The Alabama Republican Party

Audio of the address is available here. Video of the address is available here. TRANSCRIPT: “Hello, I’m Dr. Parker Griffith, and I have the great privilege to represent Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District. “In the next 10 days, Democrats in Washington will try and jam through a massive government takeover of health care.  It would raise taxes, slash Medicare benefits and destroy American jobs.  It would put federal bureaucrats in charge of medical decisions that should be made by patients and doctors.  And it must be stopped. “The American people have said loudly and clearly that they do not want this job-killing government takeover of care.  They want us to start over with a clean sheet of paper and a step-by-step approach focused on lowering costs for families and small businesses. “But President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refuse to listen to the American people.  For them, health care reform has become less about the best reforms and more about what best fits their ‘Washington knows best’ mentality – less about helping patients and more about scoring political points. “This is no idle observation. I’ve witnessed it firsthand. “You see, two Januarys ago, I was sworn into office as an independent, conservative Democrat.  But like so many Americans, I became increasingly concerned that the policies being pushed by Democrats in Washington were dangerous for our country and out of step with our values. “Instead of working across the aisle and focusing on creating jobs, Democratic leaders pressed ahead with their partisan, big-government agenda of taxing, spending, and borrowing from our children and grandchildren.  The trillion-dollar ‘stimulus,’ the ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax, I voted against them. “Still, even as Democrats lost their way, I held out hope that things would be different with health care reform, but I was wrong.“Even as public opposition continued to rise, Democrats refused to let up, stuffing these bills with sweetheart deals for lawmakers and giveaways to Washington special interests.  “Given all that’s at stake, I realized that being a voice of dissent and a vote of conscience was not enough.  Shortly before Christmas, after much thought and prayer, I decided to align myself with House Republicans, who have stood on principle to fight this big-government agenda and offer better solutions to the challenges facing our country.“Republicans understand that the right way to fix health care is with a step-by-step approach focused on lowering costs.  Only Republicans have proposed the kind of health care reforms we can afford during this economic downturn, like allowing small businesses to group together to purchase health care plans at reasonable costs just as unions do.“The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the Republican bill would lower premiums for families and small businesses by up to 10 percent.  All of the details are available at HealthCare.GOP.gov. “You know, before coming to Congress, I spent 30 years practicing medicine in North Alabama.  The worst thing we could do is have the federal government decide what policies and what procedures would be done in hospitals or in physicians’ offices, what would be paid for, what would not be paid for.  This will only cause premiums to rise and the quality of care to go down.  “I’ve also run a small business, and I can tell you that health care costs have everything to do with the ability to maintain a payroll and hire new workers.  The mere threat of this health care bill being enacted is freezing employers in their tracks and destroying much needed jobs.  “To get a final bill through without public or bipartisan support, Democrats would have to use a toxic, controversial legislative scheme known as ‘reconciliation.’  Reconciliation would allow Democrats to make a few last-minute backroom deals and rely on only Democratic votes.  “Reconciliation is by no means a cure-all that would permit drastic changes to improve the bill.  For instance, reconciliation would not address the loophole in the Senate-passed health care bill that would lead to taxpayer funding of abortion for the first time in more than 30 years.  If Speaker Pelosi has her way, the loophole will become law as is, so the final battle will be here in the House of Representatives. “My fellow Americans, it’s not too late: we can, and we must, stop this government takeover of health care.  Make your voice heard now. America deserves better.“And thank you, thank you for listening.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               March 5, 2010                                                                                      CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “President Obama began this new year with a resolution to the American people to shift his focus from health care to job creation but this was a resolution in name only.  Despite a national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, the president has never truly wavered from his real focus of forcing government-run health care on America.  During the month of February, 36,000 Americans lost their jobs, meaning more than 2.2 million Americans have lost their jobs since the health care debate began last year. The threat of more government mandates and regulation, more government spending, and more taxes is discouraging businesses from hiring and that is directly affecting Americans looking for work, with 139,000 people becoming discouraged from seeking work in February alone.  The American public have made it clear what their priorities are but this past week has shown just how far the president will go to achieve his liberal agenda while blatantly ignoring their concerns and forgetting his promises.  The elections coming this fall will provide voters with two clear choices – a Republican Party that listens and responds to Americans and a Democrat Party that is only interested in pursuing their own government-run pipe dreams.”      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                          March 3, 2010                                                                                   CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614         WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:   “I agree with the president, we have debated health care reform thoroughly.  And I agree again that this reform is not about politics, but rather about the families, businesses, and economy of a nation – all of which simply cannot afford what the president and Congressional Democrats have been selling for the past year.  While the president’s bravado sounds great, almost inspiring, it falls flat when the president tells Americans to make their voices heard.  We have, Mr. President.  You haven’t been listening. “The president claims that his government-run health care experiment deserves an ‘up-or-down’ vote in Congress but the fact is that his plan has already received three ‘up-or-down’ votes: rejections from Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.  What President Obama really wants to do is ram through his government takeover of health care with reconciliation, a parliamentary procedure that Senator Obama once said was ‘the wrong place for policy changes.’  The fact is reconciliation wasn’t designed to be and has never been used as a partisan political tactic to force wildly unpopular policies on America.  This bill still costs over $2.5 trillion, puts government in control of personal health decisions, cuts Medicare, and empowers the government to set prices in the private market – ideas the majority of Americans adamantly oppose.  And instead of working with Republicans to start over and come up with a bill based on bipartisan points of agreement, President Obama has decided to use Republican ideas as political cover for his government-run health care experiment that will destroy the doctor-patient relationship and add to our national deficit.”   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                         March 2, 2010 CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614          RNC Announces 2012 Republican National Convention Dates WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee today announced its decision to hold the 2012 Republican National Convention the week of August 27th 2012.  “I’m excited to take this important next step by announcing the dates for our 2012 Republican National Convention.  With the possible host cities narrowed down to three, this is a proper time to announce the dates where we will formally determine our next Republican nominee,” RNC Chairman Michael Steele said. “The 12 members of the RNC’s site selection committee will visit Phoenix, Tampa and Salt Lake City in late March and early April to determine the city where our National Convention will be held the week of August 27th 2012.  We are excited to visit these cities and think that they offer excellent opportunities to showcase our candidates, Republican Presidential nominee and Party.” RNC Co-Chairman Jan Larimer of Wyoming said.

Saturday, February 27, 2010                               CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614  WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released the following weekly Republican address.  Audio of the address is available here. Video of the address is available here. TRANSCRIPT: ““Hello, I’m Dr. Tom Coburn, a practicing physician from Oklahoma and a member of the United States Senate.  “This week I had the opportunity to join President Obama and my Democrat and Republican colleagues for a summit on health care.  We had a respectful and constructive discussion. “While we listened to one another, I’m concerned that the majority in Congress is still not listening to the American people on the subject of health care reform.  By an overwhelming margin, the American people are telling us to scrap the current bills, which will lead to a government takeover of health care, and we should start over. “Unfortunately, even before the summit took place the majority in Congress signaled its intent to reject our offers to work together.  Instead they want to use procedural tricks and backroom deals to ram through a new bill that combines the worst aspects of the bills the Senate and House passed last year.  “The American people have rejected the majority’s plan for good reason.  Their plan includes half a trillion dollars in new tax increases, a half a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare, job-killing penalties for employers, taxpayer funded abortion and new boards that will ration care to American citizens.  At its core, their plan continues a government-centered approach that has made health care more expensive.  Federal and state governments already control 60 percent of health care.  If more government spending and control was the answer we could have fixed health care long ago.  “Republicans in Congress have a different vision for reform.  We have put forward several proposals that lay out a common sense step-by-step path to reform.  Our solutions are patient-centered, not government-centered.  We believe in expanding options, not government; increasing access, not taxes; and reducing costs, not quality.  Most importantly, we believe that no one has the right to step between you and your doctor. “I introduced a health care bill called the ‘Patients’ Choice Act’ last May along with Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina and Representatives Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Devin Nunes of California that includes several step-by-step ideas for reform.  The ‘Patients’ Choice Act’ and other Republican plans accomplish all of the President’s goals, including expanding coverage, without raising taxes, bankrupting the country or rationing care.  “Our ideas address the core problem in our health care system – skyrocketing costs – by using the only force that ever lowers cost – competition and consumer choice.  Health care is so expensive today because third-parties – government and insurance company bureaucrats – have stepped between you and your doctor.  “Our solutions restore the doctor-patient relationship and put you – not your insurance company, your boss or the government – in charge of your health care dollars and decisions.  The ‘Patients’ Choice Act,’ for instance, provides generous tax credits that let you buy, and keep, the plan of your choice.  We also limit lawsuit abuse which causes doctors to order costly tests that protect themselves rather than you, the patient. “Our proposals to rein in the massive amount of fraud, waste and duplication in our health care system drew widespread praise from Democrats at the summit, including the President.  One in three dollars in our more than $2 trillion health care system does not do anything to help people get well or prevent them from getting sick.  Democrats and Republicans agree that eliminating waste and inefficiency would lower costs and improve access tomorrow.  “The majority now has a choice.  We can continue to make progress like we did at the summit.  Or, they can try to ram through a partisan bill that will divide and bankrupt America.  “I wholeheartedly share President Obama’s desire for more civility and bipartisanship in Washington and I’m proud of the work that we did together when he was a member of the Senate.  True civility, however, is measured by actions, not words. “I was disappointed the President rejected my suggestion that he host another summit.  The President himself proposed that such meetings be televised more than a year ago.  Last year, dozens of Democrat-only summits were held in secret behind closed doors and produced many unsavory deals.  Had those meetings been open and bipartisan, I believe Congress could have passed a bipartisan health bill months ago.   “If the President and the leaders in Congress are serious about finding common ground they should continue this debate, not cut it off by rushing through a partisan bill the American people have already rejected.  If the majority agrees to work together they will find many Republicans ready to help them pursue our common goals of helping all Americans access quality and affordable health care for themselves and their families. “Thank you so much for listening.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                        February 25, 2010                                                                              CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614         WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: "Despite the best hopes of the American people, today’s health care summit proved to be exactly what they feared most – another PR event for President Obama and Washington Democrats at the expense of bipartisan progress and true health care reform.  For well over a year, Democrats have been ignoring the concerns of voters and their unwillingness to scrap their already rejected government-run bill is just further proof that they don’t plan on changing.  Even more disappointing, it now seems that the purpose of this so-called bipartisan summit wasn’t actually bipartisan compromise but rather political theater to provide cover for reconciliation, a parliamentary trick the American people stand firmly against.  House and Senate Republicans have consistently offered common-sense incremental reforms that will make health care more affordable, accessible and will protect the doctor-patient relationship without adding to the national deficit but these ideas have been consistently ignored.  But this debate isn’t about whether the president can fit a couple GOP ideas into his massive liberal plan, it’s about two fundamentally different approaches to governing and what is best for America.  Very simply, President Obama and Capitol Hill Democrats trust government bureaucrats in Washington to oversee Americans’ health care and Republicans trust the American people, empowered with market-based solutions, to improve health care.” 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              February 24, 2010                                                                                                   CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614                                                                                                                                                                                           WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee announced a new web video today on why President Obama needs to start listening to the American people and start over on health care.  The web video, entitled “Scrap It,” can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ8v0UlzR1E.   “Earlier this week President Obama rolled out a health care proposal which is nothing more than a rehashed version of the Democrat Senate bill, something already soundly rejected by the American people.  Instead of listening to the majority of Americans and starting over on health care, the president decided to go forward with a recycled government-run plan that will still cost over $2.5 trillion, puts government in control of personal health decisions, and empowers the government to set prices in the private market.  Just days before a supposed bipartisan summit, it is the height of political hypocrisy to lecture Republicans on one hand and on the other hand unveil a health care bill with plans to push it through Congress via reconciliation.  If President Obama is truly interested in a bipartisan approach, then he can start by shelving his hand-me-down health care proposal, and start working with Republicans to put together a health care bill with common-sense incremental reforms that Americans are demanding and our country desperately needs.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele      “SCRAP IT” SCRIPT Time: 01:18 Voice: “President Obama, you owe the American people answers.”Voice: “Because you’ve spent the year behind closed doors concocting a government takeover of healthcare.”Chyron: CONCOCTING A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE  Voice: “And the American people have spoken out and rejected it.”Voice: “They told you…”Chyron: THEY TOLD YOU Voice: “Time...” Chyron: TIME Voice: “And time again.” Chyron: AND TIME AGAIN Voice: “At town hall…” Chyron: AT TOWNHALL Voice: “After town hall.” Chyron: AFTER TOWNHALLVoice: “Election…” Chyron: NEW JERSEY Voice:  “After election…” Chyron: VIRGINIA Voice: “After election.” Chyron: MASSACHUSETTSVoice: “But Mr. President,” Chyron: BUT MR. PRESIDENTVoice: “You aren’t listening.” Chyron: YOU AREN’T LISTENING Voice: “You say you are holding a bipartisan health care summit.”Voice: “But at the same time you’re trying to force the health care bill through Congress using a partisan parliamentary trick…” Chyron: PARTISAN TRICKS Voice: “Called reconciliation.” Chyron: RECONCILIATIONVoice: “You’re sticking with the Senate Democrats’ health care bill that’s already been rejected.” Chyron: REJECTED  Voice: “You say you want bipartisan reform.”  Voice: “So prove it.” Chyron: SO PROVE IT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Voice:  “Will you say no to reconciliation?” Chyron: WILL YOU SAY NO TO RECONCILIATION?Voice: “Will you scrap the government takeover of health care crafted behind closed doors?”Chyron: WILL YOU SCRAP THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTHCARE CRAFTED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS? Voice: “Will you actually listen to the American people…”Chyron: WILL YOU ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE? Voice: “Listen TO THEM…”Chyron: LISTEN TO THEM Voice:  “Start over on health care.” Chyron: START OVER ON HEALTHCAREVoice: “Take action. Go to GOP.com.” Chyron: TAKE ACTION AT: GOP.COM Onscreen Disclaimer: PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE NOT PAID FOR BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE WWW.GOP.COM

Saturday, February 20, 2010                               CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614   WASHINGTON – Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) released the following weekly Republican address.  The address is available in both audio and video format and is embargoed until 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, February 20, 2010. Audio of the address is available here. Video of the address is available here. TRANSCRIPT: “Hello, I’m Congressman Dave Camp from Michigan, and I serve as the lead Republican on the House Ways & Means Committee.“This is a time of economic uncertainty.  Tens of millions of Americans are either looking for work or have just given up entirely.  They’re looking to Washington for solutions.  But instead it seems Washington keeps adding to their problems.   “That’s why Americans are demanding that President Obama and the Democrats in control of Congress scrap their misguided plan of a government takeover of health care.  They don’t want a 2,000-page bill that threatens jobs and drives up health premiums; they already have enough challenges to deal with in their daily lives.  They want Washington to start over with a step-by-step approach to health care reform that begins with reducing costs and ensures they can keep their current plan if they like it.  “For those families and small businesses looking for a sign that Washington is ready to wake up and find common sense on this issue, next week’s White House health care summit may not be it.“In fact, right now, Democrats are continuing to work behind closed doors, putting the finishing touches on yet another massive health care bill Americans can’t afford and don’t want. “If it is like Democrats’ other health care bills, this one will drive up premiums, destroy jobs, raise taxes, slash Medicare benefits, and add to our already-skyrocketing debt.   “But this won’t be just another bill written in secret and signed off on by special interests.  Democrats have admitted they are working on an undemocratic plan to jam this bill through Congress and subvert the will of the American people.   Democrats themselves are describing this latest maneuver as a “trick.” “If the starting point for this summit is more of the same backroom deals and partisan bills, then this meeting will likely be a charade.  “From the beginning, Republicans have listened to the American people and offered reforms that lower health care premiums for families and small businesses. “The bill I and House Republicans proposed last fall implements common sense solutions focused on lowering costs.  Our bill ensures nobody will be denied coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition.  It gives states the tools to implement their own innovative reforms.  And we put an end to the junk lawsuits that are forcing doctors to practice defensive medicine and drive up the cost of health insurance for all Americans.  “The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the Republican health care bill would actually lower health insurance premiums across the board by up to 10 percent – about $2,000 per year.  The Democrat bills do just the opposite – they increase the cost of health care. “Just as important, Republicans get the job done without cutting Medicare, without raising taxes, and without piling more debt on our kids and grandkids.  All the details of our plan are available at healthcare.gop.gov. “Republicans remain ready to discuss these ideas with President Obama and move forward in a bipartisan way to lower health care costs.   “But Americans' health care is way too important to risk on a rushed backroom deal that puts federal bureaucrats in charge of your personal health care decisions.   “Instead of hurting small businesses by forcing them to pay new taxes and meet new regulations, our focus should be on lowering their health care costs so that they can expand and hire more workers. “So in order to have a productive bipartisan conversation on health care, Democrats must first listen to the American people and scrap their massive government takeover of health care. We must go into the summit with a clean slate focused on making health care affordable.  That is what Americans are asking for, and that is what Republicans will continue to work for. “Thanks for listening.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              February 17, 2010                                                                                                   CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee announced a new web video today on President Obama’s uncontrolled and outrageous spending.  The web video, entitled “Broken Promise,” can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npzhNlNND0M.   “Today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama’s failure to stimulate our economy with $862 billion of the people’s money and unsurprisingly, the only people celebrating this disastrous milestone are Democrats in Washington.  For an entire year, America has been forced to watch over 2.8 million people lose their jobs and unemployment climb into the double digits, while the President and his liberal allies continue to ignore economic reality and spread their made-up “saved or created” talking points.  Republicans have offered proven alternative solutions for economic growth but these ideas have been routinely shot down by Democrats, who insist that bipartisanship is one party monopoly rule.  The American people are tired of politicians who don’t admit when their policies don’t work.  The president and the Democrat Party can either admit their policies failed and change course now or continue their binge spending agenda and face certain defeat at the polls in November.”       “BROKEN PROMISE” SCRIPT Time: 01:19 Voice:  “Barack Obama made big promises.” Chyron: BARACK OBAMA Chyron: MADE BIG PROMISES Chyron: 1-9-09 Barack Obama:  “An American recovery and re-investment plan that will immediately jump start job creation and long term growth. Voice:  “Over” Chyron: OVER Chyron: 2-11-09 Barack Obama: “Plan to create or save more than 3 million jobs in the next few years.” Voice:  “And over again.” Chyron: AND OVER Chyron: AGAIN Barack Obama: “It will create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.” Chyron: 2-17-09 Voice: “His advisors promised the stimulus would keep unemployment below 8% and warned without it unemployment would hit double digits.” Voice: “But his $862 billion stimulus plan has failed to deliver.” Chyron: $862 BILLION STIMULUS PLAN Chyron: FAILED TO DELIVER Voice: “2.8 million jobs lost since it was signed into law.” Chyron: 2.8 BILLION JOBS LOST SINCE IT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW Voice: “20,000 jobs lost just last month.” Chyron: 20,000 JOBS LOST JUST LAST MONTH Voice: “A year ago…” Chyron: A YEAR AGO Voice: “Barack Obama promised jobs.” Chyron: BARACK OBAMA PROMISED JOBS Chyron: 2-9-09 Barack Obama: “That's why I hope it passes as soon as possible, so we can start creating jobs!” Voice: “But his plan has failed to deliver.” Chyron: 9.7% UNEMPLOYMENT Voice: “Democrats might be breaking out the champagne to celebrate the stimulus’ one year anniversary, but Americans are still losing their jobs while being saddled with debt to pay for Obama’s binge spending and broken promises.” Chyron: BINGE SPENDING AND BROKEN PROMISES Voice:  Take action at GOP.com Chyron: TAKE ACTION: GOP.COM Onscreen Disclaimer: PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE NOT PAID FOR BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE WWW.GOP.COM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               February 15, 2010                                                                                                                          CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “Senator Bayh announced today he won’t seek reelection, claiming to be disenchanted with the political process.  After Democrats spent billions of taxpayer dollars on a failed stimulus and voted to spend billions more for their unpopular government-run health care plan, I think it’s fair to say that Americans are disenchanted as well.  The timing isn’t a coincidence either.  The fact of the matter is Senator Evan Bayh and moderate Democrats across the country are running for the hills because they sold out their constituents and don’t want to face them at the ballot box.  One year after the $862 billion stimulus was passed, Americans are making it clear that they are tired of the Democrats’ binge-spending agenda, are done being ignored, and are going to do something about it in November.”  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               February 15, 2010                                                                                                                          CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “Senator Bayh announced today he won’t seek reelection, claiming to be disenchanted with the political process.  After Democrats spent billions of taxpayer dollars on a failed stimulus and voted to spend billions more for their unpopular government-run health care plan, I think it’s fair to say that Americans are disenchanted as well.  The timing isn’t a coincidence either.  The fact of the matter is Senator Evan Bayh and moderate Democrats across the country are running for the hills because they sold out their constituents and don’t want to face them at the ballot box.  One year after the $862 billion stimulus was passed, Americans are making it clear that they are tired of the Democrats’ binge-spending agenda, are done being ignored, and are going to do something about it in November.”  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                February 14, 2010                                                                                                                CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: "In front of 200,000 fans and a worldwide audience Jamie McMurray won the Great American Race.   I congratulate McMurray on his tremendous accomplishment.  McMurray won the 52nd Daytona 500 besting 42 other racers equally determined to climb out of the cockpit, claim racings greatest title and cement his place in history among NASCAR legends. McMurray withstood the challenges, grueling conditions and mental trials that make the Daytona 500 the Great American Race and a great American tradition."

EMBARGOED UNTIL: 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010                               CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614   WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) released the following weekly Republican address. The address is available in both audio and video format and is embargoed until 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, February 13, 2010. Audio of the address is available here Video of the address will be available here Full transcript of Senator Graham’s Address: “Hello, I’m Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “The Obama administration’s decision to prosecute the mastermind of 9-11 Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four other co-conspirators in civilian court in New York City makes no sense to most Americans -- including me. “All of these cases were pending before military commission at Guantanamo Bay before the Obama administration suspended the trials and dismissed charges.  That was a major mistake in the war on terror. “These Al Qaeda terrorists are not common criminals.  “Their attacks resulted in the biggest loss of American life from an act of war on our homeland since the Civil War.  “Never before have we allowed non-citizen, enemy combatants captured on the battlefield access to our civilian courts providing them with the same constitutional rights as American citizens. “Al Qaeda terrorists should not receive more rights than a Nazi War criminal.  “And now is not the time to go back to the pre-9/11 mentality of fighting crime instead of fighting a war. “A civilian trial of hard-core terrorists is unnecessarily dangerous and creates more problems than it solves. “Let me explain why. “Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey was the presiding judge in the 1995 Blind Sheik trial involving the first attempt to blow up the World Trade Center and has warned of using civilian courts in terror trials. “These same concerns were recently echoed by the bipartisan chairman of the 9-11 Commission. “In the 1995 trial, because of civilian court rules, the government was required to disclose the identity of all known co-conspirators to the defense. “One of the conspirators -- relatively obscure at the time -- was Osama bin Laden.  “Our intelligence services later learned this list made its way back to bin Laden tipping him off about our surveillance.  “A conviction was obtained in that trial, but valuable intelligence was compromised. “The rest is history. “Civilian trials create confusion.  Our soldiers and intelligence services are already uncertain as to what rules apply.   “Case in point -- the Christmas Day bomber. “As we all know, this was a failed attempt to blow up an airliner over Detroit by a trained Al Qaeda operative. “After being captured and fresh off the battlefield, he was read his Miranda rights within one hour of questioning and asked for a lawyer.    “Days later and only after his parents encouraged him to cooperate did he begin talking again.  “Can we really rely on the parents of future terrorists to work with the FBI?  “And is reading Miranda Rights to terrorists any way to fight a war? “Finally, a civilian trial in New York City will be expensive.  The New York City Police Commissioner, Mayor and other leaders have all expressed concern these trials could last for years and end up costing over a billion dollars.  “These trials should not take place in New York or any other civilian court.  To do so, ignores the fact we are at war. “I believe there is a better way. “I have been a military lawyer for almost 30 years and have great confidence in our military justice system.  “With the goal of protecting our nation, military law allows us to collect valuable intelligence without reading Miranda Rights to enemy combatants.  It keeps them off the battlefield, and where appropriate prosecutes them for war crimes in a manner that adheres to our values.  “As one of the chief authors I am proud of the revised Military Commission Act of 2009 which created military tribunals for unlawful enemy combatants – a system not available in 2002 to deal with the Shoe Bomber Richard Reid.  “This law was passed after extensive consultation with the Obama administration and received overwhelming bipartisan support. “The military justice system is transparent, well-staffed, subject to civilian review, and protects valuable intelligence.  And above all else it is built around the idea that we are a nation at war. “Khalid Sheik Mohammad and his co-conspirators should have their charges reinstated before military commissions and quickly be tried by our military.  “These trials will be conducted by the same men and women who administer justice to our own troops.  “They are competent professionals with a great understanding of their obligations under the law.  It is a system of justice that allows us to move securely forward in this war while upholding our values.  “For the good of the nation, I hope the Obama administration will alter their policies.  “Military tribunals are the best way to render justice, win this war and protect our nation from a vicious enemy. “May God bless the United States and all those who serve to defend our way of life.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                February 12, 2010                                                                                                                CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “This afternoon President Obama sat behind closed doors and with no cameras present signed into law a bill increasing America’s credit card limit from $12.3 trillion to $14.2 trillion.  With a simple stroke of his pen, President Obama now has the ability to continue his binge spending agenda to the tune of an additional $1.9 trillion, the largest one-time increase in our history.  If the president thinks he can hide his embarrassing binge spending habit behind a thin fig leaf like PAYGO, then he truly has hit rock bottom. While the Democrats spend their President’s Day recess celebrating their failed $862 billion stimulus package, the taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for the Democrats’ fiscal irresponsibility.”     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                February 12, 2010   CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614                        WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “This afternoon President Obama sat behind closed doors and with no cameras present signed into law a bill increasing America’s credit card limit from $12.3 trillion to $14.2 trillion.  With a simple stroke of his pen, President Obama now has the ability to continue his binge spending agenda to the tune of an additional $1.9 trillion, the largest one-time increase in our history.  If the president thinks he can hide his embarrassing binge spending habit behind a thin fig leaf like PAYGO, then he truly has hit rock bottom. While the Democrats spend their President’s Day recess celebrating their failed $862 billion stimulus package, the taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for the Democrats’ fiscal irresponsibility.”     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                February 12, 2010   CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614                        WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “This afternoon President Obama sat behind closed doors and with no cameras present signed into law a bill increasing America’s credit card limit from $12.3 trillion to $14.2 trillion.  With a simple stroke of his pen, President Obama now has the ability to continue his binge spending agenda to the tune of an additional $1.9 trillion, the largest one-time increase in our history.  If the president thinks he can hide his embarrassing binge spending habit behind a thin fig leaf like PAYGO, then he truly has hit rock bottom. While the Democrats spend their President’s Day recess celebrating their failed $862 billion stimulus package, the taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for the Democrats’ fiscal irresponsibility.”     

Saturday, February 6, 2010                               CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614  WASHINGTON – Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) released the following weekly Republican address.  The address is available in both audio and video format and is embargoed until 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, February 6, 2010. Audio of the address is available here. Video of the address is available here. TRANSCRIPT: “Hi, I’m Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Texas; I serve as the number two Republican on the House Budget Committee.  Some of you may have seen me on television last week when I had the opportunity to ask the President if his new budget would once again triple the national debt and dramatically increase the cost of government to 25% of the economy – up from its traditional 20%. “You may recall that the President declined to answer the question last week.  But he has certainly answered it this week by submitting a new budget that does just what I feared. “The numbers in his budget are simply breathtaking:  a record $3.8 trillion in spending, more than $2 trillion in new job crushing taxes, not to mention a tripling of the national debt – on top of the largest deficit in our nation’s history.  Interest payments alone on this debt will set us back roughly $6 trillion over the next decade – that’s about $50,000 per household. “Now, you’re probably like me and believe, in America, you ought to work hard today, so your children can have a better, more prosperous tomorrow.  But with this budget, it is like Washington has said, ‘let’s let government live easier today, so our children have to work harder tomorrow.’ “You know, it was about this time last year, President Obama and Democrats in Congress promised that if we passed their trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ bill – and grew big government even more – that jobs would be created ‘immediately.’ [and] they said unemployment would remain below eight percent. “Well, Republicans stood on principle and offered a better alternative that, according to an analysis developed by the President’s own economic advisors, would have created twice the jobs at half the cost.  But, Democrats chose to go it alone and jam through their ‘stimulus.’ What did the American people get?  A bill for $1.2 trillion and 3 million more jobs lost. “Americans are still asking, ‘where are the jobs?  Where ARE the jobs?’  But all they are getting from Washington is more spending, more taxes, more debt and more bailouts. “Now, when it comes to budget matters, I usually find myself agreeing with about 80% of what the President says, but I DISAGREE with 80% of what he does. “While the President’s budget rhetoric gives a nod to reducing the deficit, he punts the problem to a ‘commission’ that does not yet exist, and whose recommendations may never see the light of day.  We have to do better. “Additionally, President Obama’s proposed spending freeze unfortunately is not really a freeze at all.  It exempts 86% of the federal budget from the freezer, does not turn on the freezer until next year and then turns it off shortly thereafter.  In fact, when you run the numbers, the President’s idea of fiscal responsibility unfortunately amounts to choosing to grow government by 49.01 percent over 10 years instead of 49.27 percent.   We have got to do better. “Serious fiscal responsibility requires more than just tinkering around the margins. Republicans have proposed adopting strict budget caps that limit federal spending on an annual basis and are enforceable by the President.  These caps were a critical plank in the fiscally-responsible budget alternative Republicans proposed last year and yet they are notably absent from the President’s budget.  “The federal budget must never be allowed to grow faster than the family’s budget ability to pay for it.  You can learn more about our better Republican budget solutions on the web at solutions.gop.gov. “So, you pile up all this Democratic spending, all their borrowing and all their debt, you add it to their government takeover of health care, their ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax and their continued bailouts – is it little wonder that job growth is lagging in our economy?  Small business owners and investors tell me every week, We’re not taking the risk to start or expand our business in this climate. “We cannot continue on this reckless path, and the American people know it. But now it’s up to Democrats in Washington to listen and change course.  We’re willing to work with them, but we will continue to stand on principle, we will oppose more reckless Washington spending, and we will fight for better solutions that make government live within its means.  Our budget plan will help create jobs, prevent a fiscal calamity and give our children a brighter economic future. “Thank you for listening.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              February 5, 2010                                                                                                    CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614   WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “Close to one year ago, President Obama and Congressional Democrats passed their $862 billion stimulus package promising it would ‘fix the economy’ and keep unemployment below 8 percent.  Unfortunately, these have proven to be empty promises.  More than 20,000 Americans lost their jobs in the month of January, meaning more than 2.8 million Americans have lost their jobs since the stimulus passed, and 136,000 workers became discouraged last month from seeking work.  The resiliency of the American economy given its current challenges is incredible but later today President Obama plans to travel to Maryland to tout his binge spending agenda that will kill, not create, jobs.  Congressional Democrats that choose to join President Obama in doubling down on his costly plans will face the harsh reality of being out of a job in November.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                 February 4, 2010                                                                                                                           CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614       WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “In his State of the Union address, President Obama pledged that he and his Congressional Democrat lieutenants would budget like any cash-strapped family would.  But today, House Democrats followed their Senate Democrat colleagues by taking our federal government into uncharted fiscal territory, passing a $1.9 trillion increase to America’s credit card limit, the largest one-time increase in our history.  This vote comes on the heels of President Obama’s budget that will more than double the national debt over the next ten years.  Vulnerable Democrats are trying to use Obama’s budget gimmicks like PAYGO and his so-called ‘spending freeze’ as fig leaves to cover their blatant fiscal irresponsibility.  But families across America see behind those fig leaves and are telling Democrats to either stop their binge spending or to find a new line of work come November.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              February 2, 2010                                                                                                    CONTACT: Press Office 202-863-8614    WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “After tremendous primary victories, I extend my sincere congratulations to all GOP primary winners tonight.  Congressman Mark Kirk is poised to help lead the strongest Republican ticket that Illinois has seen in a generation.  The Republican Party is in an excellent position to compete on the issues most important to the people of Illinois.  Whether it’s the senate seat once held by President Obama, or the governorship, or other seats across the state, voters are clearly tired of the arrogance and corruption in government and are ready to make the change they want. With its unemployment rate among the worst in the nation, Illinois can no longer afford the binge spending and failed leadership of entrenched Democrats.  There is no doubt in my mind that many Republican candidates will prevail over their Democrat opponents this fall and provide the representation and leadership Illinoisans have asked for and deserve. “Over the past year, independent voters in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have made their voices heard by sending a clear message that they’ve had enough of the binge spending and government-growing agenda coming from Washington and it looks like Illinois is eager to follow their lead.”