Tom McClintock’s Capitol Commentaries July 2016, Issue Twenty One Message from Tom McClintock

Dear Friend, First, I want to thank you for your support in last month’s election. The result was overwhelming and a good indication of what November promises. Personally, I received 15,000 more votes than four years ago and 55,000 more than two years ago and I think that’s an indication that the Republican message is resonating – even through all the discord of the presidential primary. This is the first newsletter we’ve put out in a few months, so with it comes my apology for not sharing more material. But as we get closer to the election, I expect to pick up the pace, and hope the material in this edition is helpful. Last month, I spoke at the annual Tuolumne County Republican Party Reagan dinner, and in it I laid out the case for Donald Trump. Despite all the flack he’s taken from the party establishment and the political Left – and despite his own eccentricities – I believe his election is absolutely vital for the future of our country and all that it stands for. I’m all in, and I hope you are too. Also, in June we suffered the latest terrorist attack on American soil and within hours the Left was downplaying its Islamist motivation and using it as an excuse to disarm Americans. I addressed the issue in the second article that follows.

c d The Case for Trump Tuolumne Republican Party Reagan Dinner May 21, 2016

This is the 10th annual Tuolumne Canadian border, THEY’LL build a wall and Some conservatives wanted Goldwater to County Republican Party Salute to Reagan gladly pay for it! But it’s fun to think about. run anyway. That’s when he mounted the Dinner. For 36 years now, I have looked back Let me put all my cards on the table. I convention rostrum and spoke these words on 1980 as the most important election of my am not a lock-step Republican. My loyalty (that are just as applicable to us today as they lifetime. I’m beginning to realize that it was has never been to the Republican Party or its were when he spoke them). He said: the second most important. The election that candidates. My loyalty has always been solely “We’ve had our chance: we’ve fought looms just 171 days from now is the most to the principles of the American founding. our battle. Now let’s put our shoulders to the important election in the lifetimes of any of My loyalty to the Republican Party and its wheels… Let’s not stand back. This country us in this room, and in fact, it is one of the candidates extends only as far as THEY are is too important for anyone’s feelings: this most important elections in the life of our loyal to those principles. I have occasionally country in its majesty is too great for any country. voted against Republican candidates who have man, be he conservative or liberal, to stay I believe this is it for our country: traduced the principles of our Constitution or home and not work just because he doesn’t there are no do-overs or “wait-for-the-next- who have tried to turn our party away from agree (with the nomination). Let’s grow up, elections” this year. I believe we are at the those principles and I would do so again. conservatives.” precipice, and we must take back our country And let me also say that Donald Trump Today, it is time for Republicans to THIS YEAR, or risk losing it forever. was not my first choice for our nominee. I GROW UP and defer to the opinions of the Lena Dunham, Miley Cyrus, Rosie first endorsed Scott Walker for President. vast majority of Republican primary voters O’Donnell and Al Sharpton all say that they’ll When Scott Walker withdrew, I endorsed Ted across our nation. move to Canada if Donald Trump wins this Cruz. So Donald Trump wasn’t my second And if the self-appointed royal families election. But ladies and gentlemen, there are choice either. of the Republican Party don’t approve, well plenty of other good reasons to elect Donald But ladies and gentlemen, the voters of tough! Trump president! And I’d like to talk a little our party have spoken -- I can sure as hell tell This is clearly a choice between a fire and about them tonight. the difference between a fire and a fire man! a fireman. It ought to be self-evident that we Of course, it’s important not to over- In 1960, Barry Goldwater first ran for the can’t keep going down the road we’ve been on promise. The fact is, when Canada sees Republican nomination for President, only to these last 8 years, and Hillary Clinton offers this mass influx of pretentious, pampered, be swamped by the overwhelming choice of nothing more than Barack Obama’s third obnoxious leftist celebrities flocking to the Republican primary voters: Richard Nixon. continued, page 2

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term. Four more years of debt and doubt the threat that unvetted Islamist immigration five points. The FOX news poll showed a and despair. Four more years of Obamacare now poses to our country. Most of all, he’s similar ten-point swing to Trump over the and Obamanomics. Four more years of the right that we cannot continue doing business past several weeks, with him now ahead of very taxes and regulations that are killing our as usual in Washington. Clinton by three points. economy. Is there anyone here who thinks for Of course, there is a huge gender gap. If you have any hesitation over Donald a moment that Hillary Clinton or Bernie But as Rasmussen and FOX report, that Trump, just do the math of the Supreme Sanders is better for America on these – or for gender gap favors TRUMP and not Clinton. Court. Barack Obama has already chosen that matter ANY of the major issues – facing A higher percentage of men are voting for two Supreme Court justices, and so has Bill our country? Trump than women are voting for Clinton. Clinton. Those four justices have all proven Of course not. Yet amazingly, there are And there is a huge case of party themselves to be devoted leftist activists who some in our party who apparently do. As defections. But as , those vote in lockstep on every important issue Ogden Nash once wrote, “They have such party defections are also favoring TRUMP coming before the court. delicate palates they can find no one worthy and not Clinton. More Democrats are voting A few months before he died, I had the of their ballots. Then when someone terrible for Trump than Republicans are voting for honor to attend a small dinner with Antonin gets elected they say, ‘There, that’s just what I Hillary. Trump now leads independents by a Scalia. As he reflected on his nearly 30 years expected.’” stunning 13 points. on the Supreme Court, he noted somewhat Or more pointedly, as Thomas Paine Polls change and there’s a long way to go bitterly that in this last session, he had written once said, “The summer soldier and the to the election – but anyone who tells us that more dissenting opinions than he had ever sunshine patriot, will, in this crisis, shrink Trump can’t win is either a liar or an idiot. written in his entire career. And he said, “If from the service of their country; but he who There is no other explanation. you want to know where the center of the stands it now deserves the love and thanks of What I think we are seeing is a tectonic court is today, Stephen Breyer has written man and woman.” shift in American politics that happens only the fewest dissenting opinions this session.” So I love and thank every one of you once every several generations. The old And that was with Antonin Scalia still on the for everything you are doing in the great politics no longer works. The old coalitions court. campaign now before us. are breaking apart. And the more that According to the actuarial tables, the For years, we’ve been told by these party people focus on the election before us, and next President will make FOUR Supreme elites that we must abandon our principles everything that is at stake for our country, the Court appointments, starting with filling so that we can make room for more voters faster they are moving toward Donald Trump Scalia’s chair. The average length of service on under this big tent of the Republican Party. and the New Republican Party. the Supreme Court is 16 years. That means Yet here comes a candidate who unabashedly If that term, “The New Republican this election will decide who is President for proclaims our principles – who engages and Party” sounds vaguely familiar, that was the next four years – but it will decide who energizes a historic wave of new voters – and ’s vision in 1977. He said, controls the Supreme Court for the next 16 yet these same self-proclaimed leaders can’t “And let me say so there can be no years – and probably for a generation to come. find room for him or for them in this big tent mistakes as to what I mean: The New This week, Donald Trump released his of theirs! Today, it is a much bigger tent – Republican Party I envision will not be, and short list of Supreme Court nominations no thanks to them – but it’s just not theirs cannot, be one limited to the country club- – after thorough vetting by the Federalist anymore! big business image that for reasons both fair Society and the Heritage Foundation. They Has it actually escaped their notice that and unfair, it is burdened with today. The include some of the strongest defenders of despite a field of 17 candidates splitting the New Republican Party I am speaking about constitutional principles and conservative vote, Donald Trump is on track to win the is going to have room for the man and the values on the bench today. most primary votes cast for any Republican woman in the factories, for the farmer, for Fireman. nominee in our history? the cop on the beat and the millions of Fire. Has it escaped their notice that where Americans who may never have thought of Can you all tell the difference? Of course Democrats and independents have been joining our party before, but whose interests you can. allowed to cross over and vote in the coincide with those represented by principled I don’t agree with Donald Trump on Republican primaries, Donald Trump has Republicanism. If we are to attract more everything. In fact, the only candidate I agree done his best? working men and women of this country, we with on absolutely everything is ME, and I’m Has it escaped their attention that the will do so not by simply “making room” for not running. Everybody else is a compromise. turnout in Republican primaries this year is them, but by making certain they have a say But he’s absolutely right about way up compared to 2008 and Democratic in what goes on in the party.” illegal immigration. He’s absolutely right turnout is way down? In this remarkable primary election about ending government cronyism in The latest Rasmussen poll released year, the working men and women of this the economy. He’s right about repealing 48 hours ago reports that Donald Trump is country have had their say, and they have Obamacare. He’s right about defending ahead of Hillary Clinton by five percentage spoken clearly and unmistakably. the Second Amendment. He’s right about points – 42 percent to 37 percent. Two weeks That shouldn’t surprise us. I believe that balancing the budget before we bankrupt our before he was ahead by two points. Two Trump’s promise to secure the borders and country. He’s right about Islamic fascism and months ago, Trump was behind Clinton by continued, page 3 July 2016 3

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enforce our immigration laws is resonating spirals that have destroyed their futures and party establishment, and the institutional and deeply in many very non-Republican ethnic are now consuming their countries. international left. working class neighborhoods. After all, it is The Democratic Party has described Yes, I wish Donald had a little more of their jobs being taken by the illegals. It’s their the Tea Party as terrorists but it calls Islamic Ronald Reagan’s eloquence and pleasantness. schools being overrun. It is their families terror attacks “human caused disasters.” For But I think things have been so bad in this threatened by the Mexican gangs. eight years, it has actively encouraged and country for so long, people no longer want Eight years ago, those same working rewarded unprecedented illegal immigration. a president who is going to hold their hands class families put their faith in Barack Obama The Republican Party offers a return to the and feel their pain. No, they want someone and the Democratic Party. And for eight rule of law, and the old-fashioned process who will speak his mind, tell it like it is, go years, they have seen their incomes shrink, of assimilation in which immigrants are to Washington, kick butts and take names. their energy and food bills skyrocket, and admitted only when they demonstrate a Is there any doubt from friend or foe that their safety drastically diminished at home sincere commitment to becoming loyal Donald Trump will do exactly that? And isn’t and abroad. They have seen the health plans Americans by obeying our laws. Meanwhile, it about time? In fact, isn’t it way past time? that they liked, that they could afford, and in recent weeks, Americans have seen The fine point of it comes down to this: they were promised they could keep taken the spectacle of a foreign flag carried by America has enjoyed its greatest away from them. They’ve seen their deeply mobs attempting to shut down the right of prosperity and happiness when it has known held moral values ridiculed and violated. Americans to rally around their candidates – its greatest freedom. Our Founders created a Today, the Democratic Party offers to and that, by itself, speaks volumes about the society where we were free to make our own take them four more years down that path. central question at stake in this election. decisions as we go through life; make our own Of their two candidates, one is an avowed Ladies and gentlemen, we are watching a choices, enjoy the fruit of our own labors, socialist. The other is a crook who can’t new coalition emerging in American politics take responsibility for our own decisions describe the difference between socialism and gravitating to a New Republican Party. and lead our own lives with a minimum of and the Democratic platform – because there It is made up of forgotten and abandoned governmental interference and intrusion. is none. The New Republican Party offers a Americans from every walk of life, every Government protected our fundamental candidate who has spent his life having to background and every part of the country rights and left us otherwise alone to live our kowtow to politicians just to run his business who want to restore their country to its own lives as we saw fit. and he’s sick of it. Meanwhile, Americans are former greatness. They want to awaken Today, a very different vision competes watching the final death throes of socialism one day and realize that it is morning again for our future: an all-powerful government in those countries that were foolish enough in America. They want their country back. that commands our economic decisions, to have embraced it. They want their culture back. They want their micro-manages our daily lives, and consumes And don’t think for a second that the Constitution back. They want their freedom more and more of our earnings. In the last millennials are socialists in any conventional back. eight years, it has disrupted our healthcare sense. I spoke with Scott Rasmussen about On election night four years ago, I saw system, shrunk our family incomes, this several months ago. “Yes,” he said, “half two rays of hope. I told our gathering that threatened our constitutional rights, doubled of millennial voters claim to be socialists. night that the American people were about our national debt, overwhelmed us with But then we asked a follow-up question: ‘Do to get a four-year graduate level course in illegal immigration and placed our children you favor a consumer-driven economy or a Obamanomics, and at the end of that course in danger of becoming the first American government-managed economy?’” He said they were certain to be sadder and wiser. generation to be less well off than their that by an overwhelming margin, millennials And I pointed out that the groups that have parents. preferred a consumer driven economy. He been the strongest supporters for Barack The election of 2016 will decide said, “When YOU hear ‘Capitalism’ YOU Obama and the new Democrats are precisely whether America becomes another failed think free markets. When millennials hear it, the same groups that have been most harmed socialist state or whether this generation of they hear ‘government favors and cronyism.’” by their policies. That’s a political disconnect Americans revives and restores the founding Who do you think those voters are going and it could not last. American principles of individual liberty, to choose: a crooked politician who got rich Or as Abraham Lincoln often said, “If constitutionally limited government and trading in those favors or a businessman who the voters get their backsides too close to the personal responsibility that produced the is sick of making crooked politicians rich fire, they’ll just have to sit on the blisters a happiest, freest and most prosperous society having to trade in those favors? while.” in human history. The Democratic Party has doubled our As they have gone through that painful This is the fight of a lifetime that will nation’s debt in the last eight years. In fact, learning experience, we have watched decide the future for generations to come. six years from now, on our current course, historic gains for our party -- a net shift from Isn’t that worth doing everything we can interest on that debt will exceed our current Democrats to Republicans of 69 U.S. House between now and Election Day – just 171 defense spending. The Republican Party seats, 13 U.S. Senate Seats, 11 state governors, days from now -- to make America great offers a blueprint to get back to balance before and more than 900 state legislative seats. again? q we bankrupt our country and a nominee And we are seeing it again this year in the determined to get us there. Meanwhile, we’re overwhelming and enthusiastic turnout of watching the convulsions of nations that have new voters that Donald Trump has generated pursued similar policies and are now in debt – despite the opposition of the media, the July 2016 4

The Enemy Among Us June 15, 2016

The terrorist attack on Orlando should information. to death. Three hours. In San Bernardino, bring into sharp focus the growing threat While seeking to radically increase the the terrorists had already fled before police our nation faces from Islamic terrorism. number of Islamists being admitted to this even arrived at the scene. Although Islam is a religion, it is often country, this administration has failed not The first line of defense against an accompanied by a poisonous political only to enforce our immigration laws but it armed terrorist is an armed American. Yet ideology that is antithetical to everything our has actively undermined those laws. As a the Democrats seek to make it harder for country stands for. That ideology is pledged direct result of these deliberate government Americans to arm themselves while increasing to the destruction of our form of government policies, we are enduring Islamist attacks the threat posed by mass immigration from and our way of life, as well as the mass murder within our borders that will continue to those countries where Islamist ideology is of our people. We have every right to defend increase in both frequency and severity. rampant. ourselves against it. These policies have encouraged a large Is it possible they don’t understand that We used to require every person and growing fifth column that is violently there is a readily accessible underground registering to vote and every immigrant hostile to our country, and it has become arms market and that terrorists can get seeking citizenship to declare their loyalty deeply imbedded within our communities. their hands on any kinds of weapons they to our Constitution, but such formalities San Bernardino and Orlando were just the want as effortlessly as college students can are now politically incorrect. That’s not just first bloody foretaste of what is to come until buy pot? While the Orlando terrorist got stupid; it is suicidal. and unless these policies are stopped and his guns legally, he could just as easily have Our government knew for years that reversed. gotten them illegally. That’s not the case for a the terrorist’s father was broadcasting pro- Last year, the House passed the SAFE law-abiding American citizen. Law abiding Taliban and anti-American rhetoric aimed Act – an acronym for “Safety Against Foreign citizens obey our laws. Terrorists do not. principally at a large and growing Afghan Enemies.” It was the first, tentative step Indeed, the Boston terrorists used Islamic population within the . toward properly screening refugees from pressure cookers and the 9/11 attackers used We knew that the terrorist himself had hotbeds of Islamic extremism. It merely box-cutters. France’s strict gun controls travelled repeatedly to Saudi Arabia under required affirmative verification of a refugee’s did nothing to thwart the Bataclan theater suspicious circumstances; that he associated lack of hostile intent if they are coming from massacre or the attack at Charlie Hebdo, any with known terrorists and Islamic radicals in Islamist strongholds in Iraq and Syria. 135 more than California’s strict gun controls the United States; and that he had expressed Democrats in this House opposed the SAFE stopped the attack in Ontario. They did the most virulent anti-American views. And Act, and Senate Democrats killed it in January effectively disarm the victims. we took no action because there are far more at the behest of their President. The Left’s vision for our country is one instances of such threats than we can begin to The very same politicians who will in which Americans are forbidden from assess or address. not allow us even to confirm the intent of fighting back and must helplessly wait to be This administration has drastically Islamists entering America are at the same rescued while they are terrorized by Islamic increased the admission of refugees from time using the Orlando atrocity as an excuse extremists who should never have been in regions where overwhelming majorities to disarm loyal and law-abiding Americans. this country in the first place. And that is believe in imposing Sharia Law. Those Within hours of the attack, the Left began going to continue until this country wakes up who are fleeing Islamist ideology should be to use this terrorist atrocity to justify more to the danger it faces and takes decisive action welcome in this country at assimilable levels; restrictions on the rights of Americans to at the ballot box. but those who are coming here to impose it defend themselves. That is ultimately the choice before are a direct threat to our Constitution and They would have us believe that terrorists us: we can either suffer increasingly violent have no business being admitted to our who are bent on destroying our country by attacks on increasingly defenseless Americans shores. savagely killing Americans will somehow or we can chose to finally take seriously Yet this administration sees no difference make one exception to their contempt for the nature of the enemy we face and finally between the two and indeed, makes every our nation by meticulously obeying our gun demand leaders who will secure our borders, effort to obscure such differences. control laws. empower Americans to defend themselves Earlier this year, when Governor Rick The leftists tell us to leave it to the police. and act forthrightly to defend our country. q Scott of , acting on behalf of law Really? In Orlando, it took more than three enforcement, requested information on the hours for police to secure the scene and Islamic immigrants being inserted into his confront the attacker, while hostages were state, he was refused that vital public safety being shot and the wounded were left to bleed

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