All nine House of Representatives candidates debate

Politics, State & National
debate

ELLIJAY, Ga – With the Georgia Primary finally set for June 9, the nine candidates for U.S. House of Representatives District Nine seat met for a Zoom debate.

The nine Republican candidates are State House District 8 Rep. Matt Gurtler, District 50 State Senator John Wilkinson, State House District Rep. 9 Kevin Tanner,  property rights attorney Ethan Underwood, small business owner Kellie Weeks, small business owner Andrew Clyde, former law enforcement officer Maria Strickland, physician Paul Broun, and Constitutionalist Michael Boggus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmSJZuEcSq8&t=4774s

All candidates voiced their support for the big issues like Second Amendment Rights, supporting President Trump, limited government, and fiscal conservatism. However, Gurtler took the opportunity to call out fellow Georgia General Assembly members for their yearly budget votes.

“As one of the three elected officials in the State House and the Senate, I think it’s funny when I hear my opponents Tanner and Wilkinson say that they’re fiscally conservative, yet they vote for the budgets, which add a billion to 1.5 billion dollars every year to Georgians. I oppose those budgets every year and we also take one to one federal money, which adds to the national debt that’s something that I’ve been fighting for more transparency with HB4,” expounded Gurtler.

Gurtler called out Tanner and Wilkinson for “fake talking points.”

Wilkinson responded, “I’m proud of the state we live in. I’m proud to serve on the appropriations committee. I’m proud that I’ve been able to help the counties of Northeast Georgia during my service at the legislature I think that speaks for itself. When you have a triple-A bond rating, a balanced budget, and you’re the number one place in the nation to do business and a million more citizens than you did ten years ago, something must be going right and I’m proud to be part of that.

“I’m a Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, anti-federalist type politician. They believed in a limited role of the federal government. The states under the 10th amendment have certain responsibilities – transportation, education infrastructure, [and] other things are part of the [state’s] responsibility. I’m proud we have a balanced budget in Georgia, a triple-A bond rating, one of the few states in the country that does. I’m proud that Gov. Kemp continues to put forth a well-balanced, conservative budget. I’ve been proud to support that along with most every Republican in the House. We did have a few Democrats and one member of the panel who did vote against the budget.”

Kevin Tanner acts according to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Gurtler called out their responses as “fake talking points” by Republicans, and he’s the only proven conservative in the race.

COVID-19 and State Bailouts

On the topic of COVID-19, everyone admitted the virus is real, but it’s time to safely get the country back to work.

“Certainly, the coronavirus is a health issue, not a government issue. In my opinion, Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, and even Dr. Toomey in Georgia, they’re swamp creatures, and they have been able to accomplish what Comey, Clapper, Brennan, Strzok, and all those other people tried to do to take this president down, stated Broun. “We need to get this economy going. We need to let people be responsible for their own actions.”

“I would never diminish the fact that people are afraid,” said Tanner. “I have been surprised how quickly people are willing to give up their liberties for safety. I think that is a concern. I think we have small government overreach in many areas. I have been amazed at how well businesses have stepped up on their own.”

Paul Broun previously served as Congressman as Representative in District 10.

Many also denounced the first $2.2 trillion bill for government overreach and unnecessary spending. Gurtler said that “75 percent of the bill had nothing to do with the coronavirus.”

Wilkinson championed moving manufacturing back to the U.S. and making China accountable for some of the debt incurred by COVID-19.

Most were against a states bailout by the federal government, except Strickland.

She said, “I would think a limited amount of bailout would be appropriate to some of the states only because this a unique situation that no one expected to be getting into. Granted, the states some of them like New York, New Jersey that spent their money on illegal immigrants and all this other kind of thing. They didn’t prepare for the future. We do need to bailout some of them, but only a limited amount.”

“I think it’s fine if the states get a stimulus as long as it goes to people and the small businesses,” stated Boggus. “Small businesses [are] the backbone of this country. This stimulus should be pork-free unlike the last one and there shouldn’t be [any] ice cream bought by Nancy Pelosi.”

Underwood brought up the Federal Emergency Relief Act, which is available to all states to purchase medical equipment and relief.

debate

Ethan Underwood supported privatizing healthcare and making it more accessible to the public.

“Are the states not going to tax us? Because it seems like every level of government thinks their money comes from somebody different, and it’s all coming from us. We all the taxpayers here,” explained Weeks. “We’re all just getting billed again and again and again.”

“Several states were in trouble before this started because of irresponsible decisions at the state level. Bailouts don’t work. Bailout bills are always filled with pork and actually reward bad decisions,” heralded Clyde. “We have a huge national debt and it would be irresponsible to add more to it. We need to get the people back to work.”

Hear detailed answers from all the candidates about the next COVID-19 package, contact tracing overreach, and defunding the World Health Organization, watch the debate here.

Andrew Clyde owns Clyde Amory and U.S. Navy veteran.

Healthcare

Turning to the ongoing saga of affordable healthcare for Americans, all candidates agreed that Obamacare should be repealed.

Underwood championed a private healthcare system that travels with people. It would no longer be tied to employers, which prevents many individuals in the gig-economy from accessing reasonably priced and effective healthcare plans. He added that preexisting conditions must be factored in when creating a new healthcare platform.

“Stand firm against socialized medicine,” said Gurtler. When Republicans controlled the House and Senate, they still couldn’t repeal Obamacare.

“People in our rural areas deserve good healthcare and the best way to do that is to get the federal government completely out of it,” Wilkinson stated.

debate

John Wilkinson championed his agriculture experience and the benefit it will bring in Congress for Georgia farmers.

Broun, who previously served in Congress and worked as a physician, presented his bill that would put doctors and nurses in charge of medical decisions. “All healthcare goods and services cheaper for everybody.”

“The only solution to health care is a free-market solution,” said Tanner. “The bigger underlying problem is the pharmaceutical companies have their hand in almost every Congressional race and Congressman in Washington. They’re controlling the drug prices. Gov. Kemp appointed me to chair the mental health reform commission last year. One of the biggest challenges we faced was the pharmaceutical companies and their desire not to have changes in our healthcare system.

To hear the candidates’ comments about President Trump, immigration, China, sanctuary cities, staying in touch with voters, and closing statements, check out the debate.

debate

Strickland supported a limited bailout for some states.

debate

Michael Boggus is running as a Republican but has issues with both parties.

debate

Kellie Weeks owns North Georgia Gun and says she is running because she doesn’t hear her voice in the Republican candidates.

9th District Congressional Candidates on FYN’s Candidate Day

Election, Politics

Mike Scupin, Roger Fitzpatrick, Paul Broun, Doug Collins, and Bernie Fontaine speak on FYN’s Candidate Day for the citizens on the eve of the election day.

Union County Republican Party / Union-Towns TEA Party 51st State Senate District, 9th Congressional District, and U.S. Senate Forum

Featured, Featured Stories, Politics

Union County Republican Party / Union -Towns TEA Party Forum 4/30/2016.

Scroll down to watch video of each forum.

forum moderator

Moderator Brian K. Pritchard

Republican U.S. Senate Candidates Dr. Mary Beth Bacallao and Mr. Derrick Grayson

john steve

51st District State Senate Republican Candidates John Williamson and Steve Gooch

9th group

Republican 9th District Congressional Candidates Roger Fitzpatrick, Paul Broun, Bernie Fontaine and Mike Scupin

 

Lumpkin County Republican Party 51st State Senate District, 9th Congressional District, and U.S. Senate Forum

Politics

Lumpkin County Republican Party Forum 4/30/2016.

Scroll down to watch video of each forum.

mary kay derrick

Republican Primary U.S. Senate Candidates Dr. Mary Kay Bacallao and Mr. Derrick Grayson

john steve

Republican Primary 51st District State Senate Candidates John Williamson and Steve Gooch

9th group

Republican Primary 9th Congressional District Candidates Roger Fitzpatrick, Paul Broun, Bernie Fontaine and Mike Scupin

 

Challengers Blast Congressman Collins In Live Debate Broadcast on FYN TV

News, Politics

ELLIJAY, Ga. — In a fiery hour-long debate broadcast live on FYN TV and moderated by Fetch Your News owner Brian K. Pritchard Friday, four challengers — Paul Broun, Mike Scupin, Roger Fitzpatrick and Bernie Fontaine — took turns attacking Georgia’s 9th District Congressman Doug Collins on issues ranging from his support of President Obama’s Omnibus bill to what they see as his less than conservative voting record.

Fitzpatrick, a long time educator from White County, said Collins’ voting record is not representative of the 9th District, which he called, “the third most conservative district in the entire United States. If you look at the Conservative Review website, which grades everybody according to the original intent of the Constitution, Mr. Collins has a 59 percent voting record,” Fitzpatrick said.

By far the number one issue his opponents used to batter Collins was the Omnibus bill which most conservatives view with contempt because it provides funding for the Dreamer’s Act for children in the U.S. illegally, sanctuary cities, refugee programs, Middle East immigration programs that have been exploited by terrorists and Planned Parenthood.

Former 10th District U.S. Congressman Paul Broun said “The greatest moral issue we face as a nation is the killing of over one million babies every year and it must stop. The Omnibus bill funds Planned Parenthood while they go on butchering babies and selling baby parts.”

Broun added, “I have never voted for an omnibus bill and I never will.”
That gave Collins an opportunity to launch a conter attack. Collins claimed Broun voted for an omnibus bill in December 2007. “Either that’s an incompetence issue or you’re just lying,” Collins shot back.

Broun said his vote was not for the bill at all, but an amendment to the bill and that every Republican but one voted for the same amendment. “This is just more of the lies and distortion we get out of the Congressman,” Broun countered.

Lanier Tea Party Patriot Founder Mike Scupin said he would never have voted for the Omnibus bill and questioned how Collins could “swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States then vote for  it when it had so many unconstitutional things in it.”

Fontaine, a retired Army and National Guard Brigadier General who ran against Collins four years ago, said, “Congress was dysfunctional then and its dysfunctional now. What we have is a systemic problem with two career politicians against three citizen candidates.”

Congressional Panel 4/22/16

Election, Politics

BKP sits down with 4 Congressional Candidates to talk about issues facing America and Georgia.

TEA Party of Gilmer County 9th District Debate; Paul Broun and Roger Fitzpatrick have heated exchange over the topic of ethics.

Politics

TEA Party of Gilmer County host 9th district debate. Candidates left to right: Mike Scupin, Paul Broun, Roger Fitzpatrick, Bernie Fontaine.

Congressman Doug Collins did not attend.

A must watch video.

Scupin & Fontaine Jointly Ask FEC to Investigate Collins and Collins Campaign Citing Evidence of Purposeful Violations

Politics

Below is the press release from Hank Sullivan. 9th District Congressional Candidates Mike Scupin and Bernie Fontaine send a letter to the Federal Election Commission concerning Congressman Doug Collins and the Collins campaign.

 

Today, Georgia 9th District candidates for US House of Representatives Mike Scupin and Bernie Fontaine signed a joint letter of complaint to the Federal Election Commission in Washington, DC, citing evidence that US Representative Doug Collins, his campaign and campaign consulting firm, The Stoneridge Group, have knowingly and willingly violated FEC regulations regarding the FEC requirement of attaching campaign disclaimers to all public communications authorized and paid for by a candidate or his/her campaign committee.  The letter asks for a full investigation of Collins and the Collins Campaign, including Collins’ campaign consultant.

The joint letter, which can be found below, and a companion video, cites evidence of three recent instances in which the Collins Campaign, including Rep. Collins personally, and his campaign consultant The Stoneridge Group(SRG), have used a proprietary news and commentary website known aswww.zpolitics.com, owned and operated by the founder and owner of SRG, to offer paid Collins campaign materials to an unsuspecting public, resulting in a process of information laundering, posturing these paid campaign materials as objective news and commentary, and with no campaign disclaimers as the FEC requires, rather than as part of a political campaign supporting Collins in his bid to be reelected 9th District US Representative.
The letter released jointly by Scupin and Fontaine offers solid evidence of these FEC violations and asks for the FEC to perform a full investigation regarding the involvement of the Collins campaign, including Collins himself, Collins’ campaign staff, Collins’ campaign consultant SRG, SRG’s owner Jason Williams and the workings of Williams’ personally-owned and operated website, Zpolitics.com.

The letter can be read below:

 

Hall County GOP 9th District Congressional Debate. Doug Collins, Paul Broun, Mike Scupin, Roger Fitzpatrick, Bernie Fontaine

Politics
Hall Paul Broun

Paul Broun FetchYourNews.com

Hall Mike Scupin

Mike Scupin FetchYourNews.com

Roger Fitzpatrick

Roger Fitzpatrick FetchYourNews.com

Hall Doug Collins

Doug Collins FetchYourNews.com

Hall Bernie Fontaine

Bernie Fontaine FetchYourNews.com

Dr Paul Broun 4/5/16

Election, Politics

Candidate Dr. Paul Broun talks 9th District Congressional Elections and Voting.

Debate, Time for Doug Collins and Paul Broun to square off Face to Face

Politics

Congressman Doug Collins would like to continue representing the 9th District but first he must get past four opponents in the Republican primary on May 24th. Collins is being challenged by former 10th District Congressman Paul Broun, Mike Scupin, Roger Fitzpatrick, and Bernie Fontaine.

Collins seems to be zeroing in on Broun although he has three other opponents. Scupin, Fitzpatrick, and Fontaine have been attending meet and greet events throughout the District. We are not aware of Fitzpatrick or Fontaine launching radio ads or social media campaigning; however the Scupin campaign is questioning Collins’ congressional voting record with daily attacks via social media.

The Collins campaign launched a radio ad claiming Broun abused taxpayers’ money and alleged he is under a federal criminal investigation.

Here’s the transcript:

Collins: “I’m Doug Collins and I approve this message….”

Narrator: “Career politician Paul Broun. Former congressman Broun’s hypocrisy is bad, but Paul Broun’s repeated abuse of the taxpayers’ money is even worse.

“Paul Broun claims to be an outsider. But Paul Broun’s been on the ballot 12 times in 26 years for six different political positions. He’s so desperate to further his political career, Broun’s now campaigning for Congress in a district he doesn’t even live in.

“While Paul Broun’s hypocrisy knows no bounds, Broun’s abuse of taxpayer’s money is even worse. In Congress, Broun nearly bankrupted his office budget with an excessive amount of taxpayer-funded mail. And now, former congressman Paul Broun is under a federal criminal investigation into his use of taxpayer money to aid his failed U.S. Senate campaign.

“Career politician Paul Broun’s hypocrisy is bad, but Paul Broun’s abuse of the taxpayers’ money is even worse.”

When the Collins campaign released its schedule of debates they made reference that Broun did not live in the 9th District by saying:   

“I know these counties are a long ways away for Oconee County’s Paul Broun, but since he’s running over here in the 9th I encourage him to make the drive.”

Broun has responded with a radio ad attacking Collins’ record in congress. Broun refers to Collins as “Establishment.”  Establishment is almost like a four letter word in the current political climate. The ad points out how Collins voted for the Omnibus Bill and showed support for former Speaker of the House John Boehner.

“I’m Dr. Paul Broun, I approve this message. You’ve probably heard the personal attack ads Establishment Politician Doug Collins has against me. They are full of distortions and half-truths. My daddy told me a half truth is a whole lie. And the whole truth is he’s desperate to distract you from his record. Establishment Doug Collins voted for Boehner for Speaker. Twice. Even after you told him not to. Then Collins voted for Boehner’s Omnibus Bill that fully funds Planned Parenthood, Obamacare, and Obama’s amnesty plan. Nancy Pelosi said ‘They really gave away the store.’ Attack ads can’t change a voting record. But I’m proud to talk about mine. I have a record of fighting the Establishment. I voted against Boehner as Speaker. I opposed all Omnibus bills. My record shows I’m a consistent, conservative, constitutionalist”

When Collins and Broun attend the forums they will be sharing the stage with three other candidates. Considering the time limits and the format for the forums, Collins and Broun may not have the opportunity to truly debate the issues.

Due to the busy nightly campaign schedule FetchYourNews.com, Good Morning from the Office with BKP,  has invited Collins and Broun to a debate which would be held from 8-10 am. This would be during our live morning broadcast.

FYN has sent both campaigns an invitation to participate in this one on one debate opportunity.

 Broun’s campaign has accepted stating, “I accept your invitation.  I’m certain we can arrange our schedule to accommodate your request. Please let me know. Thank you.

Paul Broun M.D.”

We have not heard back from the Collins campaign at this time.

Former 10th. District Congressman Dr. Paul Broun, Broun announces candidacy for 9th. District

Politics

Former Congressman 10th. District Paul Broun announces on Good Morning from the Office that he is a candidate for the 9th. District Congressional seat currently held by Doug Collins. GMFTO was the first place Broun officially announced he was running for office.

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