patricialightner's Diary

Pro-Life Women are Here to Stay

Last week, Ramesh Ponnuru wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “The Year of the (Pro-Life) Woman”. As his wonderful editorial pointed out, despite the fact there are millions of pro-life women throughout the United States, only a handful are elected to federal office – just 13 in the House and a sad zero in the Senate.

The good news is that is changing. From coast to coast, from conservatives states such as South Carolina to liberal states like California , pro-life women are stepping forward and are not only running, but winning.

Also, while 2010 may the year of the pro-life woman, it will only be the beginning. We are not going anywhere. Pro-life women are here to stay.

As the mother of two adopted daughters, I understand how sacred life is. To me, it goes beyond a political issue – it is also a moral, ethical and personal issue. Furthermore, it is the essence of our existence — if we do not respect and protect life from conception to natural death, there is no such thing as liberty – for a fundamental right to life is at the heart of true liberty.

For that reason, I am proud of my 100% pro-life voting record in the Kansas House, where I sponsored and voted for numerous pieces of pro-life legislation. I sponsored resolutions urging Kansas to participate in National Adoption Day, to urge Congress to fund ultrasound equipment at crisis pregnancy centers, and to review the abortion drug RU 486. I also voted in favor of numerous other pro life bills, including for operation standards at abortion clinics and for a ban on destructive embryonic stem cell research – issues that separate me from my opponent.

For some, being a “pro-life” candidate has simply meant a willingness to vote right when the light is shining the brightest so that in the next election, one could slap the pro-life label on a piece of campaign literature.

To me, the cause of life is much more important than one election victory and even a correct vote on an issue. In order for the pro-life cause to advance, for hearts to be changed and pro-life policies to be enacted, American needs pro-life leaders – particularly female leaders – who will truly stand up and be the voice for the voiceless — a consistent advocate for innocent human life.

The wonderful news is that this is occurring in races across the country. The emergence of female pro-life candidates – and their subsequent victories – shows that in 2010 and beyond, the pro-life cause is advancing, after decades of slow yet steady progress. As I go door to door here in the 3rd District, the question I receive most frequently is if I’m pro-life – mostly from women.

Of course, this would not have been possible without the leadership of those who have had the courage to step forward before us, dating back to Susan B. Anthony and her persistent advocacy for the unborn. Today, in Congress, Michele Bachmann, Marsha Blackburn, Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and others are following in Susan B. Anthony’s footsteps, having the courage to stand up and passionately advocate for life. Here in Kansas , Mary Pilcher Cook, Brenda Landwehr, Judy Morrison, Peggy Mast and others have all been in the trenches consistently.

And it goes without saying that Sarah Palin’s leadership, strength and grace under pressure has inspired pro-life women nationwide to get involved — either by joining a campaign, or in some cases, running on our own.

Of course, the most important point in all of this is not simply electoral victories or some kind of “Girl Power” pride, but that electoral success by pro-life women (and men) means that the people are hearing and understand the pro-life message – and as a result, innocent life is being respected and protected.

I am so proud of Carly Fiorina, Sharron Angle, Nikki Haley, and so many others who are stepping forward to run and having such success. It is a tremendous honor and responsibility to be alongside such great pro-life women. Together, whether we are running for Governor, Congress, or the state legislature, I believe our collective impact will be a lasting one.

Sincerely,

Patricia Lightner

Patricia Lightner is a Republican running for Congress in the 3rd District of Kansas. She has been endorsed by Kansans for Life, Concerned Women PAC, Catholic Families for America, nine conservative state legislators, Independence Caucus, and Change the Congress in 2010 PAC. You can join her 5,400 fans on Facebook or support her by visiting her website at http://www.patricialightner.com.

You Can’t Tweak Socialism

Dear RedState: I posted the following column on my website on Friday, and wanted to share it with you. Thank you! – Patricia

It has been less than 100 hours since ObamaCare passed the United States Congress, and before most Democrats have even had a chance to read the bill, there are already some early indications that some in our party, as time goes along, will advocate doing something less than a full repeal of the health care takeover which passed on the late hours of March 21.

Indeed, I am deeply concerned as the weeks and months drag on and the time elapses since passage, there will be calls to keep some parts of ObamaCare while repealing others – essentially, an effort to tweak around the edges. As a constitutional conservative, I am completely opposed to this idea for one very simple reason:

You can’t tweak socialism.

We have reached a critical crossroads in our nation’s history, a generational turning point where we will decide what kind of country we will be. The radical left, led by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi, is fully devoted to remaking America into their own image, one founded more in the concept of “We the Government” instead of “We the People”, where power is top down, and where more and more segments of the private sector are either severely regulated or destroyed in favor of government control.

It is for this very reason that “Repeal It” needs to be more than a campaign slogan, but rather a real call to action that we demand our elected leaders won’t back down from. The Republican Party has lost elections before because we campaigned as conservatives, but then compromised with liberals once elected, in a feeble attempt to appear bi-partisan. This cannot happen in 2010 and 2012 – we must be completely committed to the principles of limited government, economic freedom, individual liberty, the rule of law, and a culture of life.

It is for that reason I completely support the legislation sponsored by Michele Bachmann, Steve King, and Jim DeMint to repeal ObamaCare. I believe we must be prepared to fight this battle over the long-haul, because no repeal will likely be passed by Congress until 2011, and it is likely a full repeal will not signed into law until 2013. In the meantime, we must fully support efforts to defund ObamaCare, and embrace challenges to the constitutionality of the legislation, particularly at the state level.

Once ObamaCare is repealed, we can then replace it with legislation that embraces the free market and upholds the Constitution while achieving real reform that lowers costs and increases competition. Any positive segment of the recently-passed bill which is consistent with the Constitution and free-market principles could easily be put forth in a new piece of legislation. However, nibbling around the edges of ObamaCare won’t do and is not consistent with the Constitution.

Make no mistake — the “temptation to tweak” must be resisted. This is not the time for weakness, not when so many founding principles of our country are at stake. In 2010, we must elect committed, constitutional conservatives who have the strength, courage, and principles to stand firm.

In that spirit, I ask you to stand with me.

Sincerely,
Patricia Lightner

Patricia Lightner is a conservative Republican running for Congress in the 3rd District of Kansas. You can learn more about Patricia via her website or on her Facebook page where she has more than 2000 fans.

Health Care Arrogance

For nearly a year, from Virginia to Massachusetts to New Jersey , Americans coast-to-coast have said “stop” to the Democrats and ObamaCare – yet, in one of the most arrogant displays of power in our nation’s history, the Democrats in Congress are hell-bent on imposing their will – via the Senate health care bill – on the American people. Now, it appears they may even try to pass it without having a vote on the bill through a procedure called “deem and pass.”

This legislation, a dramatic step towards socialized medicine and representing a monumental shift in our country’s approach to health care and the role of government, would impose new taxes and unprecedented mandates on Americans, provide federal funding for abortion, and cripple private insurance right at a time when people need more access to private insurance, not less.

As I’ve said during this entire campaign, the Democrats are not interested in real health care reform – to them, it’s about control. In fact, part of the arrangement in passing this bill is that they will go back and “fix the bill” in reconciliation, and the most progressive elements of the Democratic Party have made it clear they will not settle for anything less than a government option.

Make no mistake – that’s what President Obama wants too – while he conducts his dog and pony shows with Congressional leaders complete with lies about wanting to incorporate conservative ideas, he has made it clear he is not interested in incorporating those ideas at all. After all, why would he? He doesn’t believe in free markets or the ability of individuals to choose their own health care – he believes in a one-size-fits-all approach to government, where we’re all forced to buy health insurance, pay abortion fees, pay higher taxes, and anything else that he, Nancy Pelosi, and their left-wing ilk demand we should buy, do, or not do.

This isn’t just about health care either – it’s about liberty. In the words of Andrew Jackson, ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’ — and it is liberty that is under assault by the current crew in Congress. Under their socialist world view, it’s not your health care; it’s the government’s health care. Just by being born, you will be forced to buy something – eventually, from the government. If you don’t approve of abortion, too bad – never mind what it does to the life and liberty of the unborn child. It doesn’t matter the issue – they know best, not you.

President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and their liberal water-carriers in Congress have all turned a deaf ear to the voices of the people who elected them. This includes Dennis Moore, who due to his lame duck status, clearly no longer cares about the views of his constituents. In fact, Dennis might as well shut down his Congressional offices because he’s made it clear he’s done listening. In fact, the only substantive thing he’s offered of late is a strong hint that his wife may run for the seat.

2010 is not the year for moderation or weakness. With the Democrats arrogantly attempting to ram through legislation without even voting on it, I believe the Republican Party must field experienced, strong conservative voices in 2010, and that is why I am running for Congress here in the 3rd District of Kansas.

The Tea Parties ad Town Halls have taught us we must be firm in our convictions and in our purpose for seeking office — and then have the fortitude to back those words up with actions. This is never more important than now, when it is increasingly likely we will have to act to repeal and defund ObamaCare next year. Make no mistake – once government programs are enacted, they are very hard to repeal, and many in both parties will suggest compromise.

Let me be clear – there can be no compromise in defending liberty and upholding the Constitution. If elected, I will demand a repeal of all aspects of government health care — including all taxes, mandates, fees, and other moves towards government control. I have signed the Club for Growth “Repeal It” Pledge and I believe that should include returning all new taxes paid under ObamaCare directly to those who paid them.

Aside from the attack on our liberty and freedoms, the most troubling aspect about this entire ordeal has been the fact it is a colossal waste of time – time that could have been spent on passing reforms that would truly improve the system. Ideas such as tort reform, tearing down artificial barriers to competition like state lines, expanding health care savings accounts, enacting new health care tax credits, and allowing small businesses to pool together to purchase health insurance could have all been passed in a matter of weeks – yet they were ignored in this progressive lurch towards socialism.

The good news is the fight is far from over, and we can, through the electoral process, reverse what has been done by electing a new Congress who will defend the liberty of the American people and uphold the Constitution.

We can do our part in the 3rd District – and in that spirit, I humbly ask for your support. Please join my campaign today at www.patricialightner.com.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Rep. Patricia Lightner
Candidate for Congress

Patricia Lightner is a Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd District of Kansas. Click here to visit her website and click here to find her on Facebook.

My Reaction to the State of the Union

The State of the Union, no matter who is President, is always an impressive spectacle to watch. It provides our nation – specifically, our leaders – a chance to refocus on solutions for our nation.

There were elements of the President’s speech I applaud – such as the proposal for clean, safe, nuclear energy and continuing down the path for earmark reform, particularly putting earmark requests online. I also applaud the President’s strong statements in regard to consequences for Iran should they continue to head down the dangerous path they are heading.

However, too often, the President’s speech took on a tone of lecturing the American people – particularly those who have a different outlook on the proper role of government than he does. He criticized the permanent campaigning of politics, even while he has been the entire time he’s been office. He went after the Supreme Court for protecting free speech. When it comes to national health care, he asked the American people to take another look at what he’s proposed – ignorant of the fact that they have, and they have soundly rejected it.

What most bothers me is that President Obama continues to say he’s welcome to ideas other than his own, but fails to acknowledge that Republicans have proposed reforms on health care – such as tort reform, medical savings accounts, allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines, etc. – that would lower costs, increase competition, improve access, and increase freedom and choice for Americans. But those proposals have been set aside for mandates, abortion fees, and government takeovers. Americans want health care reform, but they want reform that protects their freedom and preserves the quality of care they will receive – not one that expands government control over their lives.

Finally, while I am glad that the President has finally acknowledged that holding the line on spending is a good idea, his spending freeze proposal is too little too late – not only would it not take effect until next year – it takes place well after the massive amounts of spending that have put us in this financial position in the first place.

“This brings me back to the central focus of my campaign for Congress – a return to the principles of limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty. The quicker our nation’s leaders embrace those principles in the reforms they propose, the faster our economy will recover and our nation will return to prosperity.

Patricia Lightner is a Republican running in the 3rd District of Kansas. You can find her on Facebook or by visiting her website at http://www.patricialightner.com.

My reaction to Scott Brown’s Victory

I want to congratulate Scott Brown on his historic victory to the United States Senate. His inspiring, positive, issues-based campaign motivated conservatives, independents, and Reagan Democrats to turn out in droves to support his incredible march to victory.

The Brown victory shows that a principled conservative message can be successful wherever it is tried – even in the bluest of blue states such as Massachusetts. The American people have made it clear they want their government small, open, and honest – and out of the way of their economic and health care choices. They want their taxes low and they believe the economy will grow through empowering entrepreneurs, not government spending. They will not tolerate special favors for unions, special interest groups or Senators to buy votes, nor will they stand for backroom deals carved out behind closed doors after many promises to conduct negotiations out in the open. Such actions smack of corruption and old-time politics, and the American people have said no – and that was proven tonight.

The Brown victory also shows that conservatives everywhere should have the courage of our convictions, to campaign aggressively on our principles of limited government, economic freedom, individual liberty, and the rule of law. That is what my campaign is based on, and it is the message I will continue to proudly carry for the duration of this campaign.

Congratulations to Scott Brown!

Patricia Lightner is a former three-term State Representative and a Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd District of Kansas. You can visit her website at http://www.patricialightner.com.

Our Focus is Off

Americans are horrified at the recent attempted airline bombing by an al-Qaeda trained man on Christmas Day near Detroit. While we are fortunate that this attack on American soil was not successful, I am extremely concerned about the systems in place at our airports, the leadership and competence of those in this Administration, and the conduct of the War on Terror in general. Americans justifiably demand accountability from those in charge.

We should have been concerned when the Obama Administration stopped referring to this war as a “War on Terror’. A mere change in rhetoric may seem like meaningless semantics, but it reflects a mindset and a misunderstanding of the magnitude of the challenges we face. It’s not just that a system isn’t working – our entire focus is off – and we need to get serious about vigilance and security before it’s too late.

While Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano may think “the system worked”, most Americans understand that we came within a whisker of a successful terror attack on American soil. Furthermore, with yet another security breach last week in Newark, stranding thousands of airline passengers for hours – creating a dangerous incident in itself due to the extreme crowding and mass chaos – it is becoming increasingly apparent the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Homeland Security operations are a mess.

In the Newark incident, TSA cameras were not even working, so the gross incompetence is strikingly clear – and the responsibility for that starts at the top. Inexcusably, there is no one at the top of TSA. The position has been vacant throughout the entire first year of this presidency. Instead of withdrawing Erroll Southers’s nomination to lead TSA, Mr. Obama continues to stand by a man who misled Congress about how he not once, but twice, misused his power as an FBI agent to retrieve confidential information in order to intimidate a woman.

I am also concerned about the entire focus of the War on Terror. While extremists around the globe plot to attack Americans and our allies, the Obama Administration is moving terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay to our back yard in Illinois. When an attack is nearly carried out on U.S soil, the Administration responds with talking about plea bargains and a criminal trial for the would-be-killer, as if this were an episode of Law & Order.

Terrorists and jihadists will stop at nothing to kill Americans, and we need an Administration with policies in place that reflect this reality. It shouldn’t take a ‘near miss’ or massive chaos in an airport to bring this about – it should be a constant, everyday reality for those who we have entrusted to protect us.

If elected, I will work to sharpen our focus and keep our eye on the ball. Our liberty is at stake, and we must never relent in defending America.

Sincerely,

Patricia Lightner

Patricia Lightner is a candidate for Congress in the 3rd District of Kansas. She is a former three-term State Representative. You can find out more about her by visiting http://www.patricialightner.com.

Making My Stand

Ronald Reagan once said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

That, my friends, is what the 2010 election is all about. With our economic freedom and individual liberty under constant threat, I believe people both in and out of office must be willing to step forward and speak the truth — particularly in the face of great challenges our nation faces and the consequences we face if we don’t courageously advocate for what we know is right.

As you know, Congressman Dennis Moore has decided to retire from Congress. While welcome news, his decision — and the ensuing interest so many have shown in the race — also inspired me to reflect on my own reason for running.

I’ve been talking and listening to the people of this district since the Olathe Republican Picnic in June. Unlike others, I never needed an internal poll or a retirement statement to spark me to run. All I had to do was look at the lineup of votes Moore is casting which are directly opposed to the principles this country was founded on – not to mention the values of the people of this district.

My feeling was that if our opponents are acting decisively to remake this country into something it was not intended to be, we as conservatives must act decisively to stop them. The people of the 3rd District deserve a courageous voice to represent them in Washington , and once I had the blessing of my husband and family, I decided to start asking the people to be that voice.

I’ve already visited with literally thousands of voters — at town halls, at meet and greets, at the Freedom Fest, at candidate forums, in parades, and in going door to door. It is because of talking with these thousands of people that I was never afraid of challenging Moore – because from talking to them, I have every confidence the voters will respond to common sense conservative message of limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty.

Moore’s departure does nothing to change this. While people are not happy with the Democrats, they aren’t exactly thrilled with Republicans either. They don’t want just another establishment politician seeking advancement – they want an independent, conservative voice willing to fight for their interests and stand up for truth – not just when it is convenient or politically timely, but when the going is tough as well – which is when steadfast leadership is needed the most.

In fact, Moore’s departure highlights the importance of electing a courageous conservative who won’t only vote right when Republicans are part of a rising tide, but will have the backbone to stand firm when the prevailing political winds shift again – as we all know they will.

This campaign was never about one man or one election – it is about, in the spirit of that quote from Ronald Reagan, fighting for our freedom and passing it on to our children. And it is on that solid ground which I make my stand.

As the establishment tries to figure out who their candidate is going to be, I invite you to support my campaign and get behind a real movement to shakeup Washington — not just to win one victory in one election cycle, but to establish a completely new direction for our country.

Patricia Lightner

Patricia Lightner is a Republican candidate in the 3rd District of Kansas. Democrat Dennis Moore recently announced his decision not to seek a 7th term in the Republican-leaning district. You can learn more about Patricia at her website, www.patricialightner.com.

Are you Ready to Reclaim your Liberty?

Thank you for taking time to read my introductory post here on RedState. It is great to be amongst like minded conservatives who have a core philosophy rooted in the founding principles of our nation, and are not afraid of stating those principles loudly and proudly — while also promoting the candidates who will do the same.

I come to you today as one of those candidates. My name is Patricia Lightner and I come from the 3rd District of Kansas, one of the many districts we have unfortunately lost since we initially took control of Congress back in 1994. The 3rd District, once reliably Republican and which still holds a sizable Republican registration advantage, has been held by Democrat Dennis Moore the past 12 years, earning the Republican 3rd District the infamous tag of being a safe Democrat seat.

Moore, who has always campaigned as a blue dog, is cognizant of this and has abandoned any remaining notion of that label, voting with Nancy Pelosi 98% of the time. Whether it be votes for union bosses with card check, for higher energy costs with Cap and Tax, or his pro-government option stance on health care, Moore has made it clear where he stands and it’s in clear opposition to the desires of this right-of-center district. As a result, some are beginning to wonder if he’s vulnerable.

I certainly think he is, and it is for that reason that in late August, after winning a local straw poll and talking to my family, I decided to take aggressive steps towards a bid for Congress. My campaign is based on the fundamental principle of liberty. I believe that single word represents everything we are fighting for today as we seek to promote conservative principles in an Obama nation…where the ideals we believe in are under constant assault. As I said in my introductory campaign video (at www.patricialightner.com), it is liberty which promotes individualism and freedom of economic choice. It is liberty that causes us to stand up for the right to life, so that all may enjoy the pursuit of happiness.

I need not go down the laundry list of items that this Administration and Congress are attempting to ram through while they have their large majorities. Make no mistake, the era of big government is back and with it so are skyrocketing deficits, more mandates, fewer freedoms and an unprecedented expansion of government control over private sector decision making that will be increasingly hard to reverse the longer we wait to act and act decisively.

I am acting decisively by entering this race with a full-steam-ahead approach. I am the only major conservative candidate in the race and have, for the last month, aggressively been reaching out to the voters of the 3rd District. There has been rarely a day that I have not been out in a parade, at festival, at a tea party, at a town hall, or at one of my own “Ask Patricia” Meet & Greets throughout the district. I’ve set up an introductory campaign video and have already launched radio ads, which you can view and listen to at http://www.patricialightner.com.

Finally, and most importantly, I am going door-to-door with a grassroots strategy which will place myself or a supporter of mine on every doorstep in the 3rd District. People deserve to know what my principles are, and the best way to communicate those principles is one-on-one.

I have already started walking, and as I do, I am inspired by the level of interest and attention people are paying towards what is going on in our government. I hear from people who want someone who believes as they do, that the government which governs best governs least, that the Tenth Amendment is still part of the Constitution, and that the way to economy prosperity and lower health care costs is not higher taxes or a “competitive public option”, as Moore put it, but through unleashing America’s predominant economic force: her people.

As a former three-term State Representative and former Majority Whip and Chairman of the Insurance Committee in the Kansas House, I have the legislative experience that I believe will allow me to hit the ground running when it comes to governing. I have experience in both the public and private sector, as well as a close family that provides me the emotional support and strength necessary to accomplish this great task ahead.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about me, and I look forward to posting again soon — I promise not to be a drive-by candidate! In the meantime, to learn more about my complete background and beliefs, visit my website http://www.patricialightner.com or join me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PatriciaLightnerforCongress.

God bless,

Patricia Lightner
Former State Representative
Candidate for Congress, 3rd District of Kansas