Rockwall Conservative

What follows the second paragraph is a response to Mr. Michael Smith, a Dallas blogger who represents Campaign for Primary Accountability. Mr. Smith first contacted my by way of comment on my blog site. I invited him to call me and we talked at length yesterday, May 17.

Subsequent to our telephone conversation, Michael sent me a link to a Dallas Observer blog post titled Bipartisan Super PAC Targets Rep. Ralph Hall of Rockwall in Republican Primary.

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Michael,

The one “take away” from our conversation puzzled me. You remarked, to the effect, there is a more conservative candidate for CD-4, but you couldn’t name the candidate. The super PAC apparently blindly attacks incumbents without regard to consequences.

If you can, please explain how a “bipartisan Super Pact” works. In context of primary elections, is the term not oxymoronic?

If one truly wants the best Republican candidate to run in the primary, one works for that cause long before the slate of candidates is printed on the ballots.

It seems the discussion omits important facts about Congressman Hall’s voting record. He voted against ObamaCare (HR 3590). He related to me a brief encounter with President Obama when he asked the president if he wanted to know why he opposed the bill. The president indicated he did not want to hear Congressman Hall’s reason, but Ralph quickly explained he voted “no” because there was no way to vote “hell no”.

The article mentions Ralph’s votes to increase the budget, but fails to point out he opposed and voted against TARP under President Bush. Mr. Linbeck’s opinion that he became “debt-conscious the moment a Democrat steps into the White House” is at best incorrect, at worst an outright lie.

It may be helpful to understand that increasing the budget in and of itself is not a “conservative sin”. Congress has necessarily raised the budget from the time of George Washington to George Bush (44) to fund wars, highway construction and the like – usual and customary federal expenditures. My wife, daughter and granddaughter were touring Boston in recent months. As their tour guide began to describe The Big Dig, I suggested she publicly remark that Texas taxes paid for it. She told me the guide acknowledged that fact. Yes, it’s messy and no one is going to change the system overnight.

With respect to “earmarks”, this is a long-time practice of members of the House to claw back funds to their respective constituents from whom the funds originated. Yes, it’s a messy business, but every congressman, past or present, has used this method, including Congressman Ron Paul for whom I voted (early) in the 2012 Republican primary election.

Regarding his party switch, you probably don’t know most of us who are Republicans here in Rockwall County also switched parties along the way, I did so after Jimmy Carter was elected. Aside from Congressman Hall, Carter was the last Democrat to get my vote for any office. Ralph and I have a mutual friend about whom is said he is “the only Rockwall Republican that came out of the womb a Republican”.

The super PAC ignorantly uses its financial clout to override the will of voters in Congressional District 4 and undoubtedly other districts as well. While, yes, the Supreme Court ruled that campaign contributions are a form of free speech, the solitary fact of wealth does not automatically infer righteousness, otherwise there ought to be a national holiday set aside to worship George Soros.

Congressman Ralph Hall lives here among us in Rockwall and not in a gated community. He does an excellent job of representing the broad and diverse interests of our Congressional district.

When we talked, I learned you live in Dallas, not in our district. If either you, Mr. Linbeck or any member of the super PAC lived here, your opinions would be highly valued. It appears to me that you and members of the super PAC are driven by blind ambition to replace all incumbents without regard to the sentiments or values of the affected people.

I have lived in CD-4 for over 26 years where I have come to personally know and love Congressman Hall. I and my fellow Rockwall County Republicans voted for him before and after his party switch. He got my vote this year as well.

It is my opinion that efforts by you and the super PAC to unseat Congressman Hall work wholly contrary to the interests of the people of my district.

Thanks for the call.

John White

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Ralph Moody Hall is more than our Congressman. He is beloved friend, respected businessman and community leader. Community leader? Yes, community leader.

He makes time for his constituents and he sows his wisdom into emerging leaders. Elected officials, whether city council members, constables, members of commissioners court or Republican Party precinct chairmen, they have all been recipients of his encouragement and wise counsel.

Ralph lives here in Rockwall. He works for us in Washington. When he’s not working there, he’s here listening to his people.

Just this week, a law-enforcement friend completed his annual bicycle ride from New Jersey to the nation’s capital. Without prior appointment, he was able to visit with Congressman Hall in his Washington office for over an hour and a half. I challenge anyone to match this experience with their respective member of Congress.

Cong. Ralph Hall with Rockwall Area Law Enforcement Officers
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Annual Police Unity Tour Team Members

I voted early for Ralph Hall and I invite my neighbors, friends and fellow voters in CD-4 to vote for Ralph Hall on May 29.