Dear friends in the 8th Congressional District, in the near future you likely will be asked to attend fundraisers, put up yard signs, make calls and, of course, donate your hard-earned money. I am reminding all who read this of the importance of knowing who and what you are or will be supporting when you participate in some of these activities.
There are a few in our area who will be masquerading as conservative or GOP-endorsed candidates; however, further examination is necessary, showing little difference between our two major parties. There is a candidate in a federal race claiming to be conservative, but I ask voters to check out the candidate's work history (some of which has been kept quiet) and the length of time spent working and playing in Minnesota. What may be found is that what voters have been led to believe is not entirely accurate, and that large amounts of spin have been applied to hide the 8th Congressional District GOP candidate's work history as a union strike event organizer.
To put the snakes on the table would be to remind everyone that when the GOP controlled the U.S. House, new offices, programs and mandates were created; spending was increased, which increased the national debt; the pork flowed; unions purchased power or payoffs; and nothing was reeled in.
The U.S. is now broke and borrowing money on the futures of those who have yet to be born. GOP- and DFL-endorsed candidates voted for many of the past spending bills that put us into this mess. And shame on us for not having an uprising years ago. We've been too fat, dumb and happy, I guess.
I recommend voters study the alternatives in races and not blindly go down a ticket, whether DFL or GOP. This state and this country are in a mess because two parties made it that way. Greed and the thirst for domination of others are at the root of evils.
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We the people need to seize the House from the large lobby that exists. Problems are on both sides of the aisle. The GOP-endorsed and DFL-endorsed can both be blamed.
I am the only businessman -- I'm an electrical contractor -- in the race for the 8th Congressional District and the only one who knows anything about the problems brought on by constant beltway legislating.
Republican Chip Cravaack has absolutely no experience in the business world, just as the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, has none. For that matter, neither do Sen. Al Franken or President Obama. This field also leaves me as the only snowmobile trail groomer "expert" and the only licensed pyrotechnician, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, Tea Party organizer, director of a state snowmobile association and church board member in the race. Not to mention I am the only lifelong resident of the 8th District and Minnesota, as I would argue that Oberstar lives in Maryland (and vacations in France) and Cravaack only moved to Minnesota and the district in the past decade.
This country hangs in the balance from sins of past and current congresses, not to mention the looming war with radical Islam. I wish it could be avoided, but it has arrived at our shores by a lack of a strong immigration policy and by a naïve, sleepy and dopey electorate. It's time to wake up. Beware, my friends and former friends, evil lurks -- and it might be working for one of the groups that got us into this mess.
There will be tea in the harbor.
Richard "George" Burton of Brainerd is the Constitution Party candidate for the 8th Congressional District. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Chisholm, and 8th Congressional District Republican challenger Chip Cravaack are participating in a candidate forum at 8 a.m. today at the DECC Auditorium.
