This past weekend’s
Los Angeles Times/USC poll shows me beating Senator Boxer 45%-38%. It
also shows Carly Fiorina losing to Senator Boxer by six points – 38% to
44%. Those differences are huge, and far outside the margin of error.
Getting Senator Barbara Boxer out of the Senate should be the paramount
objective for voters in the Republican primary, since we can’t take
back the U.S. Senate unless Boxer goes. Carly Fiorina can’t defeat her;
I can.
It’s true I have a more libertarian view on some social issues. But
the contrast between myself and Senator Barbara Boxer is stark. Carly
Fiorina’s dubious and self-serving claim that I differ little from
Senator Boxer is easily refuted, as the Los Angeles Daily News, one of
the eleven newspapers that have endorsed me in this race, noted on
Friday. "Fiorina has called Campbell a liberal. That’s a view we don’t share. Campbell is absolutely a fiscal conservative."
Consider the following:
- I support a constitutional limit on federal spending – Senator Boxer opposes it.
- I support the free market as the engine of economic growth – Senator Boxer thinks it’s the government.
- The
National Taxpayers Union Foundation rated me the #1 most fiscally
responsible member of Congress when I served – Boxer was at the bottom
of the list at 412 out of 435. - I support Arizona’s immigration law – Senator Boxer opposes it.
- I want to try terrorists in military courts and keep Guantanamo Bay prison open – Senator Boxer wants to close Guantanamo.
- I oppose cap and trade – Senator Boxer supports it.
- I oppose government bailouts – Senator Boxer supports them.
- I opposed the ineffective stimulus bill – Senator Boxer touted it.
Carly
Fiorina talks a good game, but she has rarely voted in her adult life
and recently told Salon magazine she was a Republican – "for now."
Assemblyman Chuck Devore is also my political opponent, but he is a
fellow Constitutionalist – with a record. Both Chuck DeVore and I
embrace our records, and in our careers we have fought many principled
battles against the left. Carly Fiorina lacks any record and on the
issue of immigration, she recently showed why she can’t be trusted.
I believe in the rule of law, including our country’s right to secure
its borders. Immediately after the Arizona immigration law was passed,
I publicly defended it. As a result, I was immediately attacked by the
left. Howard Dean’s former California campaign manager put out a hit
e-mail, urging, "Don’t let Tom Campbell lead California down the dark path to racism."
The left frequently uses the word "racism" to intimidate those with
whom they disagree. So it was especially surprising to hear Carly
Fiorina also use the word "racism" to criticize Republicans who have
spoken out about our immigration laws. In response to the question, "Do
Republicans need to make any changes in their approach to the growing
Hispanic community?" Carly Fiorina answered, "There has been a very
unfortunate racist tone that has emerged in a lot of the discussion
about immigration and that’s inexcusable."
Leftists, and others who advocate ignoring America’s immigration laws,
must have been overjoyed to read her words. Carly Fiorina helped their
case immensely.
That’s the real Carly Fiorina. The one who rarely voted, the one who
has rarely stood with us Republicans on tough issues. Carly Fiorina
talks a good game, but when she’s tested in the heat of an issue, the
Arizona law reveals her instincts – she lashes out at Republicans.
It’s inexcusable for Carly Fiorina to characterize Republicans’
concerns about illegal immigration as "racist."
For the last six months, Carly Fiorina has smeared my record-beginning
with her infamous "demon sheep" attack video. She has told half truths:
for instance, when I proposed eliminating California’s sales tax and
business income tax, replacing them with a revenue-neutral net receipts
tax, she only mentioned the net receipts tax. Or when I was state
budget director, and submitted a balanced budget with no new taxes, she
criticized the overall size of the budget, leaving out that I also
proposed a constitutional cap on the growth of spending.
Lacking a record on any of these issues herself, she might be hard to
pin down-except that her past is catching up with her. She was fired
from Hewlett-Packard, and the employees whose jobs she shifted overseas
have spoken out against her and will continue doing so.
Both Chuck DeVore and I carry copies of the U.S. Constitution in our
pockets. Carly Fiorina actually tried to ban us from bringing them to
the televised debate we held last month. She sneers at both of us as
"career politicians." But I am proud to carry a Constitution with me.
I am both a career Constitutionalist, and a career Republican. Carly
Fiorina is neither, and she will lose to Senator Boxer.
Nominate me, and I will take the fight to Senator Boxer – and win.