ANDY MARTIN
“He Works for the People of Illinois”
Republican for U. S. Senator
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-ANDY
Toll-free fax (866) 707-ANDY
Web site: www.AndyforUSSenator.com
E-mail: mailto:AndyforIllinois@aol.com
January 31, 2008
Campaign diary #3
BARACK OBAMA and ANDY MARTIN
Dear Reader:
Chicago is slowly becoming snow-bound today, and I have a little more time to reflect and provide some deeper insight into both my background as a columnist and how my views inform my conduct as a candidate.
Almost four years ago, I began to write about then-State Senator Barack Obama. In a statement and two news conferences on August 10, 2004, I raised two concerns about Obama: first, that he demonstrated a lack of candor about the religious history of his family; and, second, that he might be dissembling to prevent Jewish defections from his campaign for the U. S. Senate.
Little did I know that my investigative and editorial efforts would change both of our lives. I became the target of attacks by left-wing Democrats and Obama supporters who refused to believe the truth about his family history. I was accused of leading “right-wing” conspiracies, which came as something of a surprise to my Republican Party colleagues.
And, on Obama’s side, what should have been a minor and relatively straightforward matter has mushroomed and continues to grow into a major problem for his presidential candidacy.
I continued to research Obama’s family history and his own history after 2004, and to develop models and concepts based on our investigative efforts. Many of these reports and columns can be read at ContrarianCommentary.com.
First, here is a thought based on more than 40 years of experience in public life. None of us is perfect, and none of us can live a perfect life. I know I haven’t. And, in addition to the imperfections which exist in all of our lives, we have a natural human tendency towards modesty and privacy. Living under public scrutiny is not an easy thing.
I have found that being open and honest makes for a much easier time than trying to conceal matters of interest. I was recently asked a question by a Chicago Tribune reporter. My relations with that newspaper have been rocky in the past, but I always give people a second, and third chance, and a new reporter gets a new first chance. After the news conference I e-mailed him a response to his inquiry, and provided a source for further information. I was as open as could be. I had and have nothing to hide.
If Obama had followed the contours of my writing over the past four years, he would be in far better shape than he is now. Today he faces a sirocco of controversy in the Jewish community, and questions about his religion having expanding beyond all reason. Despite all of the campaign contributions Obama receives, in the broader community there is unease about his strength as a leader.
Second, let me be clear on two points. I have no personal ax to grind with Obama. He was an interesting subject for writing and research. That was the only reason I pursued inquiries. I had no idea where the evidence would take me in 2004. I am amazed to still be writing about him in 2008. I have never questioned that Obama is a Christian today. I have explained how Christianity accepts new members. As an Episcopalian, I know we are an open, inviting and welcoming religion. Rather, I was interested in how Obama dealt with questions about his past.
Four years ago, I expressed concern about the reaction of the Jewish community when it learned of Obama’s Muslim family past. Today, Obama is the target of virulent racism within the Jewish community, and attacks from Israel. Look at the following reports as exemplars:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=Obama&itemNo=949364
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=Obama&itemNo=948960
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=Obama&itemNo=948037
What I predicted happened. Instead of dealing openly with his past, Obama sought to avoid and prevaricate about his family history. And as a result he has allowed an explosion of concern in the Jewish community. Efforts by the Mainstream Media (MSM) to bury the story have not extinguished the controversy.
Third, what is becoming increasingly interesting is that much of the current controversy in the Jewish community is being suppressed by the MSM. MSM are not interested in disclosing what is happening behind closed doors. I am led to wonder why. Why is it that a newspaper in Israel has more comprehensive coverage about Obama’s religious difficulties than the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and Washington Post? Will this “silence” feed more paranoia? I believe it will.
Obama recently met with “Jewish” newspapers and reporters to protest the vicious attacks on him in the Jewish community. Why were the MSM not invited? Did he think we do not read Haaretz in the United States? He followed the same exclusionary approach he pursued after I criticized him for remaining silent about the chaos in Kenya. Then, he called the Voice of America, not the MSM, to issue a statement. He is never willing to make a clean public breast of his positions. Fear? Insecurity? You be the judge.
Fourth, perhaps to overcompensate with Jews, Obama has added a prominent member of AIPAC to his organization. AIPAC is a group that is an anathema to Muslims and pro-peace advocates around the world. Early on last year, I received criticism from some of my Muslim readers, who mistakenly thought Obama was one of them. They apparently thought a “Shhhh” could avoid the hydraulic pressure of a presidential campaign. Now that AIPAC is on Obama’s team, I wonder what these readers will say. Am I still writing too much and disclosing too much about Obama? I don’t think so.
So where does that leave us as Obama enters a major debate tonight? [1] Obama’s problems with his family’s religious history have grown in proportion to his efforts to conceal that history, and to deceive the media about who his relatives were and are. [2] The potential for reaction from the Jewish community, which I predicted, has arisen with gale force. The situation has become so strained that some Jewish leaders issued a statement condemning the bigotry against Obama. [3] Earlier this year I wrote that Obama lacked the character to be forthright, and to take command, what we in the military called “command presence.” I still believe that to be the case.
Earlier this month I made a issue of his “spontaneous” remarks after primary victories, all of which were scripted well in advance by speechwriters. A man who cannot speak with spontaneity about the thrill of winning is a man who senses his own inner weakness.
Obama has regularly promised his supporters that he will “get tough” with the Clintons, but they have only gotten tougher with him. Apparently, they agree with me, and have taken their own measure of the man.
Obama is a delightful entertainer. He reads a prepared speech beautifully. And we now know he has speechwriters who write beautifully for him.
But, honestly, to read anything where Obama is speaking informally, without notes, is an exasperating experience, with hesitations, pauses and clauses. In a conversation, he seems incapable of delivering a simple declaratory sentence. And so, Obama can perform a speech marvelously; but he obviously cannot speak directly from his heart, simply, spontaneously and continuously. What does this say about the man? I’m not quite sure. But I am still researching, and still writing, and I will go where the facts take me.
My honest opinion: I do not think Obama is someone I would trust in the Oval Office. I have lived with African-Americans and played with African-Americans and marched with African-Americans. Many of them do have the magic of “command presence” that marks a true leader. Obama does not.
Best wishes,
ANDY MARTIN
P. S. Your thoughts, reactions and comments are always welcome. In the middle of my own U. S. Senate campaign, I can’t always answer as promptly as I normally do, but we read everything and will respond where appropriate.
TOMORROW: ANDY MARTIN ON WAR AND PEACE
------------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2008. Martin holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. See also AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com; AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Andy Martin on 9/11
ANDY MARTIN
“He works for the people of Illinois”
Republican for U. S. Senator
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-2639
Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639
Web site: www.AndyforUSSenator.com
AndyMartinCampaignDiary.blogspot.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
CAMPAIGN DIARY #2
Dear Reader,
People often ask me, “Why do you feel qualified to serve as a U. S. Senator?” It’s a fair question.
My answer is experience, competence and credibility.
I am not a professional politician, or even a conventional politician. Rather, I base my credentials on having been an eyewitness to history, and having served in small roles along the way.
Viet-Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos; I was there in 1967, 1968, 1971. Hong Kong, 1971. Iran, 1979, 2000. Iraq, 2003. Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel. French, Greek, Chinese. And a very few words of Arabic. My opinions are based on experience, observation, participation.
No other candidate in either party has that reservoir of worldwide experience to draw on. They read what is written for them; they parrot what they are told, and their handlers tell them to speak the words the people want to hear, not to speak the words the public should hear. Politicians have not lived that of which they speak. Ignorance often breeds confidence and contempt as substitutes for experience.
And both sides distort the issues, the risks, the stakes. There is blame aplenty to cover Washington, to spread on both political parties.
September 11, 2001 found me, once again, an eyewitness to history. I was working in New York and planned to stop by the World Trade Center in the afternoon. The Port Authority had created a tiny office for me to work out of in 1974, Suite 2248 Two World Trade Center, and I operated from there for a while, though I had moved long before 2001. Still, the WTC felt like home, and every so often I would visit the area and my small office. That was my plan for the afternoon.
On the morning of 9/11 the phone rang and it was London calling. “Put on the TV.” I did, and found the attacks had begun. I watched the tragedy unfold from the safe distance of midtown. And I watched as the buildings fell.
9/11 has dramatically changed all of our lives. The smugness of the Yale scholar Francis Fukuyama that “history has ended” was replaced in an instant by the fear that a “long war” has begun. As for me, if you had told me on September 10th that in 18 months I would be in Iraq I would have laughed. But April, 2003 found me in Baghdad. Back in the Middle East.
As 9/11 unfolded New York slowly came to a halt. The tunnels were closed. Manhattan was cordoned off. Initially, people were blasé, perhaps because they did not yet realize the magnitude of the attacks. Then reality set in. Reports came in from Washington and rural Pennsylvania, where brave Americans may have saved the Capitol or White House from attack. New York City began to shut down.
Broadway went dark. The streets were abandoned, surreal. The subways and buses stopped running. There was very little food. The restaurant where I eat had not yet received any deliveries that morning. Swiss cheese, cold cuts and day old bread were available. Midtown New York is never more than a day or two from starvation. If the trucks stop, the food stops. And the trucks stopped.
Some people have recently criticized Rudy Giuliani for “running for president on what he did in New York.” But he did do it. First, he calmed the city, on 9/11. Then he kicked the city in the backside, on 9/12, and said “Get back to work.” And on 9/13 the city responded. New York was open for business again. If Giuliani’s predecessor had been in office the chaos could have spread, nationally, and persisted. But under Giuliani the public’s fears were contained.
As dusk fell on 9/11 I bicycled past the cordon at 14th street and managed to talk my way further south until I reached near the end of the darkness and fire.
Every 9/11 since then I have experienced the day on different levels. On one level, I can’t believe the Towers are not there. On my radio show I propagandized for rebuilding the Twin Towers. I still think it was a mistake to delay reconstruction and to substitute a meaningless “Freedom Tower” for the Twin Towers that were the great world landmark of New York. The old plans were still there. Build already!
I strongly disagree with former Mayor Giuliani on how the WTC side should have been handled. “Rebuild the Twin Towers!” is still my rallying cry.
And because of my own continuing disbelief at the disappearance of the WTC, I sympathize with those relatives of the dead who fight on, yesterday and today. But I also know life has to move on. Morbid reverence for the past and deceased relatives is just as unhealthy as indifference. The time has come. God gives us a new day every day for a reason and for a purpose.
In the period after 9/11 some good decisions were made. And some tragic mistakes were made. We came together as a people to deal with the enormity of 9/11, and since then we have gradually drifted apart.
At some point, arrogance may have taken hold. We were a “superpower.” We were free to act and react as we saw fit. I disagreed. In the long run, America should be a servant of the world, not its master. We must use our wealth and military power with wisdom, not reckless abandon. Experience cautioned that restraint, focus, practicality and reality were essential.
Today Osama Bin Laden or an actor playing Osama’s role (my opinion) mocks us for delinquent mortgages and unhealthy lifestyles. OBL pushes Islam as a tax shelter. Oprah has competition. It’s Osama vs. Oprah in the afternoon.
As we deal with the aftermath of 9/11, and the decisions made in that aftermath there is a cacophony of viewpoints, of sermonizations, of dramatizations. But decisions must be made. And no politician or political party has a monopoly on wisdom, insight or good policy. We must work together.
Republicans by and large remain loyal to President Bush. Democrats despise him. Middle-of-the-roaders are, well, in the middle-of-the road. That’s life.
I was an opponent of invading Iraq because I was a strong supporter of pursuing the war on terror. I knew Iraq would drain resources from fighting terrorism, and it has. Osama dead or alive? He’s alive. In body or at least in spirit.
John Edwards, a Democratic presidential candidate, has said the war on terror is a “bumper sticker.” It is not. Responding to terrorism is the first duty of the federal government. The threat is real. A proper response is essential. But we must do so intelligently, and with procedures and tactics that remain faithful to the values of our civilization and Constitution.
Where to go, and how to go, and what to do at home and abroad are complex questions with often elusive answers. These issues are both apolitical and intensely political.
Ultimately, we have to recognize and admit that the United States has asserted its influence in too many areas of the world, in too many conflicts, and that these expeditions have drained our limited resources. I don’t believe the conspiracy theories that continue to grow about 9/11, but then I don’t believe the people who have sought to exploit the tragedy either.
And so, in writing about the challenges we faced after 9/11, and we face today, I have dawn on a deep reservoir of experience in the real world, forty years of being an eyewitness to history. History is not always a petty place to be. Bullets fly, and bad things happen. Disproportionately, young men die.
Yet in life, and especially in the political arena, there is no substitute for experience. Experience can produce skepticism, restraint, often delay, and sometimes forbearance. That’s good.
And because of my experience, and my cautious approach to dealing with the world’s problems, I feel uniquely qualified to serve as a U. S. Senator. You may not always agree with me, but you will always know that I have studied the problems, analyzed them with real life experience as a background, and tried to do what is right and best for the United States and the American people.
Sincerely yours,
ANDY MARTIN
AM:sp
“He works for the people of Illinois”
Republican for U. S. Senator
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-2639
Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639
Web site: www.AndyforUSSenator.com
AndyMartinCampaignDiary.blogspot.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
CAMPAIGN DIARY #2
Dear Reader,
People often ask me, “Why do you feel qualified to serve as a U. S. Senator?” It’s a fair question.
My answer is experience, competence and credibility.
I am not a professional politician, or even a conventional politician. Rather, I base my credentials on having been an eyewitness to history, and having served in small roles along the way.
Viet-Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos; I was there in 1967, 1968, 1971. Hong Kong, 1971. Iran, 1979, 2000. Iraq, 2003. Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel. French, Greek, Chinese. And a very few words of Arabic. My opinions are based on experience, observation, participation.
No other candidate in either party has that reservoir of worldwide experience to draw on. They read what is written for them; they parrot what they are told, and their handlers tell them to speak the words the people want to hear, not to speak the words the public should hear. Politicians have not lived that of which they speak. Ignorance often breeds confidence and contempt as substitutes for experience.
And both sides distort the issues, the risks, the stakes. There is blame aplenty to cover Washington, to spread on both political parties.
September 11, 2001 found me, once again, an eyewitness to history. I was working in New York and planned to stop by the World Trade Center in the afternoon. The Port Authority had created a tiny office for me to work out of in 1974, Suite 2248 Two World Trade Center, and I operated from there for a while, though I had moved long before 2001. Still, the WTC felt like home, and every so often I would visit the area and my small office. That was my plan for the afternoon.
On the morning of 9/11 the phone rang and it was London calling. “Put on the TV.” I did, and found the attacks had begun. I watched the tragedy unfold from the safe distance of midtown. And I watched as the buildings fell.
9/11 has dramatically changed all of our lives. The smugness of the Yale scholar Francis Fukuyama that “history has ended” was replaced in an instant by the fear that a “long war” has begun. As for me, if you had told me on September 10th that in 18 months I would be in Iraq I would have laughed. But April, 2003 found me in Baghdad. Back in the Middle East.
As 9/11 unfolded New York slowly came to a halt. The tunnels were closed. Manhattan was cordoned off. Initially, people were blasé, perhaps because they did not yet realize the magnitude of the attacks. Then reality set in. Reports came in from Washington and rural Pennsylvania, where brave Americans may have saved the Capitol or White House from attack. New York City began to shut down.
Broadway went dark. The streets were abandoned, surreal. The subways and buses stopped running. There was very little food. The restaurant where I eat had not yet received any deliveries that morning. Swiss cheese, cold cuts and day old bread were available. Midtown New York is never more than a day or two from starvation. If the trucks stop, the food stops. And the trucks stopped.
Some people have recently criticized Rudy Giuliani for “running for president on what he did in New York.” But he did do it. First, he calmed the city, on 9/11. Then he kicked the city in the backside, on 9/12, and said “Get back to work.” And on 9/13 the city responded. New York was open for business again. If Giuliani’s predecessor had been in office the chaos could have spread, nationally, and persisted. But under Giuliani the public’s fears were contained.
As dusk fell on 9/11 I bicycled past the cordon at 14th street and managed to talk my way further south until I reached near the end of the darkness and fire.
Every 9/11 since then I have experienced the day on different levels. On one level, I can’t believe the Towers are not there. On my radio show I propagandized for rebuilding the Twin Towers. I still think it was a mistake to delay reconstruction and to substitute a meaningless “Freedom Tower” for the Twin Towers that were the great world landmark of New York. The old plans were still there. Build already!
I strongly disagree with former Mayor Giuliani on how the WTC side should have been handled. “Rebuild the Twin Towers!” is still my rallying cry.
And because of my own continuing disbelief at the disappearance of the WTC, I sympathize with those relatives of the dead who fight on, yesterday and today. But I also know life has to move on. Morbid reverence for the past and deceased relatives is just as unhealthy as indifference. The time has come. God gives us a new day every day for a reason and for a purpose.
In the period after 9/11 some good decisions were made. And some tragic mistakes were made. We came together as a people to deal with the enormity of 9/11, and since then we have gradually drifted apart.
At some point, arrogance may have taken hold. We were a “superpower.” We were free to act and react as we saw fit. I disagreed. In the long run, America should be a servant of the world, not its master. We must use our wealth and military power with wisdom, not reckless abandon. Experience cautioned that restraint, focus, practicality and reality were essential.
Today Osama Bin Laden or an actor playing Osama’s role (my opinion) mocks us for delinquent mortgages and unhealthy lifestyles. OBL pushes Islam as a tax shelter. Oprah has competition. It’s Osama vs. Oprah in the afternoon.
As we deal with the aftermath of 9/11, and the decisions made in that aftermath there is a cacophony of viewpoints, of sermonizations, of dramatizations. But decisions must be made. And no politician or political party has a monopoly on wisdom, insight or good policy. We must work together.
Republicans by and large remain loyal to President Bush. Democrats despise him. Middle-of-the-roaders are, well, in the middle-of-the road. That’s life.
I was an opponent of invading Iraq because I was a strong supporter of pursuing the war on terror. I knew Iraq would drain resources from fighting terrorism, and it has. Osama dead or alive? He’s alive. In body or at least in spirit.
John Edwards, a Democratic presidential candidate, has said the war on terror is a “bumper sticker.” It is not. Responding to terrorism is the first duty of the federal government. The threat is real. A proper response is essential. But we must do so intelligently, and with procedures and tactics that remain faithful to the values of our civilization and Constitution.
Where to go, and how to go, and what to do at home and abroad are complex questions with often elusive answers. These issues are both apolitical and intensely political.
Ultimately, we have to recognize and admit that the United States has asserted its influence in too many areas of the world, in too many conflicts, and that these expeditions have drained our limited resources. I don’t believe the conspiracy theories that continue to grow about 9/11, but then I don’t believe the people who have sought to exploit the tragedy either.
And so, in writing about the challenges we faced after 9/11, and we face today, I have dawn on a deep reservoir of experience in the real world, forty years of being an eyewitness to history. History is not always a petty place to be. Bullets fly, and bad things happen. Disproportionately, young men die.
Yet in life, and especially in the political arena, there is no substitute for experience. Experience can produce skepticism, restraint, often delay, and sometimes forbearance. That’s good.
And because of my experience, and my cautious approach to dealing with the world’s problems, I feel uniquely qualified to serve as a U. S. Senator. You may not always agree with me, but you will always know that I have studied the problems, analyzed them with real life experience as a background, and tried to do what is right and best for the United States and the American people.
Sincerely yours,
ANDY MARTIN
AM:sp
Friday, July 13, 2007
ANDY MARTIN
The Right Republican for
U. S. Senator from Illinois/2008
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-2639
Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639
Web site: www.AndyforUSSenator.com
AndyMartinCampaignDiary.blogspot.com
E-mail: mailto:AndyforIllinois@aol.com
Friday, July 13, 2007
CAMPAIGN DIARY #1
Dear Reader,
I got a call from the national media this week, asking for a copy of our campaign finance report. I told him we were not filing yet, because we had not yet spent the minimum amount. And, I explained that in this campaign we would be trying to impress voters with how little we were spending, not how much.
It occurred to me that you might appreciate some insight into our strategy. Rush Limbaugh calls these explanatory statements “caller clinics,” wherein he explains how to do and what to do and why.
And so, on Friday the 13th we begin an occasional series of letters collectively called the “Campaign Diary.” Here you will see our campaign secrets revealed--because we don’t have any real secrets. My campaign is virtually transparent.
What is the reasoning behind the novel strategy my supporters are developing? I truly believe we are going to be fielding the first “Internet campaign team” at the U. S. Senate level.
First, we will not be “dialing for dollars.” Dick Durbin has made a career of browbeating special interests for money, and it shows. If anyone sends in money, we will accept it. And we may issue a few gentle e-mails reminding people to contribute to me if they support my views. Beyond that, don’t expect me to be dialing for dollars or badgering contributors. I’ll let Durbin do that.
It just seems to me that today the media have corrupted the political process. The obsessive focus on campaign cash debases our democracy. Unless someone is willing to break away and try a different strategy, no one will ever attempt the feat. We’re trying.
Because Jesus did not campaign in Illinois a WWJD standard would be superfluous. But we will hark back to Abraham Lincoln. “What Would Lincoln Do?” (WWLD) will be our campaign standard. Lincoln was here and he did campaign in Illinois. His sprit still ennobles us and still inspires me. WWLD is a fitting memorial to his enduring legacy.
Second, because I am not financed--directly or indirectly--by any special interest, you can be assured my views are my own. I am not selling my views for campaign contributions. That is also the type of senator I would be: voting on conscience and not on the basis of campaign contributions. You may agree or disagree with my views but they are my own; they have not been bought and paid for by anyone else.
Third, although every campaign uses the Internet today, we are going to try and leverage the medium to throw back at Durbin the very obscene campaign wealth he has accumulated. David and Goliath, after all, is a morality tale in the Bible. One of my opponents is apparently trying to use my views to derive campaign cash from “hate” lobbies. We will use his hate money against him. Counter-leverage.
Fourth, we are successfully trying to drive costs out of the campaign. Every expense is rigorously analyzed. We have set aside enough money for media in the later stages before February 5th. Our focus on every dollar gives the campaign a tremendous cost advantage over rival campaigns that have to spend substantial upfront cash to get up to speed.
Fifth, we have always been leaders in media access. We talk to reporters whether they like me or dislike me. With rare and limited exceptions we are available to provide comments, information, whatever. Because I am not dialing for dollars I have more time to speak with media and reporters. People are always surprised to find that they can actually talk with the candidate or get a response from me. That is a tradition I would carry over to the U. S. Senate.
Sixth, what I will be stressing is experience. Forty years in radio and television. Yup, I began in 1968. Almost forty years experience in the Middle East. Some people may not like what have to say but I have a better batting average than Thomas Friedman of the N. Y. Times in analyzing the flow of events. I am the only Republican candidate, announced or unannounced, who can stand next to and credibly debate Durbin on the issues. I am no Alan Keyes. I am not going to start saying crazy things.
Because of my background in the media and my lifetime of immersion in the issues I am the only Republican who is prepared to begin attacking Durbin relentlessly on February 6th.
Finally, while I will not hesitate to punch back, and fast, I have no plans to run a negative campaign in the primary. I will be very negative against Durbin. Those who attack me can expect return fire. Generally, however, I will focus on the issues and the issue: Iraq and the Middle East.
As always, please feel free to write, e-mail, call or otherwise respond. In the meantime, the campaign has begun. We are talking to our printer about petitions, and recruiting circulators to hit the ground running on August 7th.
Politically yours,
ANDY MARTIN
AM:sp
The Right Republican for
U. S. Senator from Illinois/2008
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-2639
Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639
Web site: www.AndyforUSSenator.com
AndyMartinCampaignDiary.blogspot.com
E-mail: mailto:AndyforIllinois@aol.com
Friday, July 13, 2007
CAMPAIGN DIARY #1
Dear Reader,
I got a call from the national media this week, asking for a copy of our campaign finance report. I told him we were not filing yet, because we had not yet spent the minimum amount. And, I explained that in this campaign we would be trying to impress voters with how little we were spending, not how much.
It occurred to me that you might appreciate some insight into our strategy. Rush Limbaugh calls these explanatory statements “caller clinics,” wherein he explains how to do and what to do and why.
And so, on Friday the 13th we begin an occasional series of letters collectively called the “Campaign Diary.” Here you will see our campaign secrets revealed--because we don’t have any real secrets. My campaign is virtually transparent.
What is the reasoning behind the novel strategy my supporters are developing? I truly believe we are going to be fielding the first “Internet campaign team” at the U. S. Senate level.
First, we will not be “dialing for dollars.” Dick Durbin has made a career of browbeating special interests for money, and it shows. If anyone sends in money, we will accept it. And we may issue a few gentle e-mails reminding people to contribute to me if they support my views. Beyond that, don’t expect me to be dialing for dollars or badgering contributors. I’ll let Durbin do that.
It just seems to me that today the media have corrupted the political process. The obsessive focus on campaign cash debases our democracy. Unless someone is willing to break away and try a different strategy, no one will ever attempt the feat. We’re trying.
Because Jesus did not campaign in Illinois a WWJD standard would be superfluous. But we will hark back to Abraham Lincoln. “What Would Lincoln Do?” (WWLD) will be our campaign standard. Lincoln was here and he did campaign in Illinois. His sprit still ennobles us and still inspires me. WWLD is a fitting memorial to his enduring legacy.
Second, because I am not financed--directly or indirectly--by any special interest, you can be assured my views are my own. I am not selling my views for campaign contributions. That is also the type of senator I would be: voting on conscience and not on the basis of campaign contributions. You may agree or disagree with my views but they are my own; they have not been bought and paid for by anyone else.
Third, although every campaign uses the Internet today, we are going to try and leverage the medium to throw back at Durbin the very obscene campaign wealth he has accumulated. David and Goliath, after all, is a morality tale in the Bible. One of my opponents is apparently trying to use my views to derive campaign cash from “hate” lobbies. We will use his hate money against him. Counter-leverage.
Fourth, we are successfully trying to drive costs out of the campaign. Every expense is rigorously analyzed. We have set aside enough money for media in the later stages before February 5th. Our focus on every dollar gives the campaign a tremendous cost advantage over rival campaigns that have to spend substantial upfront cash to get up to speed.
Fifth, we have always been leaders in media access. We talk to reporters whether they like me or dislike me. With rare and limited exceptions we are available to provide comments, information, whatever. Because I am not dialing for dollars I have more time to speak with media and reporters. People are always surprised to find that they can actually talk with the candidate or get a response from me. That is a tradition I would carry over to the U. S. Senate.
Sixth, what I will be stressing is experience. Forty years in radio and television. Yup, I began in 1968. Almost forty years experience in the Middle East. Some people may not like what have to say but I have a better batting average than Thomas Friedman of the N. Y. Times in analyzing the flow of events. I am the only Republican candidate, announced or unannounced, who can stand next to and credibly debate Durbin on the issues. I am no Alan Keyes. I am not going to start saying crazy things.
Because of my background in the media and my lifetime of immersion in the issues I am the only Republican who is prepared to begin attacking Durbin relentlessly on February 6th.
Finally, while I will not hesitate to punch back, and fast, I have no plans to run a negative campaign in the primary. I will be very negative against Durbin. Those who attack me can expect return fire. Generally, however, I will focus on the issues and the issue: Iraq and the Middle East.
As always, please feel free to write, e-mail, call or otherwise respond. In the meantime, the campaign has begun. We are talking to our printer about petitions, and recruiting circulators to hit the ground running on August 7th.
Politically yours,
ANDY MARTIN
AM:sp
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