The following questionnaire has been submitted to each candidate running in the Republican primary seeking the nomination for Republican candidate for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. This seat is now held by Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper. Whoever wins the primary on August 5 will most likely face Cooper in November.
Tell me about yourself. Where are you from, what to you do for a living, what is your educational background, your political experience?
I'm a fighter who's ready to join the brave band of fiscal conservatives battling Jim Cooper, Barney Frank and rest of the Nancy Pelosi crowd in Congress.
I am fighting to restore freedom and opportunity to the people of America. I am ready to take on Jim Cooper and his big-government, big-deficit gang when I get to Congress by virtue of my executive experience in the healthcare industry and, also, by my pick and shovel political track record.
On the recent political front, I was named a Delegate from Tennessee to the Republican National Convention in 2008 and was also one of two Tennessee members of the Platform Committee where my language on home-schooling and health promotion was added to the Republican Platform.
I'm currently serving on the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Republican Party which is building an extraordinary grassroots structure to fight the battle on the local level.
On the job front, I've been a healthcare executive for many years. I understand the problems in that area and am prepared to offer free market solutions that will help, rather than corrupt the process. This nation needs healthcare reform, but ObamaCare is a hideous creation of bureaucrats who have no experience or understanding about healthcare delivering. I pledge to tie up ObamaCare in committee and to defund it through the appropriations process until the Courts rule that it is, in fact, inconsistent with the Constitution.
On the most basic personal level, it's important that readers know that I am a committed Christian. Jesus Christ is my rock and my salvation. My current political effort is in His hands.
Why are you running for this office?
I'm running for Congress to be part of the team that stops the madness! (i) Spending is out of control. (ii) Debt to foreign countries threatens the national security. (iii) New federal healthcare legislation includes provisions forcing American citizens to purchase government OK'ed plans. (iv) The military is stretched to the breaking point in foreign entanglements. (v) Small businesses suffer under high tax rates and crushing regulations while the federal government subsidizes the auto industry and Wall Street. (vi) We do not optimize use of our own natural resources while we pour money into countries housing our deadliest enemies.
In the most general terms, we can simply and cleanly address many of the problems above by drastically cutting the budget of the Federal government.
What do you see as the primary issue is this race?
As radio commentator Ralph Bristol puts it so clearly and so succinctly:
Government borrowing is now so high that, for the first time in our history, the government is competing with the private sector for funds. These are the funds needed to create jobs! So, not only is government spending threatening the financial future of the younger generation, it is killing job growth right now in the private sector.
In addition, decreasing Federal spending will decrease the power of special interest groups. Recent Supreme Court rulings and freedoms guaranteed under the Bill of Rights make it unlikely that federal controls or legislation can decrease the power of lobbyists. Just as sure as the day follows the night, however, lobbyists will diminish if the Federal government has less money and less power.
If you are successful in wining the Republican nomination and you are successful in defeating Jim Cooper, when serving in the US Congress what issue will be your primary focus? What will be your priorities?
(1) Slash spending. I support Marsha Blackburn's call for an immediate five percent reduction in all non-military spending and will support a Constitutional amendment requiring a Federal balanced budget.
(2) Create an Environment for Private Sector Job Growth. I will work to create jobs in the private sector by decreasing small business taxes and eliminating confusing and unnecessary regulations.
(3) Reform Congress. A number of immediate actions can be taken in response to Congress' over-blown and over-reaching actions, including: (i) Single Subject bills should be required rather than omnibus bills that "sneak" non-related actions into major legislation. (ii) An immediate five percent reduction should be put in place in all non-military budgets. (iii) No monies should be authorized for new federal programs until the budget moves to balance. (iv) Legislation requiring that the Federal budget be in balance by 2020 should be passed. (v) Finally, I will make a personal commitment to remain in Congress for no more than three terms.
When I make my decision who I will vote for for this office, not only do I want to vote for someone who has solid conservative values and who I think would make a good Congressman, but I want to vote for someone who I think can beat Jim Cooper. Best person and electability may not necessarily be the same thing. I have heard that it will take anywhere from $500,000 to $2 million dollars to mount a successful campaign. Do you have the support, the time and resources to conduct a wining campaign?
I'm electable because I offer a proven track record of creating budgets and organizations that accomplish their mission in the private sector. I'm now turning those skills toward building a political organization through which my rock-solid conservative beliefs can be heard and felt first by Jim Cooper and then by entire Nancy Pelosi gang in Congress.
People know they can trust me. I've walked the walk not just talked the talk! Conservative principals and the free market are not simply abstract philisophical or political constructs for me. They exist, as stated in the Constitution, to guard the people's rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. More opportunity. More jobs. Better schools. Freedom to live as we see fit.
The structure I am building in the 5th District will more than match Jim Cooper's top heavy machine. I promise! I've put together budgets and strategic plans over the course of my business career. For this political battle, I am creating a grassroots structure in every precinct in the 5th District that will form the girders and beams of my campaign. In addition, I am naming heads to 15 'affinity' groups to communicate, educate and motivate special interest voters.
In terms of fund-raising, the structure I am building is creating the credibility to produce donations. People are already giving generously because they see that a winning team is being built. I am budgeting $125,000 for the primary efforts and in the neighborhood of $1,000,000 for the entire campaign.
If one wants to know more about your campaign or contact you how to they do that?
I welcome direct contact from voters at 615-419-9615. My two campaign web-sites will be complete in early May:
www.ElectBobSchwartz.com
www.BeatJimCooper.com
If we act bravely and as a well-administered fighting force, we will win Tennessee's Fifth Congressional Distrct! Middle Tennessee will join the efforts of valiant citizens all around the country who are working to save America from irresponsible leaders whose actions and attitudes reflect neither the principals on which this country was founded nor the beliefs of the vast majority of her citizens. This is a fight worth fighting. This is a fight that must be won!
ONWARD!
Bob Schwartz
Candidate for the Republican Nomination
Fifth Congressional District
Tennessee
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