OAKLAND COUNTY CAN BOAST ABOUT TWO ICAUCUS ENDORSED CANDIDATES - UPDATED

As an IC delegate, I am excited to report that two of our republican candidates have won the Icaucus (www.icaucus.org) endorsement: Rocky Raczkowski from the 9th congressional district and Gene Taliercio from the 12th MI Senate district. Rocky is hoping to replace Democrat Gary Peters and Gene is vying for term-limited Mike Bishop’s seat.

Both are commonsense constitutional conservatives, the basic requirement of Icaucus. Icaucus, or Independence Caucus (NOT Independent Party) is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization seeking candidates that are willing to go through a rigorous vetting process consisting of 80 questions based on constitutional values and principles. Having passed that with a minimum score of 70 %, the candidate then goes through a grueling interview. As a member of the interview steering committee I can attest the interviews are intense at least. The interviews are taped and then presented to the Michigan members (today there are at least 1000 +). The members listen to the interviews and vote on a candidate based on his questionnaire score and interview. Again, the total score must be a minimum of 70%.

Paul Welday, also from the 9th district was not able to achieve the required minimum 70%, compared to Raczkowski who had 96% on his questionnaire alone and beat Welday on the interview 2 -1. (67% to 33%)Gene Taliercio was the only one brave enough in his race against Copper Rizzo, Jim Marleau, John Garfield, and Kim Russell to go through the vetting. Both Rizzo and Marleau were invited to participate several times, but they declined. Gene passed his questions and interview with high scores.

The ultimate goal of IC is to send vetted constitutional candidates to DC or Lansing and to unseat incumbents that are beholden to unions, lobbyists, and big money special interest groups. The first ever endorsed candidate is Jason Chaffetz from Utah, now making a name for himself in DC.  With the help of Icaucus, early primaries show endorsed candidates having won their races, to name just a few are Bill Randall from NC, Jim DeMint from SC, John Dennis from CA (to beat Nancy Pelosi) ToddYoung from IN. To see all endorsed candidates nationwide log into http://www.icaucus.org/.

The IC helps vetted and endorsed candidates by providing campaign assistance in various ways.

To date Michigan has other endorsed candidates worth mentioning: Robert Palmer, MI Senate, 31st , Steven Mobley, State House, 62nd, Bill Cooper, CD 2 to replace Pete Hoekstra, Tom Stillings CD 1 to take Stapak’s seat,

The following is a list of all Michigan endorsed candidates to date, with more to follow soon:

Congressional District 1: Tom Stillings, R Torch Lake http://www.stillings2010.com


Congressional District 2: Bill Cooper, R Spring Lake http://www.billcooper4wmi.com/

Congressional District 3 Justin Amash, R Cascade Township http://amashforcongress.com/

Congressional District 9 Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski, R Farmington Hills http://www.rockyworksforus.com/

State Senate District 12 Gene Taliercio, Rochester, www.geneformichigan.com

State Senate District 30 Brett VanderKamp, R Holland http://brettvanderkamp.com/

State Senate District 31 Robert Palmer, R Bay City http://www.palmer4senate.com/

State House District 62 Steven Mobley, R Athens http://www.stevenlmobley.com/

State House District 72 Eric Larson, R Cascade Township http://www.ericlarson2010.com/

State House District 74 Dave Agema, R Grandville http://www.daveagema.com/

State House District 91 Ken Punter, R Ravenna http://votepunter.com/

MICHIGAN ENDORSED CANDIDATES NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW

We've all been to dozens of tea parties, townhalls, educational events etc. We chatter on Facebook and tweet all we can. Is that enough? It's fun and we think we are doing something constructive to help bring the country back. It is not enough. Get involved, become organized, take on a position to help. Michigan has at this moment three Icaucus http://www.icaucus.org/ endorsed candidates and it is time we start seriously supporting them either through donations or as volunteers with their campaigns.  There will be more candidates posted soon, but lets help these three get a headstart.

Rocky Raczkowski, candidate for 9th congressional district
http://www.rockyworksforus.com/
Twitter:  @rockyworksforus
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ykc87my

Facebook:http://tinyurl.com/yl2hthg

Robert Palmer, candidate for MI Senate 31st district
http://www.palmer4senate.com/
Twitter @palmerbaycity
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/yhrs55k

Steven Mobley, candidate for State House, 62nd district
http://www.stevenlmobley.com/
Twitter: @stevenmobley
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/yg7lfay

Hundreds, maybe thousands of patriots are involved in all different 9/12 groups and forums. How many of them are actually picking up a ball and are running with it?  Not that many. It is always the same names and profile pictures that I come across.  We need to get serious and pitch in wherever we can.  If time is an issue and you like computer work, join us at the http://www.icaucusvirtualteam.ning.com/ and help with posting on Facebook, tweeting, blogging, digging  etc for candidates around the country, those that have special or early elections.  Try it, you might like it.

BLUNTLY PUT: CANDIDATES NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

In recent months patriots around the country banned together and supported candidates like Doug Hoffman and Scott Brown.  People knew if everyone just donated whatever amount they could afford, it would have a great impact. And so it did, Hoffman came real close and it made a statement and Brown won thanks to patriots around the country.

Here in Michigan we have several candidates that are true conservatives, two of which will be endorsed by Independence Caucus. http://www.icaucus.ning.com/ .They are Robert Palmer who is running for the 31st Senate seat and the other is Steven Mobley who is running for the 62nd house seat.   Both are citizens that are tired of the way things are run in Lansing.  They know what is wrong and are willing to do what it takes to help fix Michigan. They both have the desire and will to run, they are gathering grassroots support, but what both are lacking are enough funds to run effective campaigns against well funded democats.

We all seem to be willing to help with candidates' campaigns by going door to door etc, but we also need to help financially.  Most people don't realize just how much a typical state campaign can cost.  They can run on an average between $100,000 to $ 150,000.  Thousands of pieces of literature, ads, postage to name just a few add up to lots of money.  That's why if you read this, please help these candidates out.  Any amount you can afford,  Hundreds of $ 5, 10, or 25 will add up quickly.  President Obama received millions of $ 5 contributions, look where it got him.  We can do better than that. Candidates benefit the most from direct contributions.

You can find out more about Robert Palmer on his website at http://www.palmer4senate.com/ and about Steven Mobley at http://www.stevenlmobley.com/

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

We already know what is going on in New York, a true conservative fighting for a seat against a RINO.  Now a similar scenario is playing out right here in our backyard.  I've received numerous emails and notifications to particpate in a phone bank for Mike Nofs who is running for the 19th district State Senate seat.  I also know that a bunch of Oakland County residents drove up to his district to go door to door for him.  But just now I realized that this is not the candidate the Republican Party should be pushing. Isn't fiscal responsibility number one on their agenda?  Although Mike Nofs is considered to be a real nice guy he is responsible for $1.1 BILLION out of $1.4 billion of the spending created by the $1.4 billion tax hikes of 2007. (Comparison: Hoogendyk, Sheen, Joe Hune and Glen Steil all voted for less than $7.6 MILLION of the tax fueled spending and many other House GOP stayed well under $200 million. "Make Lansing Listen" found more about his spending record http://www.makelansinglisten.com/we-like-mike/

Steven Mobley, a true conservative independent running for the same seat does not have the money Nofs has (previousSEIU support) to run a big campaign, and one would think the Party would get behind him even stronger.  Didn't the tea parties mean anything?  Cut the spending, cut big government. I don't know either candidate and I'm out of their district anyway, but it bothers me to see what is going on.  Newt Gingrich said  the Republican Party must have a bigger tent if we want to win. Maybe I don't see the big picture yet, but some fresh clean blood in Lansing would certainly be a good way to start over. Learn about Steven Mobley here, his interview is about 5 minutes in

Go to http://michiganvaluescoalition.org/ to learn more and decide for yourself if there is something wrong with this picture.