Former Boozman opponent responds to Senate candidacy
Sunday, February 7, 2010, at 3:44 pm by Ryan Saylor
4 Comments
Retired Brig. Gen. Bernard Skoch, who was running against Rep. John Boozman for the Republican nomination in Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District, has released a blistering statement attacking not just Boozman, but many others in public office, for, “seeking better opportunities for themselves.”
There has been no response from the Boozman campaign nor from other perceived career politicians, such as State Sen. Gilbert Baker, who is running against Boozman for the Republican nomination for US Senate.
The full text of Gen. Skoch’s statement:
We are not surprised as we watch politics as usual unfold in the critically important May 18th 2010 Arkansas Republican primary race for both the U.S House and Senate.
The past few days have brought interesting changes. We have seen a four-term incumbent leave our race to follow along a political career path and seek higher political office. And we have watched as other career politicians predictably jumped into this race, seeing a great career opportunity for themselves.
Voters in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley—as throughout America—are disgusted at being forced year in and year out to hold their noses at election time and choose the lesser of two evils at the ballot box. Citizens no longer want representation by career politicians. They have told us throughout this campaign that they want and deserve to be represented by people who are morally focused on following the Constitution of the United States, who aren’t seeking ‘tenure’ in office, and who won’t put the selfish interests of their political careers or political parties ahead of the good of our country.
While I am proud to carry the flag of the GOP into this primary and on to the general election, I am seriously concerned about the future of our party. I am concerned we are becoming too much like our opposition, more focused on politics than on doing the will of the people. We lack leadership and courage in confronting the many serious threats to our nation’s security, including illegal immigration and balancing the budget. Both of those are solvable if we elect people who aren’t politicians and who will simply show leadership by doing the right thing.
It’s that leadership I am qualified to provide and intend to provide in office.
BG (Retired) Skoch’s “blistering” statement is much ado about nothing. He is simply trying to differentiate himself from the leading candidates in the Arkansas Third District. He can’t do that by flaunting his military experience– Mayor Womack matches that with about the same number of years of service (he is a retired Army Colonel). Skoch can’t differentiate from the others in business experience, as he is recently retired from the Air Force and has none: Mayor Womack has more business experience in the private sector. Lowrey and Bledsoe are on par with Skoch– not much business experience there to publicize. By characterizing Bledsoe and Womack as career politicians, Skoch hopes to deiminish them as “establishment candidates” in a year where citizens appear to be moving towards fresh faces. I doubt Skoch’s ploy will work. The busineses and people in the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas are smart enough to embrace a well qualified representative with a good blend of business and political experience, one that has his roots in the region and who has actively participated in its growth over the past 20 years.
Excuse me? 30 years in the National Guard equates full-time active duty military? I think not. If it did, then Womack would be green into the civilian (and political) world as of last October. Check your facts, hawgtyed. You are buying into flashy campaign cards and not looking for truth. Skoch is a small business owner and also works as a consultant. Bledsoe is definitely establishment. Look at her big Hutchinson endorsement. I say the businesses and people in the 3rd district are smart enough to not want more of the same. The Bledsoe and Womack type candidates are exactly what got us what we have today in our country – politicans who have sold out to special interest money and no longer represent the people. Womack’s reputation around Rogers, with the real folks, is poor. Pinnacle money might like him, but they each only get one vote. After 2010, if we foul up yet again and re-elect professional politicans to run our government, that may be the last time the elites only have one vote.
Sorry, but Skoch’s military experience far surpasses Womack’s. Womack was in the National Guard for 29 years which–while honorable–equates to roughly 14 months of full-time active duty (by hours; do the math).
First I wish to say that I have NO PERSONAL axe to grind here with any one candidate, however, it is becoming appearant that the Sour Grapes are starting to show here.
The questions I have are far more reaching than that of Personal Politics. ie; Why has Gilbert Baker never met a Tax he doesn’t like? Why has Mayor Womack REFUSED to Sign ANY Pledge protecting Arkansas Tax Payers from additional taxation? Why does he treat Americans For Prosperity people badly? Bernie Skotch has disappointed me greatly with this Sour Grapes rant. Was leaning toward him but will now search further as he has shown he can’t handle DC!
With the State of Arkansas having had almost NO Representation in DC for numerous years I plan to be more carefull in this Primary of May 18th. I choose to use, as a REAL COnservative, the ratings of the ACU http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/2009/2009%20Combined%20Ratings.html#AR and of the NTU http://www.ntu.org/on-capitol-hill/ntu-rates-congress/p10-02-18-ntu-rating-final-pages.pdf to see who is doing my bidding and those who are not.
With Both Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor being enemies of the Arkansas Tax Payer, as well as, Barry, Snyder and Ross we have had 5 out 6 seats in DC working against the people of Arkansas. Arkansas has had 1 and only 1 shining star in DC according to congressional ratings and that has clearly beem Cong. John Boozman. ACU Rating of 96% and an NTU rating of 86%. Then I take the experience factor into consideration,as well as, character issue’s. When the entire congress is a bunch of SPEND and TAX Progressives it’s refreshing to see that 1 of our representatives has the character and strength to say NO!
The U.S. Senate race is extremely clear now and, in my case, Dist #3 is now on the front burner. Bernie I’m dissappointed in you. Womack refuses to take a stand on TAX and Spend issue’s. To me it’s now between Cecile Bledsoe and Doug Matayo for Dist #3.
Stay Tuned Arkansan’s;