Archive for July, 2008
Tom Rooney Is Best Choice For Republicans In Congressional Primary
The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 30, 2008
Here’s what Highland County’s Highlands Today had to say in their endorsement of Tom Rooney:
“Republicans living in Florida’s 16th District have an extremely difficult decision to make when they cast a vote for U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming primary election. In fact, it might be the most difficult choice they’ve made in years.
Two of the three candidates running for this office are so strong on the issues, so impressive in a number of ways, that it was with great difficulty that the Highlands Today Editorial Board made a choice for endorsement. At the end of the day, though, we believe Tom Rooney is the best candidate to represent Republicans in the primary election.
Rooney faces fellow Republicans Hal Valeche and State Rep. Gayle Harrell for an opportunity to run against incumbent Democrat Rep. Tim Mahoney in the general election.
All three candidates have impeccable conservative credentials, and Valeche was outstanding on the issues as well. His intelligence and maverick style is appealing to voters who want change in Washington. The former fighter pilot and investment banker was consistent on his beliefs, and we liked that he broke from the party line on a few specific issues. It’s always impressive when any candidate thinks for his or herself and not calls party central to be told how to think on important issues.
Rooney has that maverick style too, and he brings to the table recent military experience and a deep knowledge of military operational operations and code and what’s needed to fight the wars we now face. This knowledge is important, and the former criminal prosecutor for the Florida Attorney General and instructor of law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point demonstrate his level of competence.
But military service is not, in and of itself, a prerequisite of being a good leader. Being an effective member of Congress requires someone who thinks clearly, knows how to sell his ideas but also knows when to stand strong on issues. Rooney has all of these attributes, and if elected, has no plans to be a professional politician.
Here are a few of his positions:
•Predatory lenders should be prosecuted for the damage they bring onto people wanting to buy a house.
•Transparency must be a part of the lending industry so that consumers know exactly what loan they are getting, at what cost, and lenders should show the success rate of the loans they offer.
•The United States must secure its borders and determine the number of needed “guest workers” required by the agricultural industry, but amnesty would not be offered.
•He would ramp up oil production for short-term needs, with the knowledge that it is not sustainable and other forms of energy must be found to handle America’s energy needs.
•Believes that the United States should never use torture to obtain information from enemy combatants.
Rooney and Valeche both are outstanding candidates for Congress. We have no doubt that either would serve Republican voters well. But Rooney gets the edge due to his personality and ability to sell his ideas to fellow members of Congress if given the chance.”
Editor’s note: The Highlands Today Editorial Board is made up of five employees of Highlands Today and two community members. All candidates were interviewed and the board voted on their choice for an endorsement.
July 30th, 2008
The Marine Industries of the Treasure Coast (MIATC) has endorsed Tom Rooney in his bid for Florida’s 16th Congressional district.
“The marine industry is vital to the local economy of the Treasure Coast, Tom Rooney will work to protect boating and related industries throughout South Florida and will work to ensure the industry stays strong,” said MIATC Board Member John Yudin. “Tom is also committed to protecting the environment and the waters of the Treasure Coast for future generations to enjoy.”
The MIATC is a not-for-profit trade association comprised of members in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties who are dedicated to the promotion of pleasure boating and its related industries through education of our members and the boating public.
“I am very thankful for the endorsement of the MIATC,” said Tom Rooney. “The marine industry is one of the largest industries on the Treasure Coast and is crucial to the economy. I will fight to ensure the industry is not bogged down by unnecessary government regulation and can continue to thrive.”
July 30th, 2008
Palm Beach Post Editorial
Sunday, July 27, 2008
To face Mahoney, Rooney
During strongly contested primaries, some candidates try to win by feeding red meat to the party base. But even within that tradition, the Republican primary for the 16th U.S. Congressional District turned up one particularly bloody bit.
Gayle Harrell, shrugging off the harsh treatment of foreign prisoners in U.S. custody, said, “When I see our people having their heads cut off on TV, I think that what happened at Abu Ghraib is very minor.” That’s macho. But it isn’t smart. Excesses by American soldiers at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison were a successful recruiting tool for terrorists in Iraq and significantly set back U.S. efforts to improve our standing in the Muslim world. That comment alone is enough to disqualify Ms. Harrell, a state representative from Port St. Lucie who is term-limited out of office this year.
The other two candidates, Tom Rooney and Hal Valeche, took the more responsible position that torture could boomerang and harm U.S. troops who are captured. They agreed, as did Ms. Harrell, on a new bit of red meat du jour, that expanded drilling for oil and gas off Florida’s coast is OK. That’s a switch from past Republican positions but in line with Sen. John McCain and, lately, Gov. Crist.
Mr. Valeche is a Vietnam veteran, financier and former Palm Beach Gardens council member. He and Mr. Rooney, a lawyer whose family owns the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Palm Beach Kennel Club, track similarly on many issues. But Mr. Rooney’s positions generally are more thoughtful and more in Florida’s interest. The Post recommends Mr. Rooney in the Aug. 26 primary. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Tim Mahoney. The district runs from central Palm Beach County north to St. Lucie and across the state to Charlotte County.
Mr. Rooney, bucking party nominee John McCain, supports Rep. Mahoney’s (a) bill to create a national catastrophic program to provide hurricane protection and reduce insurance rates in Florida. On immigration, Mr. Rooney says that while “we need to follow the rule of law” and “secure the borders,” agriculture needs “an accountable guest worker program.” On that, he’s in line with Sen. McCain. And he’s a pleasing departure from Ms. Harrell, whose own party wouldn’t give her politically crafted anti-immigrant bills a hearing.
Mr. Rooney notes that Republicans were “10 times worse” than Democrats on wasteful earmarks - budget items for individual lawmakers that didn’t get the normal scrutiny - and he vows to stick to Republican principles of lower spending. An Army veteran and a lawyer, Mr. Rooney says of the war in Iraq that “we are buying time for them in our blood” and that a timeline for Iraqis to take control “needs to be sooner rather than later.”
Mr. Rooney, in short, has been paying attention. He understands how the Republican Party lost credibility. He offers some red meat - this is a primary, after all - but he also offers solutions.
July 27th, 2008
The Martin County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics union has endorsed Tom Rooney, former Army JAG Captain, former Palm Beach County orphanage CEO, and an attorney from Tequesta, for Florida’s 16th District in Congress.
“The Martin County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics are proud to support Tom Rooney in the race for Florida’s 16th district,” said IAFF Local 2959 President John Davidson. “We know Tom will fight in Washington for first responders and will work to ensure we have the resources necessary to serve the citizens of Martin County.”
The Martin County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics (IAFF Local 2959) represent the firefighters and paramedics in Martin County.
“I am honored to have the support of the Martin County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics,” said Tom Rooney. “They have an extremely important job and I will fight to make sure they have the tools and training necessary to handle the threats we face today and successfully carry out their mission.”
July 23rd, 2008
Mahoney places desperate classified ads for paid for door-to-door campaigners
(Stuart, FL) – Over the past 18 months, Tom Rooney has built a strong grassroots campaign with dozens of volunteers to spread Tom’s message to bring new conservative leadership to Washington. In contrast, Tim Mahoney has placed a classified ad in all of the Scripps Newspapers on the Treasure Coast advertising to pay $10 an hour for door-to-door campaigners in an effort to catch up to Tom Rooney’s grassroots effort.
First time candidate Tom Rooney has assembled a grassroots campaign team of unpaid volunteers who walk door-to-door daily in Florida’s 16th district. Recently, Team Rooney knocked on the 5,000th door of the campaign and continues to reach hundreds of new homes each day.
Each day volunteers gather at Rooney Campaign Headquarters in Stuart and head to various neighborhoods to bring Tom’s message of conservative change to voter’s doors.
“I am thankful to my volunteers who have committed themselves to bring new leadership to Washington. We’re going to take back this seat the old fashioned way; we’re not going to buy it,” said Tom Rooney.
July 17th, 2008
Tom Rooney, a Republican running for Florida’s District 16 in Congress, received the endorsement from Florida Congressmen Connie Mack and Tom Feeney Tuesday.
“Tom exemplifies what it means to be a clear and consistent conservative,” Mack stated in a release. “On the issues of fiscal responsibility, winning the war against terrorism, and promoting shared mainstream conservative values — Tom Rooney is the candidate that will stick to his principles and never waiver once he gets to Congress.”
Mack, of Fort Myers, has represented Florida’s 14th District since 2004. Feeney, from Orlando, has represented the 24th District since 2003.
Rooney is challenging state Rep. Gayle Harrell of Stuart and former Palm Beach Gardens Council member Hal Valeche in the Aug. 26 primary. The winner faces Congressman Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, in November.
July 15th, 2008
In the latest edition of Time Magazine, an article notes that Tom Rooney is the favorite in the Republican Primary to take on Democrat Tim Mahoney:
“Florida Republicans have yet to pick their nominee, but observers say the favorite there is attorney Tom Rooney, an Army veteran and nephew of Pittsburgh Steelers president Dan Rooney.”
To read the article, click here.
July 10th, 2008
Tom Rooney picked up an endorsement today from the Associated Builders and Contractors in the GOP primary for Congressional District 16.
The ABC, a national association representing nearly 25,000 merit shop construction firms across the U.S., praised Rooney’s support of open and free competition, lower taxes and responsible government regulations.
ABC VP William Spencer: “The 78 chapters of ABC and its nearly 25,000 member companies and their employees thank you for your support of merit shop contractors and the principles of open competitions, free competition, free enterprise, lower taxes, and responsible government regulation”
July 8th, 2008
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