May 29, 2010

United Faith Christian Academy Graduation Photos


I delivered the keynote at the graduation ceremony of United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte today. Cool group of kids. Three of the boys graduating will play Division I basketball on full scholarships next year. Needless to say, they were very tall. Enjoyed the event very much. Thank you Dr. Siragusa for having me.

May 27, 2010

Photos from Yesterday's Hendersonville Speech





Traveled to Hendersonville yesterday morning in time for a 7:30 am meeting of the Republican Men and Women's Clubs. Gave my terrorism presentation and really enjoyed spending time with the fine people of the area. Very receptive audience.

May 25, 2010

New Listing for DC Jobs in Republican Offices


May 24, 2010
Oversight and Investigations Counsel - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Staff seeks an Oversight and Investigations Counsel. The ideal candidate will have a law degree and two to five years of experience in a law firm, think tank, and/or agency in the Executive Branch. Capitol Hill experience and clerking for a federal or state court judge are a plus. The position will focus on oversight of health care legislation, including the Public Health Service Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The successful applicant will have an entrepreneurial attitude to oversight and policy development, be deeply committed to market-oriented solutions to problems in health care, and possess superb written and oral communication skills. Cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Ms. Lyn Walker at Linda.Walker@mail.house.gov .

Scheduler/ Office Manager – The office of Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) is seeking applicants for the Scheduler/Office Manager position in the Washington office. The responsibilities of this position include scheduling both district and DC meetings and events for the Congressman; submitting bills, invoices, and reimbursements to House Finance; and assisting with other duties as assigned. Candidates must have excellent people skills and must be courteous, detail-oriented and extremely organized. This is a fast-paced position that requires someone who can multi-task and be a team player. Virginia ties a plus but not required. Please fax resumes and cover letters to Mary Springer at 202-225-4382. No emails please.

The NJ Governor’s DC Office seeks an individual to manage a portfolio of several federal policy areas…. including transportation. Experience with transportation issues is essential and NJ ties are preferred. Individual will support the DC Office Director and NJ State government by working with NJ Congressional delegation, Congress , the Administration and the National Governors Association. The person should be a good writer, communicator and policy analyst, excel in a fast paced environment, have experience with Congress and the Administration and be results oriented. Please send resume and cover letter to nwjrsdc36@gmail.com. The NJ Governor’s DC Office seeks an individual to manage a portfolio of several federal policy areas….including energy and environment. Experience with energy/environment issues is essential and NJ ties are preferred. Individual will support the DC Office Director and NJ State government by working with NJ Congressional delegation, Congress, the Administration and the National Governors Association. The person should be a good writer, communicator and policy analyst, excel in a fast paced environment, have experience with Congress and the Administration and be results oriented. Please send resume and cover letter to nwjrsdc36@gmail.com.

Fall Internship - Congressman Erik Paulsen’s office is currently accepting applications for unpaid internships in the District office in Eden Prairie, MN and in Washington, D.C. for the fall semester. A Congressional internship offers applicants an exciting opportunity to support staff while learning about the daily operations of the Legislative branch. Interns will assist the staff with constituent services, communications, administrative tasks, and legislative research. Congressman Paulsen’s Internship Program is designed primarily for the educational benefit of the participant. Interns working in the District Office have the opportunity to contribute to the office’s interaction with the surrounding community through constituent services, local events, and community meetings. Interns in the Washington, D.C. Office will gain insight into the federal government and the legislative process by working closely with staff and attending hearings and briefings. Candidates should have a strong work ethic, be highly organized and motivated, and possess a positive attitude. This internship is unpaid. College credit, if applicable, will be provided. MN ties preferred but not required. Qualified applicants should send their cover letter and resume to Krysta Carlson at Krysta.Carlson1@mail.house.gov. The deadline for applications is Friday July 16.

May 20, 2010
Legislative Assistant - U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is looking for a legislative assistant with significant health care experience and the ability to handle several other high-priority issues for a busy congressional office. Missouri state ties are a plus, as are strong writing ability, initiative and follow-through. Please send a resume and cover letter by e-mail only to Jeffrey.Connor@mail.house.gov.

Staff Assistant – Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-16) has an immediate opening for a Staff Assistant in his Washington, D.C. office. The ideal candidate must possess strong writing skills, great attention to detail and an outgoing personality. General responsibilities include greeting visitors, answering phones, scheduling tours, processing flag requests, and opening & sorting mail, and assisting the legislative staff. The successful candidate will have a pro-active, can-do attitude and must be a team player. Military experience and residents of the 16th Congressional District of Florida will also be given due consideration. Please email resume, cover letter and one writing sample to jobsfl16@mail.house.gov. No Calls, Faxes or Drop-Ins.

May 17, 2010
DC Scheduler/Staff Assistant – The Office of Congressman Glenn Thompson (PA-05) is searching for a DC Scheduler/Staff Assistant. Candidates must be well organized and have excellent research, writing and oral communications skills. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: scheduling the Congressman’s DC meetings and events, arranging flights and other travel for the Congressman, assisting individuals who have appointments with the Member or other staff members, responding to constituent requests for tours, directing phone calls and mail to the appropriate staff, greeting visitors, responding to letters from constituents and assisting legislative and communications staff as needed. Previous Hill experience and Pennsylvania ties are preferred, but not required. Interested candidates should send their cover letter, resume, references, and writing samples to Nancy.Billet@mail.house.gov with DC Scheduler/Staff Assistant in the subject line.

May 13, 2010
Staff Assistant - Congressman Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) has an opening for a Staff Assistant in his Washington, DC office. General responsibilities include greeting visitors, answering phones, scheduling tours, processing flag requests, and opening & sorting mail, and assisting the legislative staff. Applicants must have strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. Previous Hill experience not required, but ties to NE Ohio are a plus. Please send cover letter, a short writing sample (1-2 pages) and résumé to kate.ostrander@mail.house.gov with “Staff Assistant” in the email title. Thanks!

May 10, 2010
Internship – Texas Republican looking for applicants for an unpaid internship, available to start ASAP and work through the middle of June. Candidates should have a strong work ethic and be a good team player. Candidates are responsible for performing daily office duties (phones, flag requests, setting up constituent tours, etc.) in order to maintain an efficient working environment. Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to Michael.Stwarka@mail.house.gov . No phone calls please.

May 3, 2010
Web Developer - Senate Republican Leadership office seeks a web application developer strongly experienced in PHP/MySQL/Javascript. Work involves developing and deploying web applications using ColdFusion or PHP, performing integration work with CF and PHP based legacy systems. Other necessary requirements include experience with both MySQL and MSSQL Server as well as basic experience with Windows/Apache/PHP/MySQL web application server stack environment and significant experience with HTML/CSS stylesheets, Photoshop, etc to design and modify static web pages and tweak graphics, layouts, etc. The employee will work with both technical and policy staff to determine application design. Work includes web programming and troubleshooting to create new services and support technical operations. Work also includes creating and deploying new content by posting web content or graphical work as needed under deadline. This is an entry to mid-level position. Strong communication and organizational skills needed. Degree in Computer Science (or equivalent experience) is preferred. Salary is commensurate with experience. Please email a cover letter, resume, and references to resumes@src.senate.gov.

May 23, 2010

Census Bureau Gives $582,000 to Mosque linked to Terror-Financing Investigation


The following report is re-posted from Steve Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) website. Our ignorance to the nature of the threats before us, makes us vulnerable as a nation. Here is yet another example of how our ignorance is, in and of itself, a national security vulnerability that can not be tolerated.


IPT Report on Census Lease Prompts Inquiries
by IPT News • May 20, 2010 at 3:11 pm
http://www.investigativeproject.org/blog/2010/05/ipt-report-on-census-lease-prompts-inquiries

Two members of Congress want the General Services Administration (GSA) to explain what research, if any, was done before signing a $582,000 lease with a Virginia mosque that law enforcement officials say has been the subject of numerous terror-financing investigations.
The letters to GSA Administrator Martha Johnson from U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa and Senator Susan Collins follow an Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) story disclosing the 2008 lease for a Census Bureau office, and the law enforcement assessments of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center.
Records from the Department of Homeland Security obtained by the IPT indicate the mosque was "operating as a front for Hamas operatives in U.S.," and "has been linked to numerous individuals linked to terrorism financing."
Issa, the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote that he was concerned "there are insufficient procedures in place to vet potential contract partners." It would be "evidence of an alarming inter-agency communication failure" if the law enforcement reports about Dar Al-Hijrah were not available to GSA officials. If it is available, and GSA simply didn't check, "there may be an even more problematic systemic issue."
Collins, the ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, asked whether GSA checks out prospective landlords to determine whether they have "engaged in prohibited conduct related to terrorism or other unlawful activities."
The Washington Post reported on the letters Thursday. The story cited the initial IPT report as an impetus for the Issa and Collins inquiries. "The web site's report was based on brief, intragovernmental messages about the mosque," the story said, omitting details about the law enforcement assessments.
The story did quote two sources disparaging the IPT report. Census spokesman Steven Jost told the newspaper "We're not happy with the optics being portrayed by this web site." Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Dar Al-Hijrah outreach director, said it was wrong "that certain individuals who are against Muslims would impugn the character of the mosque when we haven't been found guilty of any crime."
The IPT was not asked to respond and the Post chose not to tell readers what the TECS reports said. Editor Linda Robinson explained that the records, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, were "not terribly useful, frankly," because they were brief summaries and the author's identity was not known.
"I don't know who wrote them," she said. "I don't know anything about them."
Issa included details about the records in his letter to the GSA administrator:
"The DHS maintains the Traveler Enforcement Compliance System (TECS), a database and case management application populated by reports from border and law enforcement agencies. The searchable TECS database allows investigators to quickly identify individuals and entities with derogatory background information.
The Dar Al-Hijrah Center is described in one TECS report as having been 'under numerous investigations for financing and [providing] aid and comfort to bad [organizations] and members.' In another TECS report, Dar Al-Hijrah is described as 'a mosque operating as a front for Hamas operatives in [the] U.S.'
Even the most cursory review using publicly available research tools would have raised red flags when GSA considered entering into a lease with Dar Al-Hijrah."
The TECS reports Issa references can be seen here, here and here.

May 22, 2010

Obama Stands Impotently By While Mexican President Insults America, on American Soil


The following is a re-posting of an Op-Ed written by US Rep. Sue Myrick and issued to the media yesterday (05/21/10):

Since it was introduced, President Obama has been an open opponent to the new immigration law in Arizona. So, it was no surprise when he criticized the law during a press conference yesterday in the Rose Garden with Mexican President Felipe Calderón.

What was surprising, and quite frankly offensive, was that the President was playing backup to Calderón’s comments about the Arizona law, which he called “discriminatory”, warning that Mexico would not support US efforts to “criminalize migration”. Since when is it acceptable for the leader of a foreign country stand on American soil and bash the laws of one of our states – a state that has the right and responsibility to make and enforce its laws for the protection of its citizens? Since when is it acceptable for the leader of our country to stand by and allow it?

Well, it isn’t acceptable.

Millions of Mexican citizens have illegally entered the United States. This is in direct violation of U.S. law, and if the tables were turned, it’s doubtful the Mexican government would tolerate millions of our citizens living and working in their country illegally.

Instead of criticizing the domestic policy of the United States, perhaps Calderón should examine the domestic policy of Mexico. After all, most illegal immigrants disregard our immigration laws in an effort to find jobs unavailable in their home countries.

I introduced a resolution with Rep Gary Miller and Rep. Lamar Smith expressing support for the right of states to enforce immigration law on a local level. The federal government has failed to do this, and it has fallen on local law enforcement to make sure that laws are obeyed. One of the best examples of this is the 287g program in Charlotte, which has proved effective in ensuring that criminal illegal aliens who are eligible for deportation don’t slip through the cracks.

Everyone can agree that our immigration system must be reformed, but that does not negate the fact that a system is in place for people to come here legally, and these laws must be obeyed. People who come to the United States illegally have broken the law – it’s as simple as that. Illegal is illegal. Our President should have the conviction to speak up when foreign leaders – while standing on US soil – insult the laws that have been put in place to protect our nation and our people.

May 21, 2010

On WBT Radio This Weekend


If you get a chance, listen in to WBT radio this weekend as I will be on with David Chadwick this Sunday from 9:00 am until 10:00 am and again from 9:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Let me know your thoughts afterward.

Gaston County Republican Women Club Meeting (Photos)



Enjoyed my time yesterday with the Gaston County Republican Women. We met at the City Club and I gave my presentation. I really appreciate their embrace of the issue and their passion.

May 18, 2010

On the Road with Sue Myrick in Gaston County (Photos)



Sue spent Monday in Gaston County at various events. We started the day at South Point High School meeting with students who recently placed in the top 10% nationally in a simulated stock market competition.

Next we stopped for a cup of coffee and conversation at the Belmont Hardees.






After heading to Gaston Memorial for a meeting with the CEO we had lunch with our good friend and Gaston County Commissioner Donnie Loftis and his lovely wife.
Next, Sue gave a speech and took Q and A from the East Gaston Rotary Club at the City Club.


Then we stopped by Good Will Publishers for a tour of their facilities and a meeting with their senior staff.




Finally, we headed over to American and Efird and meet with the Mt. Holly Chamber of Commerce. Great meeting. Great questions.








May 16, 2010

Newt Gingrich Campaigns for Sue Myrick (Photos)


Newt Gingrich keynoted a fundraising reception for our re-election campaign this past Saturday afternoon. Here he is arriving and being welcomed by Sue Myrick at the Westin.


Newt Gingrich and Sue Myrick


Newt addresses the audience


Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Newt and Sue having conversation after the event

Ed Myrick


Newt and John Steward




Sue and Irwin Belk


Sue and Virginia Foxx


Gaston County Commissioner Tracy Philbeck and Sue




Mrs. and Mr. Jones and Sue

9th District Vice Chairman John Steward and 9th District Chairman Neil Moore (Double Trouble)

Sue being interviewed by reporter Mary Curtis