David Larsen at the Oldwick Firehouse last night.
Larsen launches GOP Primary bid against Lance
By Max Pizarro | February 13th, 2010 - 10:46amOLDWICK - He drives a Ford Expedition with 240,000 miles on it, which he calls "Moose," owns a .16 gauge shotgun and a .30-06 - for deer hunting - and when he grips the hand of a supporter at his campaign kickoff at the Oldwick Volunteer Firehouse, the other man's face crinkles into a broad grin at the feel of calluses on the hands of David Larsen, owner of a windows and doors business, and a candidate for U.S. Congress.
"I would never have guessed just a few years ago that I would be here tonight, making this announcement, making this commitment," declared Larsen, standing at a podium Friday night in the belly of the station house in front of a modest but animated crowd of 50 people.
"I also don’t think any of us could have predicted just a few years ago the challenges we would face as a nation or how our politicians would react to these challenges and how thoroughly they would disappoint us," added the candidate, whose businessman's Obama era outrage spills into his own party.
The GOP object of this long-shot, Tea Party-affiliate's disappointment is incumbent U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton), who served for three decades at the Statehouse before gritting through a Republican Primary in 2008 and then beating Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) 51%-41% in the 7th District general election. The moderate, pro-choice Lance's victory over Stender came two years after Stender had come within two points of upending the more conservative, pro-life former U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson.
"But the times have changed," said Larsen.
A month after a nobody named Scott Brown drop-kicked the Democratic Party U.S. Senate candidate in Massachusetts to win the late Ted Kennedy's seat, Larsen's Republican Primary compare-and-contrast campaign war cry provoked a standing ovation at the end of his roughly 15-minute address.
The Brown-like gist of it is that Lance, son of a politician, has himself been a politician all of his adult life and consequently cocooned himself outside of the experience of most of the district's residents; while Larsen, the son of Norwegian immigrants who emerged from a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, started his own business at 20 and grew it big enough to employee hundreds of people through the years, make plenty of money and move to Oldwick around 15 years ago - knows the Route 22 terrain of everyman.
Even if he owns what he describes as a "gentleman's farm" in Tewksbury, where he raises American quarter horses, he did it the Horatio Alger way, explained one supporter in attendance at the firehouse last night, and has the requisite grease and spackle dust under his fingernails to play in Union and Middlesex, and simultaneously just enough dirt and saddle sweat under the nails to harness votes in Somerset and Hunterdon.
"I am not a politician, having been an entrepreneur all of my life," said Larsen, married with three daughters. "I am not a Harvard MBA or lawyer, and I never worked for a big Wall Street firm. I have no ties and owe no favors to big business, so I have no political obligations, nor do I want them. ...A few years ago, I may have considered this to be a handicap for someone who would pursue a political office. I no longer feel that way. I felt this way because, like many, I thought the answer to our problems was to elect 'good' politicians.'
"But the more I see of a government that has grown out of control and of career politicians who are out of touch with their constituents," he added, "the more I see that it is our politicians who ARE the problem, not the challenges we face as a nation."
Asked to name one in his short Congressional career, Larsen's supporters say Lance's worst transgression as a U.S. Congressman was his support of the cap and trade bill, a President Barack Obama pro-environment initiative aimed at limiting carbon omissions, which would auction off permits to those entities emitting carbon dioxide gasses.
Larsen said he would have done everything in his power to try to stop that bill dead in its tracks.
"People don't want this stuff rammed down their throats," he said. "If I were there, you would hear me. My question is, 'Where is this guy?' Someone stand up!"
The Congressman plans to kick off his own re-election bid on Tuesday morning with multiple stops throughout the district and a coterie of key supporters expected to be in attendance, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield), state Sen. Kip Bateman (R-Branchburg), state Sen. Mike Doherty (R-Washington Twp.), Bridgewater Mayor Patricia Flannery, and former Congressman Mike Ferguson.
The protective presence of a fierce conservative like Doherty, a supporter of Steve Lonegan over Chris Christie in last year's gubernatorial contest, and named the number one conservative in the state by "Conservatives with Attitude" last week, smothers the notion that a rightward candidate could gain traction against Lance, or at least that's the expectation from Lance's allies.
Predictably, Larsen's people seem unconcerned by the infrastructure of longtime elected officials in the congressman's corner.
"The greatest problem we face," Larsen said in his speech, "a problem that threatens the future of our representative government is that we have developed a political class of career politicians. The result is a cookie cutter version of political bureaucrats, no matter what party they are in.
"In Massachusetts, with the election of Scott Brown, we recently observed the people triumphing over the political class," he added. "The politicians in Massachusetts didn’t recognize that a representatives seat is 'the people's seat.' They felt this way because they believed that generations of politicians from one family entitled them to own that seat. They think they are entitled. ...Well, they are not entitled to your money, and they most certainly aren’t entitled to your freedom. And they are not entitled to their office, even if they have the word 'incumbent' in front of their name."
Asked if he anticipates calling for debates with Lance, Larsen said, "No, I don't think so. He's a far more polished debater." Asked about whether, if elected, he would impose term limits on himself, the candidate said, "It's very possible to go with something like that. Between Congress and U.S. Senate, 12 years total might be a good idea."
He's willing to inject $300,000 of his own money into the contest, he said. Lance right now is operating with over half a million in his campaign coffers but has access to deep fundraising contacts in the Republican Party.
Seventh District Democrats, meanwhile, feel mostly cowed by a political environment nationally that has shifted against their party and put them on defense. The only declared Congressional candidate so far is Ed Potosnak of Franklin Township, an aide to U.S. Rep. Mike Honda.
Businessman (and Somerset County Democratic Organization Vice Chair) Zenon Christodoulou is still undergoing the agonies of trying to figure out if he will get in the race, according to sources. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) wants him in, but friends and local political associates are telling Christodoulou that if the atmosphere is tough for Dems right now, it's toxic against a moderate Republican like Lance.
Yet for the rightward Larsen, that "moderate" pro-environment tag is a Lance liability in a Republican Primary.
"I will listen to you, I will be a voice for the people, your voice, and I ask for your vote in the Republican June 8th primary, and again in November, so that I can be your voice in Washington," he said, just before his supporters emptied their seats in a hearty standing ovation.
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At least he
doesn't have a mother to distance himself from.
NJ 07 Will Show the Flaws of the Tea Party Movement
Larsen, running in moderate NJ 07 may be just
what America needs to show the limitations and
deep flaws of the Tea Party Movement. It will
also show the hypocrisy in the ranks of
current elected officials and campaign donors
that support the movement: Conservative
political leadership has consistently been about
posturing and hot air. The proof is calls for
tax cuts and a
limited government but in practice government
never gets cut and spending is never cut.
Non-discretionary spending continues to rise.
Entitlements not only continued to increase
during the "compassionate conservative" presidency
of George W. Bush but the president EXPANDED
entitlements with the creation of the Medicare
Part D program.
Democrats are seeking entitlement reform for the
second time in as many decades and Republicans
are no where to be found. The mantra that "both
Democrats and Republicans will be targeted if
they don't fall in line" is BS. It's great
politicking but if anyone is paying attention
they'll see the hesitancy of the Republican Party
to absorb the movement which is why the Tea Partiers
continue to suggest that they MAY be bi-partisan.
David Larsen and the rest of the Tea Party
movement needs to do Republicans, centrists
such as Rep. Lance, Democrats and
students of Bill Buckley-Barry Goldwater
conservatism one favor: Stop peeing on
everybody's legs and telling us that it is
raining. Washington is certainly home to a lot
of posturing and politicking and that will
continue to be true with the presence of Scott
Brown. However, Senator Brown will vote the
party line and should Republicans gain control
of Congress this year he will continue to be
a part of the trend of Republican hypocrisy in
regards to conservative values. The Washington
Post will run stories. The Boston Globe will
gladly editorialize and while the story will
focus on a continuation of decades of a lack of
Republican self-restraint the story should also
be the fact that Massachusetts voters do not want
a self-proclaimed Tea Partier. They want a
senator. Someone who studies the issues, works
well with others and reflects the diversity
and progressive values of the overwhelming
majority of Massachusetts voters. Brown is not
long for the Senate, at least under his current
mantra, and the Tea Party movement is not long
for America.
David Larsen, thank you in advance for that.
Lance
Just what has Lance brought to the Republican Table ?
Answer is nothing but stale bread. We cant eat anything that Lange brings to the table because its mostly Liberal Democrat food.
Thanks .
http://www.masalca.com/
http://www.ezberim.com/
http://www.programdown.com/
Thanks man ..
Every GOP & Dem incumbent should be primaried
Get Rid of Incumbent Politicians.
The Teabaggers are the best thing to happen to the GOP since Reagan, who was considered an extremist when he ran for Prez back in 1976.
"He drives a Ford Expedition
"He drives a Ford Expedition with 240,000 miles on it, which he calls "Moose," owns a .16 gauge shotgun and a .30-06 - for deer hunting"
I guess if Lance wants to defeat this guy he better trade-in his Mercedes for a used pick-up truck and a shot-gun.
THE ALL AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE
definitely the fastest horse in the world in a Quarter mile.
Known for their powerful hind-quarters and kind & loyal disposition.
Definitely Main Street, USA and an Urban Cowboy to boot!!
Now we have a horse race!!!
I guess Larsen doesn't have wikipedia on his horse farm
"In Massachusetts, with the election of Scott Brown, we recently observed the people triumphing over the political class,"
A simple Wiki search reveled Scott Brown has
been an elected official since 1992, and the
son of a Massachusetts politician. Furthermore,
a pro-choice north east republican...sounds like
Larsen would also be a fan of Lance by his
rationale. Oh and Brown voted for universal
health care in Massachusetts.
Lance is a fraud
Lance never had to fight to win and election. He was appointed to a virtual bullet proof seat because of pedigree not principles. He then got his congressional seat through appointment and the seat is bullet proof.
You need a representative more like Scott Garrett to restore the reputation of the Republican Party. Lance is why we have Obama and both Democrat Houses. The job is to take out one RINO at a time and if you are ever going to jetison the the excess baggage to save the country it is this year.
It would be good to get someone who does not look at issues as bargaining chips for making compromising deals.
I think Larsen is a refreshing change and will take out Lance because the people have tasted blood and are sick and tired of the SOS. Go Larsen, Go!
Appreciate the history re-write Republican Cons...
But Lance did have to "fight to win"
the Congressional race in 2008. There was a
primary field of about 8 (he won that)
and he beat Stender by 10 points even after the DCCC pumped in about 2 million dollars.
As for this guy not debating because Lance is a
more "polished debater", what going to happen if
he gets to Washington? Is Larsen going to run and hide
every time he needs to speak?
Take a hint - if you want to be considered
serious, debate.
Lance or Larsen - Only a primary will tell
The reason why Lance won was because Doherty believed Lance's state senate seat was his. Then Lance betrayed Doherty and it led to a vicious primary where Doherty won.
A one-on-one primary between Lance and a conservative will be interesting. All the pro-life, gun and fiscal conservatives will be unified against the liberal Lance.
Numbers dictate that county lines in this district are starting to lose their power giving people like Larsen a chance.
Lance is not the type of guy who makes friends and is extremely effeminate. Seeing him in person either makes one laugh or cry, depending if you believe that political representatives are supposed to best represent a district or provide strange entertainment.
Ferguson would still be a congressman today if he didn't follow the advice of Jamestown political consulting group. Too bad for Mike. Running to the left in a district that clearly has a strong right of center base is not a winning strategy. Those surrounding Lance keep telling him the same thing and eventually that will play out with Lance's loss.
Democrats need only to sit back and wait for Lance to self-destruct in a hopeless effort to compromise everything and anything in order to hold on to a "moderate" tag, something that will never lead to long term victory.
The only real question that will be asked as Lance travels the district will be: Is he really married?
"All the pro-life, gun and
"All the pro-life, gun and fiscal conservatives will be unified against the liberal Lance."
Like Custer and the seventh cavalry were unified against the Indians.
"Lance is not the type of guy who makes friends and is extremely effeminate."
I'll bet he has more friends than you.
"The only real question that will be asked as Lance travels the district will be: Is he really married?"
Are you really serious?
No differant to me
Dave Larson for congress?? HA! That is
HYSTERICAL! Good luck with this one Larson!
Can't wait to see how this plays out!!!
Hopefully "karma" slaps you right in the face
AssWade.
Bravo to David Larsen. I
Bravo to David Larsen. I have been a staunch supporter of leonard Lance for decades - even now when my location was re-districted to Holt. But after the vote for Cap and Trade - I wrote and told Leonard - I would never support him again and would throw my support to someone who opposed him.
The Cap and Trade bill could not have been read by Mr. Lance in the time available to him. If he did read it he would have known that every home owners would have to do an energy audit on their home prior to selling. The requirements would have cost most sellers huge sums of money or rendered there home un-sellable.
And to those who think the Tea Party/Patriot movement is not long for America. KEEP THINKING THAT. We are organized and connected and having spent the entire day in Washington DC on 9/12 - I can tell you first hand - it's not a tidal wave - it's a tsunami.
WE DON'T WANT THE SAME OLD SAME OLD ANYMORE. Leonard - you BLEW IT.
Atari oyna
thanx.
atari oyunları
mutfak modelleri
Things to be proud of???
Who thanks this ass hole for driving a tank... the crown prince. Looks like Arab fellatio as a foreign policy stance. And is this guy to pussy to use a .12, and where in NJ can you use a rifle?
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