Previously on The Fight To Keep It Blue: IL-12, The Democratic Party establishment has declared Brad Harriman to be their pick. Chris Miller, a favorite of the Progressives in IL-12, has focused and military and economic issues. Kenneth Wiezer is a long shot to win the primary.
On the GOP side, all four of the candidates platforms are socially conservative-friendly and are regarded as extremely conservative.
The Primary Filing Deadline has passed about over a week ago-- December 27th, 2011-- to be exact.
Candidates:
Democratic:
Brad Harriman
Chris Miller
Kenneth Wiezer
Republican:
Rodger Cook
Theresa Kormos
Teri Davis Newman
Jason Plummer
Green:
Rodger Jennings?
Libertarian:
?
Dropouts from last update:
Democratic:
Republican: Joe Cervantez
I have officially endorsed Chris Miller for the Democratic Primary.
Democratic Party Candidates' Platforms:
Brad Harriman, Belleville:
I intend to change that by moving past the failed partisan politics and instead getting serious about job creation, economic growth, stronger schools, and smarter, safer communities.
Chris Miller, Carbondale
Economy:
Supporting existing industry while encouraging energy independence for the 21st Century
Developing transportation infrastructure for the 12th Congressional District
Showcasing Southern Illinois as a tourist destination for hunters and fishermen
Afghanistan:
Finishing the job we started
Working with coalition partners to disrupt terrorist activity
Iraq:
Responsibly transitioning leadership back to the Iraqi people
Supporting our veterans as they return home
Kenneth Wiezer, Granite City:
Political Concerns: Pro-life, Education, Jobs, Economy, and Family Values.
GOP Candidates' Platforms:
Rodger Cook, St. Libory:
Stopping the Reckless Obama Agenda
From every point of view, Obama’s big government experiment has been a colossal failure. The government takeover of healthcare, the endless “stimulusing,” the massive new spending and among many other policies, have all crippled our economy. Worst of all, Obama has made it harder for working families to achieve the American Dream. Rodger Cook will go to Washington to stop the Obama agenda.
Creating More Jobs
As a small businessman, Rodger Cook saw first-hand the devastation heavy-handed big government policies have on our communities and local businesses, with more and more job-strangling regulations and higher taxes that have left our economy nearly in ruins. He believes the best way for government to help create jobs is to get out of the way.
Pro-Life
Rodger is pro-life, no exceptions.
Pro-Marriage
Rodger believes in the sanctity of marriage, and that it should be defined as that between one man & one woman.
2nd Amendment
Rodger believes the right to bear arms is a fundamental constitutional right, and that people ought to be able to defend themselves. As a former police officer & homicide detective, he defends the importance of conceal & carry.
Obamacare
Rodger will fight to repeal this unconstitutional & burdensome law.
Theresa Kormos, O'Fallon:
Following the US Constitution; limiting the powers of Federal government
Smaller Federal government to promote individual freedom and prosperity
The best government is that which is closest to the people
The government needs to reflect the will of the people
The elected officials are to serve the people and should vote on behalf of their constituents
Pro-Family
Pro-Life; All life is sacred
Pro-Gun
Balanced budget; Lower taxes and pursue tax reform either by a flat tax or a fair tax system
Term limits to prevent corruption by the elected officials
Capitalism
No one person is above the law
Strong military defense; Support for our intelligence agencies who protect us
Secure our borders
True transparency
Protecting our natural rights endowed by God and guaranteed within the Bill of Rights
More of Kormos's lunacy:
I, Theresa Kormos, believing my role in government to be one of public service, do solemnly swear, to abide by the following promises:
1. I will support, defend, and enforce the US Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic; work to prohibit any law or policy that attempts to weaken the constitution and our sovereign rights; i.e., International Law, Sharia Law.
2. I will work to battle the political corruption in Washington DC.
3. I will waive the benefit of a pension.
8. I will work for equitable tax reform, i.e., a flat tax, or fair tax system.
9. I will work to maintain individual freedoms as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
10. I will work to reduce the size of the federal government and the wasteful spending of tax payer money.
Teri Davis Newman, Belleville:
On Healthcare:
I believe that every American must have access to necessary healthcare, whether that person can afford it or not, because that has always been the American way, since we Americans never throw underdogs under the bus.
However, being there for the needy is not an excuse to force people to buy a government product they don’t wish to purchase. Nor is it a reason to take away freedom of choice.
I will support any law that will give freedom of healthcare choice back to the people, while maintaining a safety net for those who legitimately need help.
My path to affordable and accessible healthcare is as follows:
1 – Take away the litigation gravy train.
2 – Make the purchase of healthcare nationwide, beefing-up real competition.
3 – Create a watchdog to keep insurance companies from colluding to fix prices.
4 – Leave the responsibility for the delivery of healthcare to the Healthcare Providers and Elected State Representatives.
On Jobs:
Governments do not and cannot create jobs. The only “jobs” the government creates are liabilities by using taxpayer money to increase the size of the already much bloated civil service.
If you want real job creation, this is what the government has to do.
1 – Deregulate everything that is absolutely not necessary to the common need of the people.
2 – Don’t make hiring people an obligation where businesses must become the Big Brother of their workforce.
3 – Totally revamp the tax system as I’ve written about in my section on taxes.
In essence, job creation is as simple an endeavor as getting government out of the way.
On Taxes And The IRS:
Do away with the IRS. Simply by doing away with the insane tax code that was and continues to be written in favor of Big Business and Big Government, against the well being of small to medium sized businesses and average wage earners.
I like the idea of a flat tax for businesses, salaries, and purchases, where everyone pays the same percentage without deductions and special accommodations that are ONLY available to the rich and powerful.
In this manner, the government can’t hide behind indescribable tax laws as they pretend to cut taxes while they do just the opposite.
On Entitlements:
If we have any hopes whatsoever to having healthcare, a pension and other necessary services for our elderly, now is the time to raise the age of entitlements for people who are under 55 years old today, while honoring the commitments made by previous politicians for all people 55 years and older.
As much as everyone wants to be generous and hand out entitlements like Santa Claus hands out Christmas gifts, the government is not Santa Claus.
On Illegal Immigration:
First, we have to understand that there is no such thing as undocumented immigrants, because whether they are known or not known, documented or undocumented, if they overstayed their welcome in America, or crept across our border, they are illegal.
Undocumented is nothing else but double talk for people who should not be in America.
As much as we would all like to roll back the clock, and throw the illegal immigrants out, that is not going to happen. Whether we like it or not, we are not going to deport between TWELVE MILLION to TWENTY MILLION PEOPLE.
Americans are not going to destroy families where illegal parents will be separated from their legal children; or some illegal children separated from their legal siblings.
We cannot throw out millions of people who have in their own way made a life for themselves in our country by adding to our lives. Also, we cannot deny that millions of illegal immigrants have contributed to our labor-force by doing jobs far too many Americans refuse to do.
SO HERE’S WHAT I PROPOSE:
1 – SEAL THE BORDERS LIKE FORT KNOX.
2 – Register all illegal immigrants.
3 – Deport all felons.
4 – Give all registered illegal immigrants a special Green Card.
5 – Make the English language the ONLY official language in the USA.
6 – Make it so, that no one given the special Green Card (or their children) will ever be able to become a citizen, or ever be able to vote unless they leave the USA and properly file from abroad for a “normal” Green Card leading to eventual citizenship.
7 – No government entitlement programs will ever be available to holders of the special green cards or their children including welfare, medicaid, section 8 housing, et al.
To make this viable, so that America will not lose its cultural identity, it is critical that all official federal documents be available ONLY in the English language. Anyone wishing to become an American citizen must pass his or her citizenship test in the English language.
Encourage states, cities and corporations to do the same in terms of using English only in greetings, signs and instructions.
By opening up a path to becoming legal in America this way, it would give the special green card immigrants the Constitutional rights enjoyed by citizens, without having any say in how “we the people” choose our governments. Holders of the special green card can live here, work and pay taxes and that's IT. No government assistance of any kind.
This policy will also provide America with a future generation of citizens who will be comfortable with the Secular Rule of Law that is prescribed in the Constitution based upon Judeo/Christian values.
On The Second Amendment:
Without the Second Amendment, there would be nothing with which to protect and ensure the First Amendment. Tyranny exists where the government is not afraid of the people, and where the people live in fear of the government.
On Homeland Security:
Define who the enemy is. Name the enemy. And call them TERRORISTS, instead of the touchy-feely names given to Moslem Activists who are sworn by their belief in the Koran to destroy the values that makes us who we are.
Stop punishing American travelers through invasive X-Ray machines and indecent pat-downs. If the Israelis can keep their airlines and people safe without violating the rights of people; so can America.
SEAL THE SOUTHERN BORDER - DECLARE WAR ON THE TRAFFICKERS.
On The Environment:
Not only do the LEFT not have a lock on environmental responsibility, they in their own hypocritical way are massive contributors to pollution. Just ask folk like Al Gore who lives way beyond his household needs, while flying around in his private jet.
Like any American patriot, I believe in doing what is necessary to protect our drinking water, the soil that grows our food, and the air that we breathe. But, I don’t believe that we have to destroy the America of our youth to do it.
All of this Green-Job hype, (proven to be a miserable failure: wind mills, Solyndra, solar panels, etc.) has done, is cost the average American so dearly, that it has killed jobs, made transport so expensive that it has added to inflation, and has made it more than just difficult for the most vulnerable within our society to heat their homes and put food on the table.
On International Affairs:
Support our allies while staying out of bed with the enemies of our allies.
Use our financial might to rehabilitate the United Nations, or simply stop paying for the Dictators’ Social Club.
On Social Issues:
I am not in favor of government paid abortion. I also believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Jason Plummer, O'Fallon:
Jobs - Illinois is blessed with great natural resources, a strategic geographic location, and a well-trained workforce. Yet, we continue to suffer from high unemployment and stagnant economic growth - particularly in the 12th Congressional District. With all the assets that exist within our region, we should be thriving. However, the lack of leadership in Washington and Springfield has crippled the ability of small businesses to grow and create jobs. We need elected officials who understand how the economy works and how public policy impacts businesses and workers. We must create an environment where job creators are willing to take risks, businesses want to expand, and hardworking people can find quality jobs.
Taxes – The last thing the U.S. economy can afford is an increase in tax rates to further limit economic growth, which in effect will further cripple our ability to create new jobs. We need comprehensive tax reform that eliminates deductions for special interests and big corporations while small businesses and working people carry the burden. Our tax code should be simple, transparent, and most of all – fair.
Spending – Our $1.5 trillion deficit and $15 trillion debt were not created because we are taxed too little, they were created because we spend too much. Washington politicians – Republicans and Democrats – like to call reducing the growth of government spending a "cut." Unfortunately, growing the size of government more slowly is not the answer. We need real cuts in government spending and that's why I support a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. We need leaders in Washington to make the tough decisions we elect them to make if we are going to solve our financial crisis.
ObamaCare – America needs healthcare reform – it does not need ObamaCare. ObamaCare puts 1/6 of the national economy under the control of the federal government and un-elected bureaucrats now make decisions that individuals, families, and doctors should be making. We must repeal ObamaCare and find reforms that keep the decision-making power with families and doctors, while reinvesting in research and development so that we can continue to improve the quality of care we receive.
Energy and Agriculture - Due to the heavy burden of over-regulation and high taxes and fees, we have destroyed some of the largest industries and economic cornerstones of the 12th Congressional District. We continue to hamstring American families and workers by neglecting some of our greatest natural resources. I will work to help rebuild our energy and agriculture industries in southern Illinois. We must create more quality jobs and bring back the many jobs that have left the area. Working to make it easier for these industries to thrive in the 12th District will help provide for local families and make our nation stronger.
Military - I am proud to serve as an Intelligence Officer in the Navy Reserves. We have the greatest military in the world and the 12th District is home to one of the largest, most important military installations in the world, Scott Air Force Base. I serve at Scott Air Force Base and I know how critical it is to our nation's military and to our region, as an economic engine with a $3 Billion annual impact. I will work hard to make sure that Scott Air Force Base continues to grow and that it will always be a critical factor in both our national defense and the local economy.
Labor - Poor public policy has decimated many of the once thriving businesses and industries of the 12th District. As this occurred, families have been devastated as jobs left our region. We need leaders who will work to protect our jobs by creating an environment that is conducive to job creation and business expansion. We must foster opportunities for qualified workers to find stable jobs that allow them to provide for their families. Our double-digit unemployment rate is unacceptable and I will fight to make sure that every man and woman in the 12th District that wants a quality job can find a quality job.
2nd Ammendment - I am a long-term member of the National Rifle Association, Illinois State Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and the Edwardsville Gun Club. Our right to bear arms is a constitutionally guaranteed right and one that must be vigorously defended. There will be no stronger supporter in Congress when it comes to gun owners' rights. I will fight to protect citizens from government overreach and I will work to expand right-to-carry laws. I am proud to have been endorsed by the NRA and ISRA in 2010 and proud to be a member of the oldest continuously operating gun club in the United States.
Culture - As a Christian, I am disturbed by the way elected officials and courts often try to circumvent the majority and neglect the traditional values of our great nation. I am pro-life. I believe we should work to protect the most vulnerable in our society. I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. I believe that our courts should not dictate public policy or pervert laws and legislation. I believe we need leaders of strong moral fiber to keep America the greatest nation on earth. I am proud to have been endorsed by Illinois Federation for Right to Life, Eagle Forum, and numerous other pro-family and traditional values organizations in 2010. My family and I attend the First Baptist Church of Maryville.
All four of the GOPers running are too extreme to win the district.
Match-up ratings and likely chances of winning their parties' primaries
Wiezer v. Cook: Likely D
Wiezer v. Kormos: Safe D
Wiezer v. Newman: Safe D
Wiezer v. Plummer: Lean D
Miller v. Cook: Likely D
Miller v. Kormos: Safe D
Miller v. Newman: Safe D
Miller v. Plummer: Tossup
Harriman v. Cook: Safe D
Harriman v. Kormos: Safe D
Harriman v. Newman: Safe D
Harriman v. Plummer: Likely D
Chances of winning the Primaries:
Dems:
Harriman: 55%
Miller: 42%
Wiezer: 3%
GOP:
Plummer: 64%
Cook: 25%
Newman: 6%
Kormos: 5%
Odds of keeping IL-12 Democratic? 86%