for leaking these personnel records in the first place. A complaint has been filed against him for releasing confidential records without permission. While Whitaker is a Republican, don’t let that fool you. He endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 which led the then-mayor to a speaking role at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. At the time, he was touted as an example of Barack Obama’s ability to “bring people together.” We see all too clearly today what a farce that notion was.
In my opinion, this entire episode is political theater. As I stated in the beginning, well financed political operatives working with the media build these spectacles in Alaska on a regular basis. The build up of hype. The use of the court system. Then the actual findings, which usually prove that Conservative Alaskans are pretty squared away individuals. All of this is designed to grab headlines from a more than willing press, and distract the voters. As Joe Miller stated during the debate the other night, “the primary election was about the issues, and we won that race. The general has become about personal attacks.”
That’s what you call a shift in strategy. Lisa Murkowski has already run a race on the issues and she lost. So, she and her campaign made a conscious decision to change their tactics. From labeling the Tea Party as “extremists“ to questioning Joe Miller’s honor, everything the Murkowski has rested her fate on comes at the expense of completely trashing her opposition. Although she is considered a third party candidate, Lisa is well funded by those who need her to retain her position in DC to continue that cozy relationship with their congressional connection. I hope Alaskans see through Lisa Murkowski and the media spin in relation to the release of these documents. The issues facing this nation are too important to get tripped up by dirty political ploys.
Joe Miller hammers home the fact that SHE lost the election, and he won. It’s crisp, clean, and upbeat.
From Joe:
Hello Voters. Did you know that Joe Miller beat Lisa Murkowski? Did you know that Joe Miller’s name appears on the Alaska ballot? Did you know that HER name does not appear on the ballot.
Well, now you do. Sadly, Lisa’s has forgotten this fact and she really has no reason to go back to Washington except to spend more of your money. On November 2nd, be sure to cast your ballot for Joe Miller.
This weekend, Governor Palin stopped by San Diego with Alaska Senate candidate, Joe Miller for an event to benefit Combat Veterans For Congress. This evening, she posted the following to her Facebook page regarding the trip:
Had a wonderful day in the Golden State, starting with a great gathering of patriots in Bakersfield and ending with a gathering of America’s finest in San Diego at an event for Combat Veterans For Congress. There are 24 Combat Veterans For Congress candidates running in 18 states this year. You can visit the organization’s website here to learn more about them. These candidates embody the integrity and courage we need in our leadership in D.C. They’ve already taken the oath to support and defend our Constitution, and there is no statute of limitations on that oath. It was a great honor to meet so many of them last night and to offer my thanks in person for their willingness to once again answer our country’s call to service.
– Sarah Palin
Unfortunately, a threat was called in against the Governor which has overshadowed most of the media coverage of the event. It’s a shame that one jerk had to make trouble for those involved. However, it’s apparent that the Governor was in good company and her security was top-notch. Adrienne at C4P has some good analysis about that here.
You can see a local news report from the event below:
Seeing the writing on the wall, Senator Lisa Murkowski took to the microphone at around 6pm Tuesday evening, local time, to concede the Alaska Senate race to Conservative Joe Miller.
Fairbanks, Alaska. August 31, 2010 — Earlier this evening, I received a call from Senator Murkowski honorably conceding the race. I want to thank her for a hard fought contest.
Tomorrow, the general election begins.
But tonight I’d like to reflect back on the amazing feat we accomplished together. We started from a handful of people knowing who we were and what we stood for to now being the Republican Party nominee.
I want to thank the many people that made it all possible. First the people of the Great State of Alaska. As I traveled throughout the state, I met and spoke with more and more people who shared the same concern that our nation has reached a critical point, and we needed to change course.
I would like to especially thank my wife and children who have sacrificed quite a bit during this primary campaign. I love you all, and you are the most important reason I decided to enter this race.
I need to thank others who provided vital support to this campaign including Governor Sarah Palin, Governor Mike Huckabee, and the Tea Party movement. I’d also like to thank current and former state officials including Lt. Governor Loren Leman, Senators Fred Dyson and John Coghill, and Representatives Wes Keller and Tammy Wilson. Additionally, I’d also like to thank national conservative leaders and our local voices here in Alaska, Dan Fagan, Glenn Biegel, and Michael Dukes. But without our incredible volunteer network, this victory could not have been possible. They worked day and night to ensure success in this race. Thank you!
Now is the time for all Alaskans to come together and reach out with our core message of taking power from the federal government and bringing it back home to the people. If we continue to allow the federal government to live beyond its means, we will all soon have to live below ours.
I look forward to the challenge of the general election ahead. I intend to continue to travel to every corner of Alaska talking to folks about the answers needed to get our nation back on track and keep the American dream alive for ourselves and our children.
Thank you once again to the great people of this wonderful state. I look forward to the campaign ahead. God bless you and God bless Alaska!
The Tea Party Express, which spent nearly $600,000 to help Joe with the race released this statement:
Tonight Senator Lisa Murkowski conceded the race for U.S. Senate to Conservative Republican Joe Miller. We here at the Tea Party Express couldn’t be more excited,” said Amy Kremer, Chairman of the Tea Party Express.
We congratulate Joe Miller on winning the political shocker of the year. Joe Miller’s campaign based on a constitutional conservative platform resonated with the state’s Republican primary voters and should serve as a wake up call to the political establishments of both parties.
We also thank and congratulate Gov. Sarah Palin who first called our attention to this race. She was right in her proclamation that Joe Miller was a first-rate candidate who offered a vision for the future of this country and how to return America to the right track,” said Amy Kremer.
Up next: Christine O’Donnell for U.S. Senate in Delaware,” Kremer said.
The Tea Party Express spent nearly $600,000 in this race, with $400,000+ spent in the final two-weeks of the campaign, of which approximately $314,000 spent in the final week after a poll commissioned by the Tea Party Express showed Miller surging 25% in less than three-weeks.
Many in the press scoffed at our poll results at the time, believing they were skewed to favor Joe Miller, but they were not. We simply wanted to see if our efforts in the state were paying off or not,” Kremer said.
The Tea Party Express has been on a win-streak in 2010, with election victories for Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate in Nevada, Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate in Florida, Mike Lee for U.S. Senate in Utah, Rand Paul for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, Scott Brown for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, and many others. The Tea Party Express has also been instrumental in the defeat or retirement of several liberal politicians including Congressman Bart Stupak, Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Alan Mollohan.
Sarah Palin also congratulated Joe for his “miracle on ice” via Twitter:
Do you believe in miracles?! http://u.nu/72z2f Congratulations, @JoeWMiller! Thank you for your service, Sen. Murkowski. On to November!
Joe Miller’s msg: Time for Alaskans to come together, reach out w/core message – take power from fed govt & bring it back home to the people
Folks this was a big deal. A very big deal. None of the “experts” thought Joe had a chance. Hell, the JournoList crew embarrassed themselves big time ranting how bad Joe was gonna get beat. All of the left wing attacks are just what you’d expect, but Slate’s Alexandra Gutierrez, who happens to be disgraced Washington Post columnist Dave Weigel’s girlfriend, really wins the prize for Palin Derangement Syndrome and sloppy writing.
I believe the new term is “wishcasting.”
This has national implications in more ways than one. Obviously we are going to get a stand up guy as a United States Senator from Alaska. Someone who will be a reliable Constitutional Conservative. But something else. This, and several other elections, have all but weeded out many top level establishment Republicans. Many of those who have lost their primaries were top lieutenants of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been looked at as the heir apparent to the Majority Leader’s role. These shake ups have weakened McConnell’s power structure. It may be possible for a more assertive, and more Conservative Senator like Jim DeMint, or Tom Coburn to rise to the Leader’s position. That is a big deal, and a very good thing.
Then of course, there is Sarah Palin’s role in all of this. As the latest round of candidates she endorsed have stood for election, 100 percent of them won. According to the Washington Post’s official Palin Endorsements Tracker (Sarah is the ONLY person in America whose every endorsement is tracked by a major newspaper) she is at 21 wins (counting Joe Miller) and only 10 losses. That’s batting better than .500 and a much better record than anyone in politics.
Sarah hasn’t played it safe either. She has searched for solid, Conservative candidates and taken a chance on them, when others did the safe thing and stuck with the “safe” establishment candidate. All of those she has endorsed look to be big winners come November, as well.
As others are saying, this makes Sarah Palin the Number One Kingmaker in the Republican Party. She is almost singlehandedly rebuilding the Republican Party and the Republican brand. Come 2012 she will have a mighty coalition of solid Conservatives that will help propel her to the White House, should she choose to run.
This is also big news for the Tea Party movement, and Tea Party Express in particular. Tea Party Express has turned it’s group into a force to be reckoned with. They have become fund rasing machines, and have been able to organize boots on the ground when it counted. When the dust settles over the November elections, many of the huge gains the Republican Party will experience will be in large part due to the efforts of Tea Party Express, and all of the local Tea Party groups.
I’d also like to take a chance to congratulate Lisa Murkowski on her gracious concession. This was a hard fought battle, and it turned quite bitter, but in the end, Lisa showed class. Now everyone can concentrate on November. Thank you Lisa.
Finally, congratulations Joe Miller! You ran a smart campaign. You worked hard and got your message of responsibility out there. We look forward to having you work with your fellow Conservatives as you restore America to the founder’s intent of a Representative Republic based on the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
~ 10th Amendment United States Constitution (Bill of Rights) 1791
This is a great interview with Joe Miller. This man gets it. Good old Bob Schieffer sets up a few straw men, the old “some say” ploy to call Joe a radical, but with our economy in free fall, and the Obama regime spending money at an unprecedented rate, something must be done. Joe knocks Bob’s imaginary friends down quite well while talking common sense.
Joe is also right about Alaska and her resources. As any regular reader here knows, Alaska is rich in natural resources. Developing those resources will go a long way toward making our nation totally energy independent for centuries to come.
As you know, the GOP establishment is meddling in this election, trying to somehow secure a win for Murkowski, who has already said if she doesn’t get her way, she’ll bolt to a third party. That’s HER seat damn it!
As such, Joe Miller can use your support. Check out his website for details.
National Review Online caught up with Sarah Palin after the Restoring Honor rally Saturday in Washington and asked for her thoughts on the Senate race and Joe Miller:
Sarah Palin tells National Review Online that she is “very excited” about Joe Miller’s strong showing in Alaska’s GOP Senate primary. Miller, she predicts, will soon have a “final victory” after the absentee votes are counted. “Joe Miller is the right one for Alaska and he’s the right one to help put our country back on the right track,” she says.
Miller, Palin adds, “knows that it is time for Alaska to start contributing more to the U.S. with development, with responsible development of our resources — instead of being a ‘taker state,’ being a contributor. We’re so vastly wealthy with our resources but the federal government has to allow us to tap into those resources so that we can become energy secure as a nation.“
With all of the behind the scenes nonsense from the GOP’s NRSC and Murkowski, we certainly hope Sarah is right. Joe Miller is the man Alaska and America needs representing us all.
To keep up with the latest, and support Joe as he now takes on the NRSC, stop by his website: http://joemiller.us/
Tuesday night was wild to say the least. Your humble blogger is still trying to catch up. One quote that caught my eye, via Twitter is noteworthy though.
Jack Welch, the well respected former CEO of General Electric, took time away from talking baseball to weighed in on Sarah Palin and the phenomenal night she and Joe Miller had in Alaska:
Alaska elections show Palin a bigger force than commentators suggest…Tough being an incumbent so far
After wading through all of the media on Wednesday, suffice it to say that a whole lot of folks share Mr Welch’s opinion!
We love Joe Miller. He’s a strong leader with a compelling story. He is running against one of the Senate’s worst establishment Republicans, Lisa Murkowski. Sarah Palin endorsed Joe early on, and many others have followed. Murkowski is one of the top Republican elites that need to go.
Jedediah Bila recently interviewed Joe for Human Events:
“I’m not a politician. I’m a concerned citizen,” said Joe Miller, Alaska’s GOP senatorial candidate, in an interview with HUMAN EVENTS. “I believe our nation is at a crossroads, and business as usual will no longer work.”
Miller, who is challenging Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, defines himself as “a limited-government constitutionalist.”
“We must reverse the growth of the federal government and restore liberty and opportunity to the American people,” he said. “It means getting the federal government to live within its means and within its enumerated powers.”
Miller is unequivocally pro-life and pro-2nd Amendment. He’s a life member and benefactor of the NRA, supports the repeal of Obamacare, and opposes cap and trade and amnesty for illegal aliens. He also supports pro-growth tax reform and cutting corporate taxes.
Miller’s bio is impressive. He graduated with honors from West Point, earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Alaska and a law degree from Yale, served in the U.S. Army, and was appointed as a state magistrate and a Superior Court master for the 4th Judicial District at the young age of 30. He also owns a successful law practice and has served as an acting State District Court judge and a U.S. magistrate judge in Fairbanks. In 2004, he came close to a win in the race for state representative, but lost to the Democrat incumbent.
Despite his striking resume, Miller possesses an everyman quality. His priority isn’t where he’s been, but where he’d like to help this country go.
Miller grew up in Kansas, but moved to Alaska in 1994 due to his love of the great outdoors. “Alaska is a state rich in natural beauty and natural resources,” he said. “There is a spirit of adventure here. I’ve been able to live in its most populous city, Anchorage, out in the bush (as we call it) in Tok, and now in Fairbanks.”
Miller has been endorsed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, the president of Alaska Right to Life, Tea Party Express, Lars Larson, Erick Erickson, the chairman of Defundit.org, and many more.
When asked what motivated him to run against incumbent Sen. Murkowski, Miller responded: “Are we going to keep faith with the Founders and defend our constitutional republic, or will we continue our headlong plunge into socialism and more government control? We already know what is at the end of that road—the decline of the dollar, further constriction of our economy, sustained high unemployment, crippling government regulations, and a deeper dependency on hostile foreign powers. I’m running to help turn that around, to stand up for individual freedoms, and to stand up for Alaska.”
Here is a segment from the exclusive interview:
HUMAN EVENTS: What are your priority issues for Alaska?
JOE MILLER: The main issues for Alaskans, like all Americans, are getting the economy moving again and the nation’s debt crisis. Beyond those issues, the development of Alaska’s rich natural resources is key. The federal government has title over almost two-thirds of the state—including, of course, ANWR. Oil production has dropped precipitously during the last decade.
The Trans Alaska Pipeline System is currently running at one-third capacity. Most Alaskans would like to see a portion of ANWR opened to development to help get production levels back up. The state is also rich in other minerals. The Obama Administration’s policies are hostile to these extractive industries, even if done in environmentally sensitive ways. Alaska needs more control over its own land and resources, so it can break away from being overly dependent on federal dollars coming into the state.
HE: What do you consider to be the most significant differences between you and Sen. Murkowski?
MILLER: Sen. Murkowski and I differ significantly. She is a statist; I’m not. She doesn’t want to return the country to constitutionally limited government; I do. She refused to vote to repeal Obamacare; I would. She voted for amnesty; I wouldn’t. I’m pro-life; she’s not. She wants to implement some form of cap and trade; I wouldn’t. She voted for the second Obama stimulus bill this past March; I wouldn’t do that. It really is a positional difference with respect to what we expect out of government.
I think the Constitution is there as a limiting document. That’s why it was ratified—to limit government, to ensure that our God-given rights are preserved. That is not her answer. She sees government as the answer to virtually everything that comes before our nation. And that is shown in her voting record. It is clearly a choice between a conservative, and not a moderate, but really a liberal. That’s why she’s in the top four RINOs in the Senate today, because of that voting record.
HE: Why will the outcome of this election be far-reaching?
MILLER: We must reverse course as a nation. If we don’t, big government running amuck with a stagnant economy and a sovereign debt crisis will drive us into a situation worse than Greece. Nothing is big enough to bail the United States out. And those most dependent on the federal government will be devastated by such insolvency. But this does not have to be the case.
If enough like-minded, limited-government leaders are elected to Congress—and trends in the lower 48 suggest that will happen—the whole tenor of that body can be changed. I plan to be a catalyst for change that will help reverse government growth and get this economy moving again. Alaska is a part of restoring the nation towards fiscal sanity. Sen. Murkowski is currently part of the go-along, same-as-usual, big-government spending going on in D.C.
Miller also spoke of Alaska’s strategic impact on the nation due to “its vast natural resources and geostrategic location.” He added, “I am committed to doing all that I can to get this nation moving again on a sustainable path. Too many people have paid too high a price to get this nation to this point in history, for us to blow it on our watch.”
Overall, Miller was optimistic about the ability of Americans to turn things around, but decisive about the need to “act now.” His love for Alaska and for founding American principles is unquestionable.
He’s the real conservative deal, folks. If you want a U.S. senator from the Last Frontier who will stand solidly by our Constitution and against the Obama agenda, you’ve found your man.
Jedediah Bila is an author and commentator living in New York City. For more information, please visit http://jedediahbila.com/.
Joe Miller just released a brand new ad on You Tube that Sarah described as “great all-Alaskana.”
To learn more about Joe Miller and donate to his campaign, please visit http://www.joemiller.us
Alaska and America need Joe Miller. Let’s do all we can to make that happen.
As readers know, from time to time, we will endorse and promote Common Sense Conservative candidates from around the country. Many of these are candidates endorsed by Sarah Palin, others are people we learn of, check out, and feel are worthy of a little time, energy, and ink.
We’ve supported Joe Miller since we learned of his candidacy. We like the guy. He’s a solid Common Sense Conservative who believes in the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and a genuinely nice guy, with a compelling story.
In early June Sarah endorsed Judge Miller and Stacy Drake laid out a strong case in support of the endorsement, which you can read here.
In her article, Stacy points out some of Lisa Murkowski’s troubling record, including her flip-flop on repealing ObamaCare. Of course, Lisa isn’t the only GOP Big Government, establishment elite, who has gone soft and is ignoring the wishes of the American people, the majority of which strongly support repealing this unconstitutional nightmare. All of the usual suspects are there with her.
A few days ago, we received a video of Lisa Murkowski, that backed up the article Stacy wrote quite nicely. In her article, Stacy quotes Murkowski as saying:
Repealing this is not the answer in my opinion, because if you just repeal and you do nothing, we will not have addressed health care reform.
When I posted the video, I opened with these remarks:
The above video hit my inbox a day ago and serves to remind us all of a real danger America faces: squishy, “moderate” Republicans. Look, we know what we have with the Obama regime, and his Congress. They are all hard core communists, hellbent on grabbing as much power as possible, and destroying the very fabric of American society, hoping to replace it all with their sick vision of life and government. As horrifying as that is, at least we know it, and can fight it. There should be no delusions about who these Marxist-democrats are.
On the other hand, many people see “Republican” and think “conservative” which can be very dangerous. While real conservatives believe in the Constitution and the Rule of Law, these squishy establishment Republicans, like Lisa Murkowski, have no real solid principles, and end up being nothing more than enablers for the Marxist-democrats who are destroying our nation. Many are all too eager to help, so they can say they are “bi-partisan” and call themselves “statesmen.”
I stand by that statement fully and you can read my entire post here.
The timid, milquetoast moderates in the Republican Party have destroyed it, and while doing so, aided the Marxist-democrats in their quest to destroy the Republic, and it’s Constitution. Part of the problem is they are spineless cowards. Another problem is they are incredibly stupid and don’t realize we are at a state of war in this nation for the very soul of the Republic. Of course, there is also the question of corruption, and the raw lust for power.
Our readers can judge for themselves how many of these descriptions fit the good Senator from Alaska.
Anyhow, we were able to clear up some space and add a link to Joe’s campaign in our sidebar to make it easier for people to support him.
Evidently, seeing the growing support for Judge Miller, and realizing she will soon lose the seat that she was appointed to by her daddy, then Governor Frank Murkowski, Lisa is upset at all of us who love the idea of seeing her soundly defeated.
Checking out one of our favorite Alaskan blogs, the Wasilla based Finding Myself In Alaska, Tracey writes about the latest Joe Miller news. As she is on the ground up there, I’ll let her tell the story:
Joe Miller is THE only conservative choice for Alaskans
As many of you may have seen by my posted pics and sidebar endorsement, I am supporting Joe Miller for US Senate in Alaska. There has been quite a bit of flap in Alaska Republican circles recently regarding an email that was forwarded to many prominent republicans in this state by John Bitney on behalf of Lisa Murkowski. I received this email, as did others on an undisclosed list. In it was a response from the Murkowski camp stating that “political operatives” were “outright lying” in regard to her record.
While it is true that, on occasion, Sen. Murkowski appears to have voted conservatively in the past, a closer look at her record shows she’s always been a RINO and personally lost me way back, in particular on her stance during the national healthcare reform debate. I could not condone her stance on Obamacare and other issues, so I was more than thrilled when Joe Miller threw his hat in the ring to run in the primary for the US Senate seat in Alaska.
Here is the letter Judge Miller’s campaign sent out (the emphasis is left as original):
Dear Fellow Republicans:
Recently the Murkowski campaign circulated an email through the Alaska Republican Party asserting that “political operatives are mischaracterizing Lisa’s record [and] some of these claims are outright lies.” We wanted to assure Party members, and the Murkowski camp, that our campaign has not engaged in such behavior. We decided to look into the charges, and here is what we found. It turns out that they were responding to emails being circulated by concerned citizens acting of their own accord. They were not being directed to do anything by Joe Miller for US Senate. Some of the material being circulated may have originated with us, but we were unable to decipher what material may have come from us, and what did not, since the specifics of what the Murkowski campaign was responding to is still somewhat in doubt.
However, we would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight as to what it is that we are saying. It is clear to us that by any objective measure, Senator Murkowski is not a conservative and her record will bear that out. Her campaign has insisted that “Lisa is well known for her conservative voting record.” Rather than engage in a “he said – she said” moment, let’s take a look at what the conservatives inside the beltway have concluded, based upon her voting record and their observation.
The American Conservative Union (Lifetime) – 70.19%
Freedom Works – 50%
Human Events – Top Five RINO’s in the United States Senate
National Taxpayer’s Union (Lifetime) – 63%
Citizens Against Government Waste (Lifetime) – 54%
Senate Conservatives Fund (2008) – 50%
Eagle Forum – 63%
American Family Association – 33%
Family Research Council – 55%
The aforementioned letter states, “She [Murkowski] recently led efforts to stop the massive power-grab by the EPA which President Obama threatened to Veto.” The Senator’s EPA Amendment is well-rehearsed and we applaud her for her attempt to stop this naked power grab, but we should be clear about what the Amendment would, and would not have done.
Following is Senator Murkowski’s own statement about her EPA Amendment delivered to The Council on Competitiveness’ National Energy Summit and International Dialogue on September 23, 2009:
“Since my amendment has stirred a bit of controversy, I want to take a second to ‘clear the air’. My amendment would not stop this process forever – it would simply give Congress a year to debate climate policies and determine the best approach for reducing emissions. Given that no climate bill would take effect before 2012, my amendment would not slow down or detract from the overall process. And given that almost everyone involved in the climate debate prefers legislation to regulation, I’m hopeful that it will draw enough votes to pass. I am equally hopeful that the climate debate, without the cloud of economically harmful EPA regulations hanging over it, can move forwards toward a bill that can pass the Senate. I want my colleagues and constituents to know that I’m serious about climate change . . .”
Further, it has been asserted that “[Senator Murkowski] has an A+ rating from the NRA.” We would point out that the Senator has demonstrated marked improvement in this area, considering her D rating with the NRA while in the Alaska State House, but she is still labeled a “pro-gun compromiser” by Gun Owners of America.
As to the Senator’s opposition to tax increases, we would not deny that she has opposed some tax increases, but has certainly not opposed them across the board. She voted against the 2008 Bush Tax Rebates, against multiple points of order requiring a super-majority to raise taxes, voted in favor of tobacco tax increases, and is currently entertaining the possibility of a new carbon tax on emissions.
It has also been asserted that the Senator has voted to fully repeal, and “unequivocally supports the repeal of Obama Care.” But it should be pointed out that the “repeal” vote took place before the reconciliation bill actually passed. Five days after the reconciliation bill passed, the Senator said “repealing [Obamacare] is not the answer in my opinion . . .” You can view, or read it, here: http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=12232006″http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=12232006. It should not be difficult to see why we are somewhat confused as to where she really stands on the issue.
As to the claim that “Senator Lisa Murkowski opposes Big Government, Government Spending, Government Bailouts, Government Takeover, and Deficit Spending,” we can only refer you to the record.
Voting for the largest new entitlement program in a generation (Medicare, Part D), in addition to unwarranted federal health care expansions (SCHIP/CHIPRA) that even the big-spending President George W. Bush vetoed on the grounds that it was “a move toward socialized medicine,” is hardly an effective way to prove your opposition to Big Government.
Voting against the majority of your Republican colleagues on six excessive Appropriations packages just in the last year is not a convincing argument against Government Spending.
Voting for TARP (Big Bank and Wall Street) bailouts, voting to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and voting to protect the Obama Administration’s plan for a $108B slush fund for International bailouts does not make a persuasive case for opposition to Government Bailouts. It should also be also be pointed out that the Senator’s campaign operatives would have us applaud her for attempting to clean up her own mess (TARP). One might say, ‘she actually voted for it . . . before she voted against it.’ Does she really get credit for a failed attempt to fix what she broke herself? Really?
Without even going further, which could be done at some length, the aforementioned votes prove conclusively that the Senator is not serious about curbing deficit spending.
On the illegal immigration front, it is an ineluctable fact that the Senator voted for Amnesty in 2006, and against a border security amendment taken in December of 2009 that would have required the southern border fence (physical barrier, not a virtual fence that is virtually porous) to be finished by December 2010. If the Senator is such an advocate for the conservative position on illegal immigration, why did she vote for the amnesty bill in 2006 and vote to take up the bill again in 2007? Why did she have to be strong-armed into voting no on cloture in 2007? Why has US Border Control only given her a 33% score for her stance on border issues?
She has voted no less than four times for repeal, or against reinstatement, of the “Mexico City Policy” put in place by President Reagan to bar Federal dollars from foreign non-governmental organizations that provide or promote abortions.
I would also point to Senator Murkowski’s unequivocal statement in voting for a sense of the Senate Amendment that reads as follows:
“It is the sense of the Senate that–the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade was appropriate and secures an important constitutional right; and such decision should not be overturned.”
The Senator has been named a Wish List Star. The Wish List is a pro-choice organization whose mission is stated as follows: “The WISH List raises funds to identify, support and elect pro-choice Republican women.” You can visit the website here: http://www.thewishlist.org/”http://www.thewishlist.org/.
While one can argue about votes, we would encourage inquiring minds to consult our website where there are links to many of Senator Murkowski’s votes. Feel free to contact the campaign; we would be happy to assist you with information you might need to make an informed decision on this crucial race.
While we understand that tensions are high in an election cycle, it is incumbent upon us all to take a deep breath and look at the facts. This is not finally about personalities, it is about the future of the greatest nation on earth. We are committed to running a clean campaign. We invite the Senator to debate the issues, and we will do our part to keep it civil.
All the Best,
Joe Miller Campaign for US Senate
(907) 929-9563
Pretty damning facts, I’d say. And while Lisa Murkowski can whine all she wants, we have her on video, in her own voice, stating she doesn’t want to repeal ObamaCare and views it as a “work in progress.” Only a Big Government Statist would look at one of the biggest power grabs in history, an unconstitutional boondoggle that will not only destroy the quality of health care in the nation, but bankrupt us all as well, and see a “work in progress“! These people are insane!
Here’s an idea for you Senator Murkowski: Instead of whining about how “political operatives” are being all mean and junk, how about you take a look at what is going on with RomneyCare?
Mitt Romney’s “crowning achievement” in Massachusetts is a disaster of biblical proportions. It’s destroying health care in the Bay State and bankrupting those poor bastards as well. Remember, RomneyCare was the absolute blueprint your buddies in Congress viewed as a “work in progress“, and the starting point for the lunacy they created and shoved down America’s throat.
Investor’s Business Daily has the latest on the nightmarish fiasco created by RomneyCare, which you can read here.
As for being a “political operative,” get real Lisa! A lot of people, including Conservative bloggers, support Judge Joe Miller, and think it’s time for you to go. We don’t need to be directed by anyone to act on these strong feelings. We want to see all of the GOP establishment types, the Marxist-democrat enablers, defeated. We have grown rather sick of all of you!
While I appreciate the complement, as I do think we help shape reader opinion here, which is kinda the point, I have neither the time, or the temperament to be a “political operative.” Though I will certainly support those I feel are true Common Sense Conservatives, who believe in the Constitution and the Rule of Law, my time is taken up with researching and writing.
My only contact with Joe Miller has been on Twitter, where he has thanked me, as well as many others for our support, and re-tweets. This is something few politicians take the time to do, and is a just a nice gesture. It says a lot about the man’s character. So does Sarah Palin’s endorsement!
We think this little video kinda conveys our feelings about Senator Murkowski, and well, we just like it! Hit The Road Jack …. er …. Lisa!
![sarah-marvelous-eyes-trig[2]](https://thespeechatimeforchoosing.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/sarah-marvelous-eyes-trig2.jpg)
A Time For Choosing 
