RINO…..I think I’m getting a little tired of that word. Not that RINO’s don’t exist. I believe that they do, but I think sometimes
those of us who tend to be to the far right in the political spectrum that is
the Republican Party apply that term to anyone who we deem less conservative
than we are.
Most recently, I’ve heard the term applied to my own
Congressman Dave Joyce by those who back his challenger in the primary in
May. I think that this is an unfair
characterization of Congressman Joyce.
Before I proceed to tell you why, let me explain that I have
supported both men in the past. In 2012
although I don’t live in State Representative Matt Lynch’s district, I did give
him some assistance in his campaign. I grew up in Troy Township which is part
of his district, and my home now is close to the line of his district. I would let his campaign know when there were
events in his district that he could attend.
I also encouraged my friends in his district to vote for him. I have
appreciated his standing for conservative principles while in the General
Assembly and even considered him my “adopted” State Rep since my current State
Representative does not represent me very well.
As for Congressman Joyce, in 2012 former Congressman Steve
LaTourette stepped out of the race; and the Chairmen and Secretaries of the
County Republican Parties in his district picked Dave Joyce to be the
Republican candidate for the Ohio 14th District. I volunteered for his campaign and helped out
wherever I could.
Since his election, while there have been a few times I
haven’t agreed with him, I’ve grown to respect him and to especially respect
the fact that he has the heart of a true public servant.
The name RINO has been applied to Congressman Joyce
unfairly. On the most important and most
visible issue of our time, ObamaCare, the Congressman has voted every chance he
could to repeal, defund, delay, or fix it every chance he has had.
Congressman Joyce is a fiscal conservative who practices what
he preaches. He returned $100,000 of his own office budget back to the
treasurer. This is something he also did every year when he was the Geauga
County Prosecutor for 24 years. Congressman
Joyce introduced a bill – THE SAVE ACT - that would cut $200 billion in
government waste and duplicative programs.
Those of us who are concerned about how the Constitution
seems to be ignored by our current President should take note that Congressman
Joyce recently signed on as a sponsor of the STOP (Stop This Overreaching
Presidency) Act, which holds Obama accountable for his Executive Overreach as
well as bills to hold the IRS accountable and demand answers from the tragedy
in Benghazi.
Congressman Joyce is pro-life, pro-family, and pro-gun.
That doesn’t sound like a RINO to me.
He may not be quite as conservative as his primary opponent
or me for that matter, but he is conservative.
Some have tried to tie him to his predecessor, Steve
LaTourette, and have made a great deal about the fact that he is a member of the
moderate Republican organization headed up by LaTourette, Main Street
Partnership. While it is true that
Congressman Joyce joined this organization when he was elected, so have several
other congressmen who are considered conservative including Congressman Bill
Johnson in the 6th District.
Also Congressman Joyce joined the Republican Study Committee which is a
conservative organization. He wanted to
get a full picture of the Republicans in the House.
Joining an organization, any organization, does not mean you
automatically agree with every stance they take. Main Street Partnership pushed for a “clean”
debt ceiling bill, but Congressman Joyce voted against that because it had no spending
reductions.
While I don’t agree completely with Congressman Joyce on
everything, I do agree with most of what he has done and don’t believe he is a
RINO by any stretch of the imagination.
I’m supporting Congressman Joyce in this primary in part
because I believe it is best to vote for the most conservative candidate that
can win. I honestly don’t believe that Matt Lynch can win the general election
in this district. I don’t want to see a liberal Democrat win that seat. Prior
to redistricting, I was in Democrat Tim Ryan’s district. I know what it is like
to be represented by a liberal Democrat. I would rather have a Congressman that
I agree with 80% or 90% of the time than one that I agree with 5% of the time.
But don’t think that because I cite that practical reason
that I will consider Congressman Joyce the lesser of two evils in November. I have tremendous admiration for the man that Congressman
Joyce is.
As I said before, over the last year and a half I’ve grown
to respect him as a man who has the heart of a public servant. When Congress is not in session, he is in the
district speaking to his constituents, finding out what they think. He takes the time to get into the far reaches
of the district. Heck, he actually knows
where Farmington is.
In December, he participated in the swearing in ceremony
that we had for several of the township trustees in the area. He spoke from his heart when talking about
his own attitude toward being a public servant.
I know that he truly gets what many in elected office don’t -we
are supposed to be servants of the people not rulers over them.
Congressman Joyce may not be a rock star, but he is a good man
working hard to serve all of the people in his district. For that, he has my vote and my support.
