Restore The GOP

Recent questionaire about my run for Central Committee- Monica Gaither

I recently had a gentleman contact me with a few questions and thought I would share my replies.

I definitely welcome these request.

1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am a native of Mexico City, MX. My grandfather was an American lawyer for the American Embassy in Mexico City, met my grandmother and had a few children. Lived in Mexico for the rest of his life but when his children were old enough, he sent them back to the states to boarding schools so they could get a better education. Due to that, my father grew up very “Americanized” and though he went back to Mexico after graduating from a military academy in Kentucky, married my mother and had a family, he eventually ended up moving back to the states. I basically grew up in Irvine, CA and I fondly remember my upbringing in Orange County. I lived there my entire adult life. In 2004, I opened up a import/export business and leased a warehouse in Otay Mesa, SD. Because our business grew so much, I made the decision to move closer and been in San Diego since summer of 2005. In 2009, I lost my business due to the economic crisis (and some mistakes made by the partnership, against my will) and found myself unemployed for a year and ½. I have been working full time again since Oct of 2011 and it certainly has been a humbling, but also eye opening experience. Having my own business, I realized first hand for the first time how government is not small business friendly and how this out of control bureaucracy has choked the growth of our economy and the American Dream. I want to change that, because I truly believe that America was built on innovation, small businesses and the liberty for each individual to pursue their paths and dreams. (please know that my stance on immigration are- come here legally, like my family and I did, and be a model citizen, cherish the gifts this country is giving you and teach others to do the same).

2. What are the duties and responsibilities of the central committee?

This is a summarized list of main duties and responsibilities: Attend Monthly Central Committee Meetings to give advice and consent to plans and activities of Officers and Directors, act as chief fundraiser for districts, organize district-wide candidate recruitment drives, especially in unaffiliated areas, work on leads in unaffiliated counties, and aid Executive Director in new county affiliation, ensure that local party plans are carried out, and maintain activity over long term, act as information liaison between County Chairs and RP headquarters. Vet local endorsements of any candidates wishing to run under the party.

3. Why do you want to be on the central committee?

I feel that the parties have lost their way. I don’t have a problem with difference in ideology. That’s what diversity and America were founded on. However, I do have a problem with the lack of values and honesty that has plagued our political parties. At least in my party, I want to restore principle and ethics and bring back an honest system that will help ALL Americans prosper. Not just the friends of law makers. Regardless of the ideology that Americans choose, we MUST bring back honesty.

4. What specific ideas do you have that will make the SDRP more robust and successful in its mission to elect conservatives to public office?

First and foremost, I want to make sure that anyone in the party understands that this is the party of Small and Limited Government, Individual Liberty and Constitutional Laws. This means that those of us vetting and endorsing candidates MUST understand our Constitution, respect it, follow it, and uphold any candidate that comes into our party to know it, respect it and follow it.

5. Any ideas on how to attract youth/minorities to the party?

Yes, as a minority, I know that most minorities are most likely yearn for freedom. However, our party has not been the best at reaching out to them. When I speak to Hispanics, it is clear they agree with the principles that our Founders put forward. We come here for that very reason. But the media and the liberal machine, along with public education, have certainly helped them feel like victims and give out "freebies" in order to get votes. I would like to spread the message of liberty and self-reliance to those that come into this country, as well as those just “liberating” themselves from their households; and teach them how to become productive adults (or productive citizens, in the case of immigrants) and to make them understand that government dependency is nothing more than modern day slavery. The same dependency they leave their homes or countries for. Unfortunately, there are “Conservatives” that have also contributed to this “enslavement” of people by growing the federal government and debt, regardless of what our party stands for. It’s time to teach our communities that we can, and should, take the government out of our communities and once again, start believing in each other and help each other and our country prosper. I believe in my heart that we are kind and generous people and that we do not need to be forced to be good people.

“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.” ― John Adams

I hope this gives you a little bit more of an understanding of who I am, what I stand for and what I want for our country.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Monica Gaither for 78 Assembly District Central Committee

Dear Patriot,

Thank you for being so concerned about your country.

The first thing I would like to tell you is that, though I am fascinated by it… I can say that I truly hate the political arena. Isn’t that the case with most Americans?

Unfortunately, because of that attitude, most Americans, not only do not participate in politics, but are quite unaware about the details that go into it, so they either end up not caring at all, or they care but they unfortunately support rhetoric, on either side, that they think are truths.

I was born in Mexico City, Mexico and came to this country when I was 8 years old, loving the idea of American freedom and what America represented. I grew up in Irvine, CA in the 80s and *I AM* a "Reagan Baby", always listening to my dad say, "Those damn Democrats, all they do is want to keep raising taxes". At that time, I understood that taxes "were a bad thing". However, I only knew they were bad because my father said so.

I spent most of my 20s and early 30s trotting along, like most people do. Caring…yes, about living as an adult with new responsibilities and just trying to get by and advance my career. Still…thinking taxes were bad, but never putting much thought into the why. I supported the war against those terrible Middle Eastern countries that were "out to get us" and also, lovingly, caring about the whales and all the other small critters out there and about our poor trees and our environment. I donated. A lot.  Of time and money.  And with this, I thought I was doing my part.  But I never really thought about the implications behind what I was supporting.

In my late 30s I started my own business in my small one bedroom apartment in Orange County. Two years later, I moved to San Diego due to the incredible growth we had.  Three years later, I found myself owner of a business that was stationed at a 10k square foot warehouse in Otay Mesa, 20 plus employees and owned two 54 ft semi-trucks that crossed the border every day to deliver goods to 80% of the luxury spas and hotels in Cabo and 20% of other resorts in Mexico, including Cancun, Mexico City, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, etc etc.

THAT is when I started paying more attention to politics because now I had real money to worry about. I *HAD* to.

What I found was not pretty.

I found out about all the bureaucracy that a business owner has to deal with. Constant headaches is an understatement. I think I spent more time dealing with governments, than actually chasing more business.

In early 2008, I had a strange feeling in my gut. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was going very wrong. I tried to warn my partners but they wouldn't listen and we lost our business. I found myself unemployed for 1 year and 1/2 and with a lot of questions.

I wanted answers. I needed to know what had happened to my American Dream.

In searching for answers,  I revisted work from Dr. Ron Paul, then a presidential candidate, and began to find answers.  Among my findings, I stumbled across a book title, "THE LAW", by Fredric Bastiat and suddenly, I understood that taxes were not necessarily bad…but the way they are collected is bad…and immoral. I also started to understand how they were being used and how we were being tricked into thinking they were being used in good ways. THEFT is NEVER used in good ways.  I also started to understand that the Democrats were well intended...they just don't realize what the proper role of the Federal Gov is and have no clue about the unintended consequences that arise from their "soft hearted" decisions.

I began researching and educating myself more, not only on the way politics work in this country, but also on Austrian Economics and with the principles of our founders and our amazing Constitution. I also found that both parties had been plagued by special interests, out of control government spending and growth.

I realized that MY America didn’t exist anymore. MY beloved Republican party that stood for small and local government, individual rights (individual freedom), less taxation and Constitutional principles was nowhere in sight.

And I want them back!

Please help me restore the GOP to a party that has elect candidates that will be locked into the principles that made this country great; that is, sound money, small and limited government, protection of small businesses and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Each individual is supposed to have that in America. 

As a member of the San Diego Republican Party Central Committee, you can rest assured that I will push for a more Constitutional, more responsible and ethical local-government and will do anything within my Constitutional powers to hold the Republican Party to those principles.  At a local level, I will continually rail against excess spending and respect of our Constitution and Individual rights.  Most important, unlike others, I will not forget that I am there to serve YOU…The People.

This June 5th, I ask you to vote Monica Gaither for Central Committee in the 78th District of San Diego and help me restore the GOP….because principles matter.

Respectfully Yours,

Monica Gaither

Memberships:

Republican-Liberty Caucus

Oathkeepers of America

Campaign for Liberty

LOLA (Ladies of Liberty Alliance)

Stop Taxing Us- Meetup Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Country Club Republicans Reject New Republicans; Republican Candidates Lose

Why would an incumbent Republican Central Committee member, want to alienate a group of conservative activists, who registered 450 new Republicans last Friday night (and 15-20 new Republicans weekly)?

To wit, courtesy of the incumbent:

You need to face up to the realities the rest of us have had to face about what is most important about this election. There are no illusions about Romney here - I haven't heard one Romney supporter say they ARE A ROMNEY SUPPORTER - only that he is about A B O!

We do not have any candidates at the top yet that can be considered a REAL candidate that represents us. WE all will have to work to get those people up into the high levels of government whether as Governors - Senators, or House Reps - in order to field a viable candidate for President. We will NEVER be able to do that if we lose THIS election!

As for the insinuation that Ron Paul supporters somehow have cornered the market on "honor and politeness" I take offense. There is that arrogant/groupie delusion of grandeur that offends EVERYONE when it comes to dealing with Ron Paul supporters. Step off the pedestal - GET REAL - and stop wasting time that you, your country and your fellow citizens are rapidly running out of to DO SOMETHING TO STOP THIS TRAIN WRECK!

Well, there you go!  The problem is that constitutional Republicans are TOO passionate, about registering Republicans, whom can vote for endorsed local Republican candidates.  Of course, this is illogical thinking at best and an exhibition of insecurity at worst.  I've been involved in center-right political activism since I was in college and have found it best to build coalitions rather than to scare away enthisiastic new Republicans.

I'll admit that new activists can be overly enthusiastic in their advocacy but I'd rather have 500 people, voting for Comprehensive Pension Reform and conservative judges, than sitting the election out.  The incumbent's orthodoxy seems to be challenging her ability to work with Republican of all walks of life.  We used to call people like this "country club Republicans" in the Reagan years and we took great delight outhustling them.

The Republican Party has always been a big tent of ideas.  We welcomed the Goldwater conservatives, the Reagan Democrats, the evangelicals, the tea party activists, and we'll certainly profit from the influx of constitutionalists, whom Congressman Paul attracts.

Now...if we can just get the country club Republicans to stop obstructing us, we just might win some elections in California!

Brian Brady about Ron Paul Visit in the U-T

Presidential candidate Ron Paul visited UCSD this past Friday night (which is in the 78th Assembly District).  The rally attracted about 5,000 people including Dan Hughes, candidate for US Senate and Monica Gaither, Mia Freymiller, Maureen Guffanti, Eric Andersen, Mat Huff, and Josh Silverman, all of whom are candidates for the San Diego County Republican Central Committee.

I was quoted in the article, written in the San Diego Union-Tribune, about his visit:

His message of limited government, sound money, a noninterventionist foreign policy and fidelity to the Constitution resonates with 15-20 percent of the Republican base but is accepted by more than half of those under 30, said Brady, a member of the Republican Liberty Caucus of San Diego.

Many youths previously captivated with President Barack Obama’s rhetoric have come to realize that liberty made this country great and are flocking to the consistent critic of the state. However, that message has been dampened by the media bias against Paul, Brady said.

It's no secret that I admire Congressman Paul for advancing the cause of Liberty.  His policies about monetary policy, fiscal policy, the failed war on drugs, and free market economics resonate with me.  While I sometimes disgree with the rhetoric he chooses, his message of not using our military to nation build or police the world, is consistent with the Founders and worthy of pursuit.

I was invited to volunteer at a luncheon that day by the campaign.  I spent about ten minutes with Congressman Paul before we started.  We spoke about how a debased currency contributes to moral decay in society.  The conversation was initiated by me and he listened intently while I repeated to him what he has been saying for 35 years.   Naturally, he urged me to continue to talk about this issue after November.  Dr, Paul is bright, humble, polite, and the epitome of a gentleman.

Why Should I Vote For Brian Brady for SDGOP Central Committee?

I received an email this morning, asking me these five questions about my motivation for serving and plans to grow the SDGOP.  I'm thrilled people are paying attention and asking the hard questions of candidates.  When voters ask the hard questions (and they are), we stand a better chance fo reclaiming and restoring the Republic. 

Questiones emboldened.  Answers italicized

1.      Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am a husband, father, tea party activist, and small business owner who announced his candidacy for the San Diego County Republican Central Committee, on February 15, 2012.  My conservative activism began soon after I registered to vote in my hometown of Cherry Hill, NJ. On my 18th birthday, I registered with the Selective Service Board then went to Township Hall to register to vote.  Maria Greenwald, mayor of Cherry Hill, was horrified when Mr. Brady registered Republican in the mostly Democratic township.

I smiled, told Mayor Greenwald that I was going to get President Reagan re-elected, and walked out of the Township Hall.  I was immediately approached by a bystander who invited me to the Camden County Republican Party meeting that month.  At the meeting, I committed to become a County committeeman.  I launched my campaign in my District, won at age 18 and 3 months, and the journey began.

Read my full biography

2.      What are the duties and responsibilities of the central committee?

The Central Committee is the governing body of the San Diego County Republican Party and is tasked with recruiting and endorsing candidates, raising money for local races, registering voters, and working to keep Republicans as the majority party.

3.      Why do you want to be on the central committee?

I want to "Restore the GOP" to the majority party in San Diego County, the State of California, and the country.  I believe the best way to do that is to recommit our party to the principles of Liberty and fidelity to the Constitution.

Ourr Founders gave us a "manual for good self-government", also known as The Constitution.  That brilliant document guarantees individual, God-given rights.  Both parties have strayed from First Principles, finding it easier to promise the electorate stuff rather than to follow the constraints placed upon government in Article One, Section Eight.  Not since Reagan and Goldwater have we heard those principles effectively articulated.   I want to help to RESTORE the GOP to the platform of constitutionally constrained government, promotion of free enterprise, and protection of individual liberties.

Read the about my ideas to RESTORE THE GOP here

4.      What specific ideas do you have that will make the SDRP more robust
and successful in its mission to elect conservatives to public office?

Recruit and educate candidates who can effectively articulate why limiting government is legally, morally, and practically the best course of action.

Read those ideas here.

5.      Any ideas on how to attract youth/minorities to the party?

Promote Liberty.  Liberty has a way of bringing people together.  The principles of Liberty are attracted thousands of young people, of all races, colors and creeds, to rallies across California.

Here is what young people said at the linked story about a Liberty rally:

One group of six students, all from different backgrounds, shared two things: They were men, and they were there in support of Dr. Paul. They agreed that if Dr. Paul is not the nominee, they would still absolutely vote in the general election.

They would not stay home.

Most of the six young men said they would lean toward President Obama over Mitt Romney, in varying degrees. They all agreed that they could not support Rick Santorum. These young men were overall very thoughtful. They were worried about crushing debt.

Ron Paul is no Messiah but to ignore the principles he is promoting:  sound money, scaled back military intervention, reducing the size and scope of government, and fiscal resposnisbility, is to ignore the future voters of the GOP.  Voters under 30 can and will passionately support candidates who stand for these principles.  We have plenty of those candidates in San Diego and need to recruit and educate them.

Electing Constitutional Judges: Jim Miller, Jr. For Seat 25

The most important job a Central Committee member can do is to promote good candidates.  I started doing that this election cycle.

Perhaps the most important jobs in our Republic is the Superior Court Judge.  This often overlooked ballot category affects all County resident at one time or another.  Superior Court judges rule in much more than criminal law.  Judges rule on civil matters (contracts, disputes, torts. etc),  family law  (divorce) and juvenile law (both criminal and welfare).

Jim Miller, Jr. is the only candidate, for Seat 25, who has experience in all areas of the law.  He is the head of a law firm, has experience as a private mediator and arbitrator, served as a Judge Pro-Tem, and is a recognized NFL agent.

Most importantly, Jim always refers to the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land and articulates that he will look first to it, to guide his decisions.  Electing constitutional judges is the most important thing we can do to restore the Republic.

Last night, my wife and I co-hosted a fundraiser for Jim in Oceanside, with Rhonda Deniston .  Rhonda invited AZ State Senator Russell Pearce, the author of the existing Arizona immigration law.  Senator Pearce spoke about the challenges made to that law and voiced his support for constitutional judges like Jim.

While Oceanside is technically outside of the 78th Assembly District, a Superior Court judge is a county-wide position.  Strong Central Committee members will recruit, promote, raise campaign funds for, and volunteer for good candidiates like Jim,  I'm not waiting to get elected to Central Committee to start that process.  If you decide to elect me to serve you in that capacity, expect more judges like Jim Miller, Jr.

Senator Pearce and my family.

Jim Miller Jr. and Senator Russell Pearce

Brady Campaign Makes National News

"Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who has said he’ll step down from office at year end, has inspired a crop of candidates who are running for office on his libertarian platform."--Bloomberg.BusinessWeek

This map shows that there are "different" types of Republican candidates who are running to steer the Republican Party back towards its traditional conservative message.    Brian Brady is one of three endorsed California candidates on the map.  I've net the other two candidates and, while we may differ slightly on how we present the issues, in the end, we each want to advance the principles of Liberty within the existing power structure. 

Talking Limited Government With The Coronado Republican Women's Federated

I had the distinct pleasure, of addressing the members of the Coronado RWF this week at a beautiful oceanfront home near the Naval base.  My topic was "Why we limit government".  My wife Debra and I were invited to become associate members of the Coronado RWF, after my address,  which we accepted with gratitude.

Mia Freymiller, a candidate for SDGOP Central Committee and Programs Chair introduced me.  Among the attendees were SDGOP Central Committee candidate and my good friend Eric Andersen, and Chairman of the San Diego Republican Party, Tony Krvaric.

Points I made were:

• The concept of a limited government, constrained by the Constitution, isn't novel nor outdated.  Senator Barry Goldwater laid out the framework for the modern restoration to limited government in his watershed work, Conscience of a Conservative.  President Reagan gave special notice to the concept of federalism in his 1981 Inaugual Address.  These men were not libertarians, they were conservative Republicans.  These men weren't "anti-government extremists", they were elected officials.
• American exceptionalism recognizes the concept of natural rights.  For the non-religious, this means that our rights pre-exist government because they are a product of our humanity.  Religious folks believe that we have rights, which can't be separated, as a gift from God. This made America uniquely good because we departed from our European cousins' belief that God make one man or woman a ruler over others.  In these United States, each Man is a King and each Woman is a Queen, but not a one of us is a Ruler.
• This belief makes our nation "exceptional".  Alexis de Tocqueville recognized that limited government unleased the goodness of Americans and that goodness made us great.  The result, as history has revealed, is an experiment which created the most wealth, for the most people, and meted out the most justice in the world, in the history of Man interacting with Man.
• For the well-intentioned but naive people who try to impose burdens on some, to bestow gifts to others, in pursuit of a Heaven on Earth, they are violating the First Commandment (or Laws of Nature for the non-religious).  Stated differently, while Man is made in the image and likeness of God, Man is NOT God,  God is perfect and Man is fallible.
• Since we recognize that Man is fallible, we recognize the empowering Man as a ruler is dangerous.  Lord Acton warned us that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely".  We only need to look at the Soviet Union as an example of abslolute  and absolutely corrupted power.  Of course, that experiment, to create a "Soviet Heaven on Earth" , failed miserably.
• Our Constitution is a flawed but nearly perfect guideline for good government.  When we follow the constraints it placed upon the federal government, and all of the branches of government neither arrogate power from other branches, not abdicate power to the other branches, we handcuff government so that the power to rule over others is limited.
• Free citizens, left to their own devices, solve society's problems best through commerce, charity, volunteerism, and association with others.  Government distorts those solutions with forced, top-down approaches, inducing a sense of casual indifference towards society's problems from its citizens, and ultimately sufferes a collapse.
• It's not too late to fix what is broken.  If we return to First Principles, understand that our morality doesn't come from our laws rather our laws come from our morality, embrace the diverse solutions which different free citizens and citizens' groups attempt, we can restore the Republic.

When I finished my address, I enjoyed the fellowship of Senatorial candidiates Dan Hughes and John Boruff.  I had fun offering advice to improve upon Dan Hughes' "Bold Solutions Plan", with the principles from my speech.  I'm hopeful to see how if implements those ideas into his campaign

Clairemont Candidate Forum

De Le, San Diego's "go-to" guy, invited me to participate in a candidate forum today.  I had an opportunity to share my vision about what I intend to do as a Member of the San Diego GOP Central Committee.  Here are the key points I made today:

• Our country, state, and city is in danger of an economic collapse
• Debt is driving this threat on all fronts
• We need to elect candidates who understand that 2+2= 4
• I care deeply about the fiscal issues and, the social issues will work out if we address the fiscal problems now
• I see my role as "guardian of the conservative culture".  I advanced that role with the The Promise to California Taxpayers
• When we act like us, we win.  When we act like them, we lose.

Many thanks to De for orgainzing this event.

Visiting the Coronado RWF: Meeting Col. Rick Powell

I enjoyed my first visit with the Coronado Republican Women Federated club Tuesday night.   About 40 people showed up, at the Coronado Public library, to feast on home-made delicacies, network with other center-right activists, and listen to three speakers:  Superior Court Justice candidiates Garland Peed and David Berry and retired Colonel Rick Powell.

Powell's accomplishments are astonishing but not unlike many of the fine veterans who choose San Diego as their home.  COL Powell served in Vietnam and Operation Iraqui Freedom, is a retired federal agent, and was the GOP nominee for CA Assembly.  Today, he educates groups about the illegal immigration/national security link and host Amato Talk Radio on Friday nights.

COL Powell is a constitutionalist with a burning passion for this great land.  Coronado is one of the most beautiful cities in this country and home to the US Naval Special Warfare Center and Coronado Naval Base and NAS.  I was filled with pride, being in the western seaboard's southermost defense city, listening to a real American hero.