November, 2008 Campaign Update

HOUSE CANDIDATES WE SUPPORTED - HOW WE DID!

Trent Franks - Arizona 2nd Won with 60% of the vote! He was the incumbent

Sydney Hay - Arizona 1st Lost. She ran against Democrat incumbent

Duncan Hunter, Jr.-CA 52nd Won open seat. Son of presidential candidate.

Tom Rooney - Florida 16th WON a Democrat seat with 60% of vote

Allen West - Florida 22nd Lost. He ran against Democrat incumbent

Paul Broun - Georgia 10th Won. Incumbent - we held seat with 61% of the vote.

Bill Sali - Idaho 1st Lost. This would have been his second term.

Michele Bachmann - MN- 6th Won. Incumbent - she won despite being a target.

Jeb Bradley -New Hampshire 1st Lost. He ran against Democrat incumbent

Bob Straniere - New York 13th Lost. Seat had belonged to retiring Republican

Jim Jordan - Ohio 4th Won. Incumbent - we held seat with 65% of the vote

Bob Latta - Ohio 5th Won. Incumbent - we held seat with 64% of the vote.

Lou Barletta - Pennsylvania 11th Lost. He ran against incumbent Democrat

Chris Hacket - Pennsylvania 10th Lost. He ran against incumbent Democrat

Melissa Hart - Pennsylvania 4th Lost. She was trying to retake her old seat.

Pete Olsen - Texas 22nd WON a Democrat seat with 53% of the vote

Eric Cantor - Virginia 7th Won. Incumbent - we held seat with 63% of the vote

Rob Wittman - Virginia 1st Won. Incumbent - we held seat with 57% of the vote

We won in ten of the eighteen House races in which we supported candidates. If Pennsylvania would not have gone so heavily for Barack Obama I believe we would have won perhaps all three of our races there.

The Republican Party defeated a total of four Democrat House incumbents. Of those four, GING-PAC was involved in two races, one in Florida and one in Texas. The Republicans also managed to win 18 of 30 open seats. We were involved in three of those races and we won two of those three. This may not have been a Republican year, but it was a conservative year. The Republican Study Committee lost seven incumbents, but picked up eleven new members. This means that the number of real conservatives in the Republican House caucus actually increased!

With the increase in the number of conservatives we may have a better chance at influencing the Republican leadership and moving them away from the direction of “borrow and spend” that caused them to lose the House back in 2006. The Republican Party had moved away from the “Republican Revolution” of Newt Gingrich and toward the “power at any cost” strategy of Speaker Dennis Hastert.

SENATE CANDIDATES WE SUPPORTED

Bob Schaffer - Colorado Lost. He was running for open seat that was held by GOP

John Kennedy - Louisiana Lost. Almost knocked out incumbent Democrat

Norm Coleman - Minnesota Won! Close victory and there will be a recount.

Roger Wicker - Mississippi Won! This was a special election.

Elizabeth Dole - North Carolina Lost. We actually didn’t expect to win this one.

Jim Inhofe - Oklahoma Won! This was a great win with 57% of the vote.

Senator Jim Inhofe is one of our greatest allies in the Senate and he was targeted by the environmentalists who promised to spend millions to defeat him. In the end John McCain carried Oklahoma and Senator Inhofe received 57% of the vote. Roger Wicker also won the special election in Mississippi. Both he and Republican Thad Cochran were elected to the Senate in Mississippi.

John Kennedy came real close to winning in Louisiana and Bob Schaffer put up a great fight in Colorado, a state that was won by Barack Obama. The Democrats did not get the filibuster proof majority of 60 they had hoped for in the Senate. As of the writing of this update the Republicans had 53 seats; however there will be a runoff in Georgia in December and a recount in Minnesota.

THE PRESIDENCY

Yes, we lost, but GING-PAC put up a good fight for social conservative votes. There was just no enthusiasm for John McCain among social conservatives and our campaign was more anti-Obama than pro-McCain even though Sarah Palin was on the ticket. Our special YouTube video commercials received a lot of interest. Our newscast at www.obamanews2009.com had almost 48,000 views as of the writing of this update. Our 30 second Internet commercial about Obama’s poor relatives he refuses to help at www.brotherskeeperobama.com During the closing days of the campaign I was on numerous radio shows in the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as on some national shows. had more than 32,000 views.

Social conservative groups had to act alone to assist the McCain/Palin ticket. The McCain people virtually shut Palin up and social issues were not really discussed by the campaign. In the last two months of the campaign there was a total of ONE conference call to social conservative leaders. The K Street types that McCain had on his team hired a Muslim woman for “Arab American outreach.” What idiots. Three out of four Arab-Americans are Christians whose families fled Muslim oppression in the Middle East and they would not even talk to her. Conservative Muslims would not deal with her either because she was a woman.

Instead of talking social issues to blue collar folks in Pennsylvania, McCain delivered a message about tax cuts. I hate to break this news to the Republican leadership, but coal miners don’t really care how much tax Bill Gates or Warren Buffet has to pay. This was a sorry campaign and the results would have been even worse had not Sarah Palin been on the ticket.

WE MUST REPLENISH OUR FUNDS

There are going to be run-offs and special elections almost immediately. Just about all of our funds have been exhausted during the hard fought 2008 election cycle. We must prepare now for the upcoming fight to put more social conservatives in the House and Senate. Please send a check or give an online gift at www.gingpac.org .

September, 2008 - Campaign Update

A TRUE DO NOTHING CONGRESS

For the last 18 months the majority of Americans have blamed the Republicans for the mess in Congress. As of August 1st most Americans believed the Republicans were in charge of Congress. But thanks to radical left House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that has changed. When she announced the she and she alone would block a vote on offshore drilling to “save the planet” Americans started to wake up to the fact that Republicans were not in charge regardless of a Republican being in the White House. Just two months ago generic polls showed the Republicans double digits behind Democrats. The latest Gallup Poll shows Republicans 5 points up! What a turn around and it has mostly to do with oil.

Americans are fed up with the Obama - Democrat plan for energy which is NO to drilling, NO to coal mining and NO to nuclear. The liberals promoted “wind power,” but now oppose building power lines from the areas with a lot of wind to the big cities, saying that they are “bad for the environment.” The liberal solution is to raise the tax on energy, so people will use less of it.

Just after Congress returned from their summer break, the day after Labor Day, I had lunch with Congressman Adam Putnam. He is Chairman of the House Republican Conference and third in line in the House Republican leadership. The Conference Chairman is charged with articulating his party's message, and with building the agenda for Republicans in the House. He was elected to lead the Republican Conference by his fellow congressmen. This man knows what is going on.

Congressman Putnam told me that leftist Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had scheduled just 15 work days for the rest of year. That is 15 total works days between Labor Day and the New Year. By the time you get this Campaign Update half of those will be over! She scheduled so few days despite the fact that most of the government's funding bills, which are already months late, need to be passed. Even bills to fund the military have not been passed. She has finally promised a bill on “offshore drilling” but it is a joke. All drilling within 50 miles of the shore will still be banned. That is where 90% of the oil is and she is aware of that.

The candidates we are supporting are looking better every day to the electorate. Seats the Democrats thought they were sure of winning are moving back to conservatives.

We are now very confident that our candidate in Florida’s 22nd district will become the first black Republican in Congress since J.C. Watts of Oklahoma resigned to go back to private business. Lt. Col. Alan West retired from the military in 2004, and was a civilian advisory to the Afghan Army until 2007. In his Army career, Col. West has been honored many times.

Lt. Col. West received a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm.

As with all the candidates GING-PAC supports, I have spent one-on-one time with Lt. Col. West and I can assure you that he is a pro-life social conservative. His school age children attend a Christian school, and he is endorsed by pro-life groups in Florida. GING-PAC has already sent funds to his campaign, but you can help him directly. You can give contributions directly to the West for Congress campaign at: www.allenwestforcongress.com .

Further north we have endorsed Bob Straniere who is running for the House in New York's 13th congressional district. I talked at length with him and I asked him directly about his pro-life credentials. He immediately told me he had run for state office on the Pro-Life Party ticket and had the endorsements of just about every pro-life organization and leader in New York. He is also endorsed by my good friend Duane Motley, who heads New York’s Family Research Foundation.

My research shows that Bob Straniere is one of the good guys, a real social conservative leader who we need on Capitol Hill. Straniere is running for the seat of Congressman Vito Fossella who is "retiring." Fossella is yet another Republican figure who was caught up in the scandal days of former Speaker Dennis Hastert. If elected, Bob Straniere will be the only Republican congressman from New York City. This is a must win seat because he would be “the” social conservative from New York City.

Bob Straniere has an extensive background in American government and politics, serving as a member of the New York State Assembly for 24 years representing the south shore of Staten Island. Bob served for 10 years (1995-2004) as the Floor Leader for the Assembly Republican Conference and as the Assistant Minority Leader. GING-PAC has sent funds to his campaign, but you can assist directly at: www.straniereforcongress.com .

Other House candidates we are funding are: Todd Akin of Missouri; Michele Bachmann of Minnesota; Dr. Paul Broun of Georgia; Jim Jordan of Ohio; Bob Latta of Ohio; Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania; Bill Sali of Idaho and Rob Wittman of Virginia. In the last 30 days of the race we will assist others as well.

THE SENATE

Just a few days before mailing this Campaign Update, I met once again with our Senate candidate in Colorado, former Congressman Bob Schaffer who continues to do well in the polls. This race is extremely important because it could help to determine the outcome of the presidential race. Colorado is a key “battle ground” and that is why the Democrats chose Denver for their Greek Temple crowning of Barack Obama as king of all that is far fetched and meaningless.

This Colorado Senate seat has been Republican for some time; however, hundreds of thousands of liberal Democrats have fled the high taxes of California and moved to Colorado. Now they want to make Colorado just like the state they fled. Republican Wayne Allard has retired, making this an open seat. This is a must win. GING-PAC will send additional funds to Bob Schaffer as they become available.

THE PRESIDENCY

As a political action committee, GING-PAC can spend as much money as we can raise to promote the election of the McCain/Palin ticket. Gov. Sarah Palin has changed the character of this election and moved social conservatives back to the Republican ticket. We love the selection of Gov. Palin and will do all we can to assist the ticket.

William J. Murray, Chairman

Government Is Not God - PAC

PO Box 77237, Washington, DC 20013

Campaign Update 2008 – December, 2007 Edition

Editor: William J. Murray

OUR CANDIDATES WIN TWO HOUSE SEATS WITTMAN WINS IN VIRGINIA, LATTA WINS IN OHIO

In the November Campaign Update I told you that I had attended receptions for Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) here in Washington, DC and had personally handed both men checks to help with their campaigns. In both races special elections were set for December 11th of this year.

Both of these elections were important and we won both of them. These were not just Republican victories, these were victories for the social conservative movement. Both Bob Latta and Rob Wittman are solid pro-life social conservatives.

VIRGINIA

Rob Wittman a longtime officeholder in eastern Virginia, but a brand new first term member House of Delegates, had 61 percent to defeat Democrat Philip Forgit, an Iraq war veteran and former teacher who took 37 percent. Independent Lucky Narain, a member of the Army Reserves, took just 2 percent. Wittman managed to receive a greater percentage of the vote in Virginia’s 1st congressional district than did President George W. Bush in the last election.

Rob Wittman puts Jesus Christ first in his life and is not ashamed to tell people that. As for his pro-life stance he has publicly stated numerous times that he believes life begins at fertilization. He is a Boy Scout leader and has headed a men’s Christian organization where he lives. A graduate of Virginia Tech, he also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and is an expert on the Chesapeake Bay. He will be a great asset to the conservative cause. (At left Rob Wittman and William J. Murray in Washington, DC)

I live in Rob Wittman’s district. He replaces a dear friend of mine, JoAnn Davis, who died after a two year battle with breast cancer this year. We will all miss JoAnn in Washington.

OHIO

The Democrats thought they were on a roll and actually believed they could win Ohio’s 5th district after the death of Congressman Paul Gillmor. They did not count on strong pro-life candidate Bob Latta who was a member of the Ohio legislature. (See other side for more)

Bob’s father, Del Latta, had held this 5th district seat for 30 years until 1988. After he stepped down Gillmor was elected for three terms before he died in a tragic fall in his home in Arlington, Virginia this year. Bob Latta received 57% of the vote running against Democrat Robin Weirauch. This was her third try at the seat. She had been beaten twice by Paul Gillmor. Although I had never worked with Del Latta, it is my understanding from those who did that his son Bob leans much more to the social conservative cause. Like Wittman in Virginia, Latta believes that life begins at fertilization.

DOES IT MATTER?

Do these two off year victories matter that much? YES! The Democrats poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Ohio race trying to elect another pro-abortion candidate to help radical San Francisco liberal Nancy Pelosi redirect America to the far left. The radical Democrats financed by billionaires like George Soros believed the American people want a socialist America. Perhaps they should have read some polls. The Gallup organization’s recent poll found that only 20% approve of the job Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat Congress is doing. Why would the people want to add more Democrats? From the votes in Ohio and Virginia it is obvious that they don’t.

THE RESULTS

Just this week I attended an event put on by the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List here in Washington. That organization specializes in helping elect pro-life women. Just 20 years ago there was just one pro-life woman in Congress, now there are 13. (There were 14 before JoAnn Davis died this year.) Attending that event were many congressmen that GING-PAC helped to elect.

Over the past few months I have been pessimistic about the chances of the Republicans taking back the House in the next election. I am beginning to change my mind. Despite the unpopular war in Iraq, the people are beginning to see what they got out of handing control of the House and Senate over to the radical left. The favorability numbers just keep going down for the Democrat Congress and many of their newly elected Members are already in trouble back in their home districts. We have an opportunity next November to elect pro-life, social conservative candidates to as many as 20 seats held by Democrats.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

HUCK AND HILLARY

In an earlier update I said that if everyone who said, “I’d vote for Huckabee if I thought he could win,” would actually vote for Huckabee, he would win. Suddenly all those folks started to talk to each other and realized that was true. Huckabee is now number one in Iowa, South Carolina and several other states, and he is closing in nationally on Rudy Giuliani. One poll has him in a statistical tie for first place.

Why is Mike Huckabee’s message resonating? He didn’t have any money, his campaign was run on a shoe string budget, and he didn’t have any consultants to tell him what to say. Huckabee just answers the questions that are asked the best be can based on what he believes, and the people seem to like that.

Meanwhile Hillary Clinton is sinking in the polls. The more voters get to know her the less they like her. There is a chance she may not win in Iowa or New Hampshire. Barack Obama has Oprah on his side, but that is not going to win him the nomination. He has no executive experience and is a first term Senator. I am beginning to think there will be a dark horse getting the Democrat nomination, perhaps someone who is not even running yet.

HELP ELECT SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES

Conservative political action committees such as Government Is Not God need to have a major war chest available for the elections in 2008. We cannot participate and help elect godly social conservative candidates without funds. As of today our PAC has less than $20,000 on hand and we need at least ten times that to be able to affect the outcome of House elections next year. The first 2008 primary is just one month away!

If we are going to have an impact and put real conservatives in the House and Senate, men and women such as yourself must get involved.

PASS THE WORD

Please tell others about Government Is Not God - PAC. You can help by directing your friends and associates to our Internet site at www.gingpac.org. Online contributions can be made at our Internet site!

Click here to give a gift to Government Is Not God – PAC today and please, if you can, send another gift to help next month.

William J. Murray, Chairman
Government Is Not God- PAC
PO Box 77237
Washington, DC 20013
WWW.GINGPAC.ORG

Campaign Update 2008 - November, 2007 Edition

REALLY STRANGE PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENTS

Rev. Pat Robertson has endorsed pro-abortion, pro-gay presidential candidate Mayor Giuliani. Mayor Giuliani stands at the opposite end of everything Pat Robertson has claimed to work for all of his life. This strange endorsement has caused immediate problems inside the Christian Right. Randal Terry of Operation Rescue said, "I am literally sick to my stomach over Dr. Robertson's decision.” Reverend Wiley Drake, a former Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention, called upon his church and all Christians to boycott CBN and the 700 Club as a result of Robertson’s endorsement of Giuliani.

The next strangest development after Robertson’s backing of Giuliani is the National Right to Life Committee’s endorsement of Fred Thompson. As a politician, Fred Thompson never received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. On the other hand presidential candidates Rep. Duncan Hunter, Rep. Tom Tancredo, Senator Sam Brownback and Governor Mike Huckabee all have had 100% pro-life ratings. I believe the highest Senator Thompson ever achieved was 88% and it was far lower at times. Just prior to the National Right to Life Committee’s endorsement, conservative columnist Robert Novak had this to say about Senator Thompson:

“Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) may have seriously wounded himself with his handling of the abortion issue on Sunday's "Meet the Press." Thompson unequivocally stated he opposed a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, which is a plank in the Republican platform. Without prompting, he then attacked the idea of "criminalizing" abortion and locking up mothers who procure abortions -- images that are used as scare tactics by the pro-choice lobby. Throughout the long discussion of the topic, Thompson was incoherent at best and thoroughly objectionable to his party's pro-life base at worst. He backed away from his firm opposition to the platform, but he never quite set himself right on the whole issue.” (Nov. 07,2007)

Another pro-life leader, Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation then endorsed former liberal (now conservative) Governor Mitt Romney. When running for Governor of Massachusetts, Romney campaigned as “pro-choice,” pro-gay rights and anti-gun. In office he continued to promote the “pro-choice” and pro-gay agendas. Now running for President, he says he has had a change of heart and that he is anti-abortion and against gay-marriage. Another of Romney’s supporters is Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition which fights against homosexual marriage. In the past Lou Sheldon has been critical of governors such as Romney who seemed to have pro-gay agendas.

THE QUESTION

Why is the social conservative movement in the United States committing suicide? The answer is power politics. Evangelical conservative leaders are backing candidates they think will win rather than those who have been consistent social conservatives with 100% pro-life records. Many other endorsements I will not mention here have surprised me, but all seem to have one theme: “We need someone who can beat Hillary.” The assumption is that the GOP must choose a “centrist” presidential candidate or Hillary will win. The logic goes, “We need a New York liberal to beat their New York liberal.” By that logic Ronald Reagan would not have gotten the GOP presidential nomination. Reagan was too conservative to be electable by the National Right to Life Committee standards and those of many other social conservative leaders today.

Meanwhile the rank and file members of social conservative organizations are being turned off by their leadership. While National Right to Life has endorsed Fred Thompson, his numbers continue to fall in Iowa and New Hampshire while those of Governor Mike Huckabee continue to rise. Huckabee is now in a solid 2nd place in Iowa behind Governor Mitt Romney who has spent $21 million in that state alone. Huckabee has spent just $500,000 there and he has such momentum that he may well take first place on election day. Thompson is in fourth place in Iowa and fifth place in New Hampshire where Huckabee recently passed him. The national polls don’t matter at all because most of those folks will actually never vote in a primary.

THE RESULT

Regardless of who wins the GOP nomination the social conservative movement, and particularly evangelical leaders, lose. In an attempt to gain influence by backing pro-abortion and pro-gay candidates, evangelical leaders are losing their credibility. Had these leaders backed 100% pro-life social conservatives such as Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Sam Brownback or Tom Tancredo, their integrity would have remained intact and their word trusted when it counts next year. Unfortunately the desire of some evangelical leaders to walk with the seemingly powerful rather than with the righteous will discourage their base. In my opinion this loss of credibility of “religious right” leaders will actually boost the odds of a Hillery victory.

OTHER RACES - SPECIAL ELECTIONS

SPECIAL ELECTIONS

This week I attended receptions for Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) who are running for vacant seats in the House. Rob Wittman received the GOP nod at a state convention for a special election on December 11th to fill the seat vacated by the death of my good friend, Jo Ann Davis. On that same date Mr. Latta faces Democrat Robin Weirauch. A member of the Ohio House of Representatives, Latta has a 100% voting record with Ohio Right to Life and an A+ rating with the NRA. In the Virginia race Rob Wittman is new to politics but has voted 100% pro-life in the House of Delegates so far. It is VERY important that these two men win in December. We cannot afford even one more House member who votes under the MoveOn.org banner of far left politics.

I have personally handed both Bob Latta and Rob Wittman checks for $500.00 each. If we can raise further funds this month GING-PAC is allowed by law to give each of these candidates another $4,500. Please send your contribution to help these men today!

LATE AGAIN

I apologize for not releasing an October update. During October my duties as Chairman of the Religious Freedom Coalition took me to Jordan and Lebanon for a fact finding mission on the conditions of Iraqi Christian refugees. More information on the fact finding mission is available at www.ChristianRefugees.blogspot.com. GING-PAC is an all volunteer organization and as a result some things just get done late. Sorry!

Help us elect social conservative candidates ... Give now!

William J. Murray, Chairman

Government Is Not God - PAC

PO Box 77237, Washington, DC 20013