Several folks have asked my opinion about this political season, so I'm just going to put it out there for whatever it's worth.  A couple of disclaimers first:  Most of you are aware of my affiliation with the Florida FairTax Education Association, as well as Americans for Fair Taxation.  These are personal opinions and in no way reflect any official or unofficial endorsements in the capacity of my volunteer leadership positions of either of those organizations.  (But as a private citizen, I do still have freedom of speech.)

First let me say that all of my political decisions are based on which persons I believe will further advance the eventual passage of The FairTax.  Now many of you don't understand why that particular issue is of such importance.  Let me just say that is because of ignorance.  (Remember, ignorance is merely being uneducated on a subject, it does not suggest or imply stupidity!)

I have found in my travels around the country that an overwhelming number of Americans, once they educate themselves as to the details of the FairTax and what it will do for this country and for all Americans, support its passage.  I have said many times that there are only two types of persons that don't support the FairTax.  Those that have not educated themselves to the facts, and those that have a political agenda that is contrary to the elimination of the current tax code.  I am not going to attempt to educate you on the FairTax in this email.  Just a little history.

The first documented evidence of the idea was published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on July 11, 1993 in a commentary written by a young man by the name of Dugan King.  Two years later, a group of businessmen in Houston decided to take action on an idea.  After many years, and $22 million dollars in private research, today there is a bill before congress (perhaps the most researched piece of legislation that has ever been put before the congress) that will literally take the power out of the hands of the politicians and put it back in the hands of the people.  If you want to educate yourself as to why that is possible, go to: www.fairtax.org, www.flfairtax.org, www.fairtaxnation.com, or any number of other state FairTax websites.  [The Michigan site is: www.mifairtax.org.]  The fact of the matter is, until we take away the political class' ability to manipulate the tax code for their personal gain, nothing will change in Washington, D.C.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to speak with former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts.  He said that when he was elected to congress he vowed to only serve 3 terms, but that he broke his promise and stayed 4.  The problem, according to J.C. is that people go to Washington thinking they are climbing into a cesspool and after a couple of years they realize they are in a jacuzzi!  And it's all at our expense, to the tune of more than $16 trillion dollars of debt!

That brings us to our current situation.  Now most of you that know me know that my politics is a little to the right of Attila the Hun.  I make no apologies.  It is my most humble but accurate opinion that the current occupant of the White House is a Marxist.  I know some of you won't like that, but there is more evidence to substantiate it, than to debunk it.  That being said, whoever gets the nomination on the other side to run against him will get my vote.  Fortunately, come Tuesday in Florida, I will get a chance to express my opinion as to who that will be.  And that is what this email is really all about.

Let's start with Mr. Romney:  First, That's who Obama wants to run against.  Strike one.  Second, George Soros says there is little difference between Romney & Obama.  Strike two.  Third, in more than one debate early on (and as late as last Friday morning in a supposedly private breakfast), Romney blatantly misrepresented the FairTax.  Strike three, you're out!

Ron Paul:  While Ron Paul has stated that if the FairTax came to his desk as president he would sign it (talk is cheap), on more than one occasion I have come face to face with Ron Paul supporters that are actively attempting to discredit the FairTax with inaccurate and incorrect information.  Congressman Paul has had ample opportunity to co-sponsor H.R.25, the FairTax bill, but has refused to do so.  Scratch Paul.

Next, Rick Santorum:  I like Rick Santorum.  He stands for a lot of things I agree with.  (Then again, on some issues he's a moderate; I have trouble with that).  When he was recently asked on a Tele-town hall conference call where he stood on the FairTax, he stated that he didn't know much about it, but after talking with Rep Steve King of Iowa he wanted to learn more.  That's commendable, but a little late.  Even if it wasn't a little late, (and some of you are not going to like this as well) I just don't think he can beat Obama.  It has also been reported that he is running out of cash.  I know what some of you are thinking: "Oh great Kemp, that only leaves you with Gingrich!"

Thursday afternoon, prior to the debate in Jacksonville, I attended a Military Affairs & Foreign Policy Forum hosted by Veterans for A Strong America.  All the candidates were invited to attend but only one showed up.  (The forum was on the University of North Florida Campus, three blocks from where the debate was held).  During his introduction of Newt Gingrich, Retired U.S. Army Colonel Mike Steele (Blackhawk Down fame) stated that if they could put the Obama/Gingrich debates on Pay-per-View, we could probably pay off the national debt!  I observed something very interesting at Thursday night's debate that you can't see when you are watching from home.  Whenever the cameras are not on the candidates they are furiously jotting down notes, points and counter-points; with the exception of Gingrich.  He stands there and listens intently.  No pen, no paper, no notes.  Just his abilities and command of the issues.  Contrast that with a man that cannot even address school children without a tele-prompter.  Gingrich can beat Obama.

Some say he is hated by democrats & republicans alike.  Have you ever wondered why?

It's easy to understand why the Dems hate him.  He lead the charge to rob them of the power they held in D.C. for over 40 years.  What about the republicans?  Well, when he lead the charge to take over the House of Representatives, his objective was to challenge the status quo.  And challenge it he did.  His attitude was that if you did not support the conservative agenda of the republican leadership you would be shunned.  No committee chairmanships, no favors, no nothing.  Pretty strong medicine.  But it darn sure upset the status quo in Washington, didn't it?

Friends, the condition this country is in today is the result of the 'status quo' of both political parties.  If we are to survive as a nation, that status quo is going to have to be challenged again!  On the positive side: There have been four years during my lifetime that the federal budget has been balanced.  Guess who was in charge of the purse strings during that time?

Yea, but what about his infidelity problems?  The man says he has sought and obtained God's forgiveness. I believe him.  Take it from a man with a jaded past that has had to humble himself and seek God's forgiveness and grace.  That is not an issue for me.  God forgives.  Now let's get to my issue: Gingrich and the FairTax.

I believe it was July4, 2010 when Americans for Fair Taxation aired an infomercial on Fox Business Network.  In that program, Newt Gingrich appeared and stated that he believed that the FairTax deserved a hearing as an option for true tax reform.  He has indicated publicly on several occasions that he felt he needed to study it more.  After his primary win in South Carolina he chided the Army Corps of Engineers for taking 8 years to study a problem.  Last Thursday, I went to the debate with the intent of challenging Mr. Gingrich for that comment.  When I knew I would not be given a chance to ask my question publicly at the debate, I put it on a slip of paper and stuck it in my pocket, just in case I got the chance to talk to him.  Sure enough, after the forum Thursday afternoon, I got the chance to give him the slip of paper, ask him to put it in his pocket and read it later.  He assured me he would.  The question read in part: "after 15 years and $22 million dollars in research, it's been studied enough.  When the FairTax passes the house and senate and comes to your desk, as President, will you sign it into law?"

Saturday, enter Herman Cain.  Lots of folks thought Herman's 9-9-9 plan was an abandonment of his support for the FairTax.  The fact of the matter is, prior to leaving the race, Herman's website made it quite clear that 9-9-9 was phase I of his economic plan, and implementing the FairTax was phase II.  Even as late as last week, Cain re-affirmed his commitment to this 2 phase plan.  Saturday, after Herman endorsed Gingrich, the former Speaker appointed Herman to be his Tax Reform Chairman.  Ladies and Gentlemen, the FairTax will challenge the status quo like nothing in Washington has ever challenged it!  Yes, there are other matters that must be attended to in order to save our Republic.  But until we render the 'thieves' impotent, all we will get is lip service and America as we know it will cease to exist.

Most of you know that I am an optimist.  I'm the kind of guy that will go after Moby Dick in a rowboat and take the tartar sauce with me.  But unless we stand up to the bullies in Washington, our days as a free Nation are numbered.  A dear friend of mine ask me earlier this evening if I really thought I could trust Gingrich to do the things he said he'd do.  Doesn't that question apply to all of them?  What really scares me is we can definitely rest assured that Obama will do what he says he is going to do.  And that won't be pretty!

To my friends in Florida.  Tuesday's our day.  Let's make it count!

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Sam