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Election Shorts

GOP hopefuls for House to debate in Aberdeen The first political debate in the race to fill former U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker’s seat has been set for March 4 in Aberdeen, a Republican-only event that will feature two of the three GOP candidates. Planning to appear are Republicans Randy Russell of Oxford and Glenn McCullough of Tupelo. The third Republican, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis, cannot attend. Also seeking the seat are five Democrats, an Independent and a Green Party candidate.

Democrats gather in Desoto A packed house at the DeSoto County Courthouse listened as Democratic candidates vying for House and Senate seats outlined their plans to improve the economy and fix the nation's health care crisis. A half dozen Democratic candidates spoke before an estimated crowd of 200 people at one of the largest Democratic gatherings in recent history, according to a report in The Desoto Times.

Holland campaign worker speaks to College Democrats Louis Schuh of Tupelo, a 2006 Ole Miss graduate majoring in political science, returned to the University Tuesday night to promote Rep. Steve Holland's campaign for the U.S. Congress in a speech to the College Young Democrats.

Candidate forum in Nesbit The Northwest Mississippi Association of Realtors will sponsor a political forum on March 5 featuring the candidates vying for U.S. Representative in the First Congressional District. The forum will get underway at 10 a.m. Republican candidates include Greg Davis, Glenn L. McCullough, Jr., and Dr. Randy Russell, according to The Desoto Times. Democratic candidates are Travis W. Childers, Marshall W. Coleman, Steve Holland, and Brian Neely. The forum will be conducted in the large meeting room of the Realtors Association, located at 2795 U.S. 51, Nesbit.

1st District Candidate Views

We posed a set of questions to the candidates and each week djournal.com has been sharing with our readers how the candidates answered those questions.

This is the fourth in a series of Monday question-and-answers with candidates in the March 11 party primaries for the 1st Congressional District seat.

The dates and topics for the series:

Feb 11 – Background, qualifications and philosophy

Feb 18  – The economy and the budget Feb 25 - National Security Today — Domestic Issues

DOMESTIC ISSUES

Q: What should Congress do in response to rising health care costs and the large number of uninsured adults and children?

CHILDERS: First, there is not enough emphasis on preventative health care. This year Congress passed an expansion of the children’s health care program, so that is a good start. One problem in Washington is that special interests like pharmaceutical companies stop health care reform or measures to reduce the cost of prescription medicine. I will fight for Mississippi families struggling to get affordable health care, not for drug company special interests.

COLEMAN: Some 47 million people in America are without health care. Health care has become an epidemic because of the staggering number above.

DAVIS: We have dealt with this issue in Desoto County, where there are an estimated 30,000 uninsured people. I have been instrumental in helping our local nonprofit health clinics get funding and continue to provide services. I believe that these public-private partnerships can be very helpful, given the right conditions. Congress should also continue to facilitate making it easier for small businesses to collectively purchase health insurance at the same rates as large corporations.

HOLLAND: As chairman of the House Public Health Committee, I have seen the problems of citizens being denied health services and funds being inadequate to provide for the needy. Every citizen should be able to have affordable health care. It is not a child’s fault if her parents do not earn enough to provide adequate health care. I support the CHIPS program, which has been a success because it has been administered through the states. We are going to have to look at making sure our citizens have affordable health care.

HURT: Pass universal health care. Change the current law passed by the Republicans forbidding Medicare from negotiating with the drug companies.

McCULLOUGH: I support the concept of small businesses being able to form health care alliances which can lower costs and increase accessibility for consumers. I believe the best social program ever invented is a good job. Therefore, I would support tech-training programs and education initiatives that lower the drop out rate. Once people are equipped with the right skills, they can attain a better paying job and higher quality of life.

NEELY: Some form of universal health care is necessary.

RUSSELL: Keep competition in health care to keep quality high and costs as low as possible. We do not need socialized medicine which would put government between patients and their physicians.  Implement tax and insurance reforms to make health insurance more affordable and available.

Q: What specifically should congressional policy be on illegal immigration?

CHILDERS: Illegal immigration is a serious problem, and the president and Congress have had us headed in the wrong direction on this issue for many years. First, we need to get control of the border, not only as a matter of immigration policy but as a matter of national security.  Second, we need to crack down on the businesses and corporations that exploit illegal workers. Third, we need to stop giving illegal immigrants government benefits. Finally, we need to send illegal immigrants who are convicted criminals back home for good. I oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants.

COLEMAN: If it is illegal, it should be treated as such. However, prosecuting and jailing illegal immigrants would only further burden people who already pay enough tax. If federal and state governments are going to allow illegal immigration to continue, the illegal immigrants should not be tax exempt. The only solution I can envision at this particular time would be the tightening and enforcing of our borders. The old way of handling this situation from a reactionary state is old and outdated. I think that Mississippi HB 1379 Mississippi Employment Protection Act was a good tool in its original form.

DAVIS: Illegal immigration is a national security issue. America must secure its borders. We cannot condone the act of entering this country illegally. I am against amnesty in any form.  We must control our borders, enforce current laws and allow state and local law enforcement the power to enforce immigration law. As mayor, I drafted a resolution that would penalize businesses that employ illegal immigrants and landlords that rented to, or harbored illegal aliens. Congress should authorize additional resources to state and local governments to assist in the fight against illegal immigration at the local level.

HOLLAND: There is a problem, but no easy solution. People seem to be addressing symptoms instead of looking at the underlying problem. People are migrating illegally to the U.S. because there is a better quality of life and a better chance than in Mexico and other Central and South American countries. We didn’t cause this problem. This is a Mexican problem which their government is failing to address. Our government should be addressing this at the national level with Mexico. A first step would be the securing of our borders. I have voted to tighten our state immigration laws.

HURT: This is a broad issue, but it is clear we must control our southern border.

McCULLOUGH: I believe the basic responsibility of government is to protect and provide security for all law-abiding citizens. It is clear that our nation’s borders are not secure, a failing of this basic responsibility. Therefore, it should be the federal government’s immediate priority to secure our borders using a combination of traditional methods, more INS agents and the latest technology.

NEELY: We should enforce the law. Why is it possible for illegal aliens to be considered for amnesty when they have broken the law, when we have hundreds of thousands of teenage Americans who are serving long prison terms for possession of small amounts of drugs and they are never considered for amnesty? What makes an illegal alien more important than our own children?

RUSSELL: Use any means necessary to secure our borders.  We have the physical and technological means to do this.  We must now gather the political will to do it.  A country that does not protect its borders is no country at all.  Removing taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens is needed to remove the incentive for them to both come here and stay here.  We should implement reliable verification of employee legal status for employers, so that employers are not held liable for the illegal actions of others.

Q: What do you see as the most viable solution to keep entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare financially sound for the long term?

CHILDERS: I am deeply committed to improving the lives of our senior citizens. Care for our seniors is a passion that my family and I share. It was that commitment to our seniors that led my family and I to purchase and renovate the old high building in our hometown into a badly needed, state-of-the-art assisted living facility, so seniors in our community could live out their lives close to home. As congressman, I will fight to protect Social Security, oppose privatization and expand in-home care programs for seniors.

COLEMAN: Statistics show millions of illegal immigrants in American who are not paying Social Security or other taxes. I would like an independent study on what would happen with Social Security and Medicaid if illegal immigrants paid taxes on the wages they earn here. I think the study would reveal a myriad of funds that can help to revitalize and secure Social Security. I am not for amnesty. I would consider a plan that will set parameters for citizenship only after tests to make sure our national defense was not being jeopardized. The first step should be to learn English.

DAVIS: Social Security, in its current form, is heading toward a financial crisis. Those near or at the current retirement age have more than paid their fair share into the system and we must honor the commitments made to them. I will not support increasing their retirement age. Also, I will not support any measures that either raise retirement taxes or reduce retirement benefits. Employment taxes are a major part of any budget and businesses expense. I know the impact higher employment taxes have on a business.  Congress must act in order to sustain Social Security for future generations.

HOLLAND: I am not for privatization of taking from these trusts for other purposes. When people reach retirement age, they should enjoy the fruits of their labors over a lifetime. I have fought in the Mississippi Legislature to protect our state Retirement System and keep it strong for those who have earned benefits through their service. I will do the same in D.C. with Social Security.

HURT: This would take pages to answer, but put simply, I would work for a fair solution favoring the working people.

McCULLOUGH: The federal government has a responsibility to protect Social Security for seniors and for future generations. I will work to achieve bipartisan agreement on ways to protect and ensure a viable Social Security program for our people today and for future generations. The entitlement problem will be solved only when we send members of Congress who are more interested in “doing” than “talking.”

NEELY: Again, there is no shortage of money for these programs. The only issue is what is important to us. Will we spend those funds to insure the health, security and prosperity for our own people, or continue to waste those funds on inept, corrupt foreign regions.

RUSSELL: Make the necessary adjustments to keep Social Security financially solvent for those currently dependent on it. We should transition younger workers to individual taxpayer-owned retirement accounts. We should make the necessary adjustments to Medicare to keep it fiscally sound to preserve America’s health care system which provides the highest quality to the largest number of people in the world.

1st District Information

Mississippi's first congressional district is in the northeast corner of the state. It includes much of the northern portion of the state including Corinth, Columbus, Oxford, Southaven and Tupelo.

Area:  11,412 mi² Distribution:  38.36% urban, 38.4% rural Population (2006): 762,914 Median income:  $35,831 Ethnic composition:  70.5% White, 27.2% Black, 0.5% Asian, 1.8% Hispanic, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% other Occupation:  30.4% blue collar, 56.6% white collar, 13% gray collar

1st District Election Schedule

March 11: 1st District House seat (full term beginning 2009) party primaries

April 1: 1st District House seat (full term beginning 2009) runoff, if necessary

April 22: Special election for 1st District House seat (unexpired term) Note: Winner serves out the rest of the unexpired term, through early Jan 2009.

Nov 4: General Election

Election Round Up

Campaign Notebook 2/28/2008 Daily Journal Dallas Cowboy legend Harris endorses Huckabee LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Dallas Cowboy legend Cliff Harris on Tuesday endorsed former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. "I am truly excited to have Cliff Harris on my team and appreciate his support," Huckabee said. "It means a lot to have the greatest athlete in the history of my alma mater wearing my jersey." Harris, who played in five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls, said, "Mike Huckabee is a true conservative champion. I hope voters all across Texas will join me in rallying behind Mike on March 4." The greatest football player in Ouachita Baptist history, Harris was a walk-on to the Dallas Cowboys. Six legislators support Davis for U.S. House SOUTHAVEN - Greg Davis, a Republican candidate for the 1st District House seat, was endorsed Wednesday by six members of the Mississippi Legislature. They are: Sens. Merle Flowers and Doug Davis and Reps. Wanda Jennings, Forrest Hamilton, Tommy Woods and Ted Mayhall. Davis is serving his third term as Southaven mayor. He served seven years in the state House of Representatives. - Compiled by Patsy Brumfield

Campaign Notebook 2/26/2008 Daily Journal Russell campaign begins TV, radio ads OXFORD - Dr. Randy Russell of Oxford, a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat, has begun an advertising campaign on television and radio. "It is important that the voters of Northern Mississippi have a choice in representing them in Congress," Russell said. "I am not a career politician and I have never run for office before. I believe I am different kind of candidate." The ads focus on Russell's real world experience as well as conservative activism. He has been a practicing physician in Mississippi for over 25 years. He and his wife, Amy, have been volunteer foster parents for more than 90 babies. Both ads are available at www.randyrussellforcongress.com. McCullough signs pledge not to raise taxes Glenn L. McCullough Jr. of Tupelo, a Republican candidate for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District seat, reports he has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform. The pledge commits signers to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates." ATR has offered the pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, President George W. Bush, 41 U.S. senators, and 194 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed it, along with seven governors and more than 1,200 state legislators. Campaign Notebook is compiled by Daily Journal news editor Patsy R. Brumfield. To submit items, contact her at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.

1st District Candidate Bios
	TRAVIS W. CHILDERS Age: 49 Party: Democrat Occupation: Chancery Clerk of Prentiss County, Realtor, businessman. Wife: Tami Childers Children: Dustin is in his first year of law school               at Mississippi College               Lauren is a freshman at Ole Miss. Website:  www.childersforcongress.com Video:  View candidate video.
	MARSHALL W. COLEMAN Age: 49 Party: Democrat Occupation: Operates Coleman's Quickstop in Derma Wife: Bernadette Coleman Children: Kegan and Kajah Coleman Website: www.colemanforcongress2008.com Video:  Not yet available.
	GREG DAVIS Age: 41 Party: Republican  Occupation: Mayor of Southaven Wife: The former Suzann Savage  Children:  Three young daughters Website:  www.gregdavisforcongress.com Video:  View candidate video.
	STEVE HOLLAND Age:  52 Party: Democrat Occupation: Member of the Mississippi House since 1983, funeral home owner. Wife: Gloria Holland   Children: Four grown children and one granddaughter. Website: www.stevehollandforcongress.com Video:  View candidate video.
	KEN HURT Age: 71 Party: Democrat  Occupation: Ran for 1st District seat last time against Roger Wicker and lost. Headed the Mississippi office of the Appalachian Regional Commission in mid-1980s.   Wife: Elizabeth Hurt Children: Six step-children. Website: No link provided. Video:  View candidate video.
	GLENN McCULLOUGH JR. Age: 52 Party: Republican Occupation:  Chairman and CEO of GLM Associates, LLC, and partner in Ardillo, McCullough & Taggart, LCC, corporate consulting firms. Former mayor of Tupelo and Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Wife: Laura Annette McCullough  Children:  Vance Hudson and Glenn Thomas Website: www.glenn08.com Video:  View candidate video.
	BRIAN NEELY Age: 46 Party: Democrat  Occupation:  Private practice attorney in Tupelo and a former Lee County prosecuting attorney.  Wife: Shari Neely  Children: Lisa, Ivy, Julia Website: www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_9pfspf Video:  View candidate video.
No Photo Provided	WALLY PANG Age: 66 Party: Independent Occupation: Restaurant owner Wife: Mabel Pang  Children:  Colleen, Michael, and Walter Website: No link provided. Video:  Not yet available.
	RANDY RUSSELL Age: 55  Party: Republican  Occupation: Ophthalmologist  Wife: Amy   Children: Daughter Jocelyn and son Jordan.  Website:  www.randyrussellforcongress.com Video:  View candidate video.
No Photo Provided	JOHN M. WAGES, JR. Age: 47 Party: Green  Occupation: Itawamba Community College teacher Wife: Former Gwendolyn Miles    Children: Website:  www.votejohnwages.com Video:  Not yet available.

Presidential Election

Mississippi presidential primary March 11 Voters in Mississippi will have a chance to vote in the presidential primary March 11. Republican candidates will be vying for 39 delegates in Mississippi, while Democrats will be trying to earn the 42 delegates available for that party in the state. In all Mississippi counties, the circuit clerk's office will be open for absentee voting March 1 and March 8 from 8 a.m. until noon, as state law requires.

McCain says critics distort his remark about US troops staying 100 years in Iraq By LIBBY QUAID The Associated Press HOUSTON - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said his remark that American troops could stay in Iraq for 100 years has been distorted, yet he still suggests a lengthy U.S. presence comparable to that in Korea and other countries.  “Of course, that comment of mine was distorted. Life isn’t fair, as Jack Kennedy said,” McCain told a town hall meeting at Rice University. “I was talking about American presence after the war.” Responding to a student who had criticized his 100-year remark, McCain added, “No American argues against our military presence in Korea or Japan or Germany or Kuwait or other places, or Turkey, because America is not receiving casualties.” “I think, generally speaking, we have a more secure world thanks to American presence, particularly in Asia, by the way, as we see the rising influence of China,” McCain said. “But the key to it is American casualties, America’s most precious asset, and that is American blood.” The student had referred to McCain’s response at a New Hampshire town hall meeting in January when he was asked about a comment President Bush had made about U.S. troops remaining in Iraq for 50 years. “Maybe 100,” McCain answered. “As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it’s fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day.” McCain insisted the United States “will win the war in Iraq and win it fairly soon,” allowing U.S. troops to withdraw to military bases.

Bloomberg won’t run, but will still be player in White House race The Associated Press NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg has squashed the notion of running for president this year, declaring that he will not seek the White House but might put his support behind another candidate who embraces bipartisan governing. Apparently ending a dance of presidential speculation that began more than two years ago, the 66-year-old billionaire businessman said in an op-ed piece in Thursday’s New York Times that he will not launch his own bid but will work to “steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance.” “I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not — and will not be — a candidate for president,” he wrote. “I have watched this campaign unfold, and I am hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership.” Bloomberg aides and associates had been assembling the framework for an independent campaign, and if he had decided to run, a $1 billion operation would have been ready to go. Instead, Bloomberg hinted that he may lend his wealth and weight to someone else. “If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach — and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy — I’ll join others in helping that candidate win the White House,” he wrote. A close Bloomberg associate told The Associated Press that the mayor had been wrestling with a decision until very recently, reaching a conclusion only in the last few days. Several factors influenced him, according to the associate, who requested anonymity to discuss internal decisions. One of Bloomberg’s main reasons for staying out is that he believes the presidential race has the potential to become a centrist contest, primarily because of the rise of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, both of whom have championed bipartisanship.

John Lewis switches support from Clinton to Obama By BEN EVANS The Associated Press WASHINGTON - Civil rights leader John Lewis dropped his support for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential bid Wednesday in favor of Barack Obama. Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Atlanta, is the most prominent black leader to defect from Clinton’s campaign in the face of near-unanimous black support for Obama in recent voting. He also is a superdelegate who gets a vote at this summer’s national convention in Denver. In a written statement, Lewis said Obama’s campaign “represents the beginning of a new movement in American political history” and that he wants “to be on the side of the people.” “After taking some time for serious reflection on this issue, I have decided that when I cast my vote as a superdelegate at the Democratic convention, it is my duty ... to express the will of the people,” the statement said. Lewis’ endorsement had been a coveted prize among the Democratic candidates thanks to his standing as one of the most prominent civil rights leaders of the 1960s. “John Lewis is an American hero and a giant of the civil rights movement, and I am deeply honored to have his support,” Obama said in a statement. Lewis first announced his Clinton endorsement in October and has appeared on her behalf on television and at events across the country, at one point accusing Obama supporters of trying to fan the flames of race against her. Clinton has frequently cited his support in trying to establish her credentials among minority voters, saying she saw her campaign as a continuation of his work. But Lewis came under intense pressure to get behind Obama after his constituents supported the Illinois senator roughly 3-to-1 in Georgia’s Feb. 5 primary, and about 90 percent of black voters statewide voted for Obama, according to exit polls. The support among black voters nationwide to Obama’s candidacy mirrors Lewis’ Georgia district.

Nader Picks Matt Gonzalez As Veep The Associated Press WASHINGTON - Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader selected Matt Gonzalez, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, to be his running mate. Nader, who launched his fourth White House bid last weekend, made the announcement Thursday at a news conference. The Texas-born Gonzalez ran for mayor of San Francisco as a Green Party candidate in 2003 but lost to Gavin Newsom. When Nader announced his third-party campaign for the president last Sunday, he criticized the top contenders as being too close to big business. He also dismissed the possibility that his candidacy could tip the November election to Republicans. The longtime consumer advocate sought the White House in each of the last three presidential elections: He ran on the Green Party ticket in 1996 and 2000, and as an independent in 2004. Nader is still loathed by many Democrats who call him a spoiler and claim his candidacy in 2000 cost Democrats the election by siphoning votes from Al Gore in a razor-thin contest in Florida. Nader has vociferously disputed the spoiler claim, saying only Democrats are to blame for losing the race to George W. Bush. Though he won 2.7 percent of the national vote as the Green Party candidate in 2000, Nader won just 0.3 percent as an independent in 2004, when he appeared on the ballot in only 34 states.