Jon Russell to hold town hall meetings on health care

PRESS RELEASE
AUGUST 5th, 2009
http://www.jonrussell.us/
Campaign Phone: 360-624-4934

WASHOUGAL- 3rdDistrict Republican Candidate Jon Russell will be hosting four town hall meetings focusing primarily on the federal deficit and health care reform.  Current Congressman Brian Baird has not scheduled any in-person town hall meetings to hear from constituents during the Congressional break. 
“There appears to be a leadership void on national issues which will impact residents of Southwest Washington. I want to hear from the constituents of Washington’s 3rdCongressional District about issues and concerns they have with Congress and the direction of our country. Even if we do not agree on everything, it is important that I hear from them,” Russell Said.

Town halls have been scheduled for the following dates:

• Clark County:  August 22nd, 2009 2pm- Three Creeks Community Library 800 C-NE Tenney Rd. Vancouver, WA.
• Cowlitz County: August 24th, 2009 7pm Cowlitz County Historical Museum (Community Room-Rear Entrance) 405 Allen Street, Kelso, WA.
• Thurston County: August 25th 6pm-Tumwater Timberland Library 7023 New Market St SW, Tumwater, WA.
• Lewis County: August 26thth, 2009 7pm- Kit Carson Restaurant (Meeting Room) 107 Interstate Ave. Chehalis, WA.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate. Federal issues not pertaining to the federal deficit and health care reform are also welcome. Future town hall meetings in Pacific, Wahkiakum & Skamania Counties are being scheduled for September.

Jon Russell is a Washougal City Councilman and owner of an urgent and family care clinic.

Technorati Tags: jon russell,congress,brian baird

David Castillo disgusted by Brian Baird’s recent comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2009

BAIRD RUNNING SCARED

King of Town Halls refers to constituents as Nazis, ‘lynch-mob’

OLYMPIA, WA – Anyone who has met Brian Baird knows that the congressman prides himself on the number of Town Hall meetings he has held in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District.  In fact, he has a page dedicated to these meetings on his Web site with no less than four links to it from the home page.

On the page Baird writes, “Each year, I hold as many public town meetings throughout the Third Congressional District as possible because I believe the concept of meeting face-to-face with elected officials is at the heart of our democracy. …There won't be any big speeches – just a lot of listening and a free exchange of ideas.” (Bold emphasis added.)

David Castillo, candidate for Congress, agrees with these sentiments but is perplexed as to why Baird refuses to face the public regarding his position on health care reform.  Moreover, Castillo is astonished that a sitting congressman would have the gall to compare hard-working American citizens to Nazis, or a “lynch-mob,” as Baird did recently in local media.

“As an American with ancestors who faced real lynch-mobs, I am more than offended by his flippant use of that term.  I am disgusted,” states Castillo.

As someone with extensive experience as a public servant, Castillo is amazed that an elected official with more than a decade in office would not have the foresight to see this coming, or furthermore, have such thin skin when it comes to strong public opposition.

“From bailouts for billionaires, to trillions of dollars in deficit spending placed on the backs of our children and grandchildren, to a disastrous Cap and Trade policy that will skyrocket our energy costs – Brian Baird has been a part of fundamentally changing our nation,” continues Castillo.  “And now he doesn’t understand why most voters are upset that he also wants the federal government to take over their healthcare?  Leadership involves making tough decisions and real leaders are never afraid to meet with those that may disagree with them.”

Castillo is a U.S. Navy veteran and former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs – where he had a birds-eye view of government run health care. 

“The government runs Medicare, Medicaid and the VA.  If members of Congress who support a ‘public option’ were forced to utilize any of these systems, rather than their private insurance, they may quickly change their mind on what constitutes sound reform,” asserts Castillo.

Castillo currently works as a financial advisor with Edward Jones.  He grew up in Centralia and currently resides in Olympia with his wife Callie and their three-year-old son.

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Technorati Tags: david castillo,brian baird,congress

GOP leaders call for Baird’s apology

For Immediate Release                                         
August 6, 2009
Media Contact: Nansen Malin (360) 244-3294

Baird Should Apologize for Comment

Seaview, WA -- Congressman Brian Baird told The Columbian newspaper in an interview today that he feared doing face-to-face town hall meetings with his constituents because of a “lynch-mob mentality” and the potential for “Brown Shirt tactics.”  In response to this reckless smear, Pacific County Republican Party Chairwoman and Republican 3rd Congressional District Co-Chair, Nansen Malin issued the following call for a prompt public apology:

“Brian Baird should be ashamed of himself.  As an elected official and former college professor, he should know better than to paint constituents who disagree with him as violent mobs or Nazi thugs.  His comments are irresponsible and he should apologize immediately.”

Brent Boger, Malin’s 3rd Congressional District Co-Chair and Clark County Republican State Committeeman comments, “Is there no limit to what Democrats will say about those who disagree with them? Brian Baird calls government health care opponents Brown Shirts and his leader, Nancy Pelosi, says they carry swastikas.”

Representative Baird’s reluctance to speak with the people he is supposed to represent is, frankly, a little puzzling. When he declared his support for the Iraq surge, he held several town halls, defending his stand to the angry crowds irate with the position he took.  As polls show a growing and majority opposition to the Health Care Bill currently before Congress, Rep. Baird would be well advised to take time to listen to the voters of the 3rd Congressional District before returning to Washington DC to vote on such an important and far reaching bill.

“We should expect more from a sitting U.S. Congressman than to call names and disparage citizens in order to provide himself political cover for being unresponsive and out of touch.” Malin adds.

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Technorati Tags: brian baird,congress,brown shirts,nansen malin

Brian Baird in hot water over ‘Brown Shirts’ comment

Brian Baird has rescheduled his public town meetings, and now wants to meet in secrecy on the phone. He is worried that opposition to Obama’s health care reform could turn out hundreds of angry constituents.

Town hall meetings are supposed to be a forum for debates, and at times you may even have to deal with someone that has a differing opinion.

Baird’s problems started when he called out his fears that there would be a ‘mob’ mentality and likened his opposition to the Nazi ‘brown shirts’. Has Brian Baird become disconnected with his constituents?

The Columbian- Baird calls constituents Brown Shirts  http://www.columbian.com/article/20090806/NEWS02/708069952
The Olympian- Lynch Mob Mentality - http://www.theolympian.com/topstories/story/932112.html
NW Digest- Baird refusing to do face to face meetings… http://www.theolympian.com/topstories/story/932112.html
RedState- more on the Brown Shirts  http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/08/06/dem-congressman-fears-ambush-by-brown-shirt/

Technorati Tags: brian baird,congress,brown shirts,mob,columbian,the olympian,redstate.com

Rob McKenna weighs in

THURSTON COUNTY: McKenna weighs in on commissioner contest

THE OLYMPIAN BLOG

State Attorney General Rob McKenna endorsed fellow Republican Pat Beehler in the Thurston County commissioner race, echoing a similar endorsement by the Thurston County Republican Party.

Beehler, a Tumwater surveyor, is running against Democratic appointee Karen Valenzuela and Democrat Dan Venable for the District 3 seat, which represents the western third of the county.

Technorati Tags: pat beehler,thurston county,commissioner

Pat Beehler has a positive outlook

This letter to the editor appeared in The Olympian August 5, 2009
I am writing to encourage voters of the 3rd District to support Pat Beehler’s candidacy as Thurston County Commissioner in the upcoming August primary.
It is obvious that the economic storm has reached the people of Thurston County at several levels: employment, services, public safety and recreation. But our county is uniquely positioned to weather this downturn and restore its viability with the right leader.
After speaking with Pat and the other candidates, Pat is the only candidate to have expressed a positive outlook for our county which aims to improve government efficiency and preserve the local citizens’ priorities. And given his professional background and public service, it is promising that Pat’s approach will be thorough, proactive and responsive. Now is a critical time for our county that calls for a leader to make sound judgements which reflect the voters’ needs. I want responsible solutions to the current issues challenging our public safety and economic development. I am voting for Pat Beehler.
CHAD SUTTER
Olympia
Learn more about Pat Beeler by visiting his website: http://www.patbeeler.com/

Karen Valenzuela launches her smear campaign

Postcards landed today that were authorized by Jim Lazar, and Walt Jorgensen. Their political action committee is called 'Citizens for Integrity in Government' and is set up solely to smear candidates that they don't like.

The postcard is a ho-hum message saying that local candidates are bought and held accountable to certain special interest groups such as the Realtors.

I have some news for these attack mongers: This is local politics, it's not Washington DC. We're talking about a few hundred dollars that these groups donate. Hardly enough to buy votes.

On the other hand, if Jim Lazar and Walt Jorgensen were wanting to disclose special interest donations, they would tell everyone the people that are 'buying' Karen Valenzuela's votes. Since they didn't, here you go:

Diane Parish, Black Rock Investment Manager $500 -- Interesting note: Diane Parish is from Sausalito CA, has donated to Howard Dean, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton's campaigns. What is a big donor from California doing contributing to a local candidate in Thurston County? Now that is odd.

Gail Sheikhizadeh, State Farm Insurance $500

Thurston Conservation Voters, a special interest group $500. This is yet another out-of-town group supporting Karen. They are from Seattle. What is Seattle's interest in our commissioner's race?

Mariella Cummings, Results Incorporated

Hey, and look at that. Jim Lazar shows up contributing money to Karen's campaign as well, er or is that buying votes Jim?

Here is Karen Valenzuela's complete donor list if you would like to see who has been "buying" her votes according to Jim Lazar's logic.

Jim Lazar is the significant other of City of Olympia's Karen Messmer. It's hard to believe that a city councilmember's household would be involved in such obscene smear campaigns. How's that for Integrity of Government? I would have thought a council member was just a little more upstanding. Not that I think you have to be married to have a solid relationship, but perhaps even Karen thinks Jim is too toxic to take on his last name, hmm??

If I was a donor to Karen's campaign, I would have second thoughts about getting too close. Perhaps I would be considered buying votes by Lazar. I wonder if her campaign is falling apart if at least one of her contributors is already having to resort to a smear campaign.

Sorry Karen, my vote is going to candidates that don't campaign from the gutter.

More about 'Integrity in Government'

Here is the contact information as reported:
CIT FOR INTEGRITY IN GOVT
Address:
PO BOX 1423
OLYMPIA WA 98507

Phone: 360-786-1822