Steelman

HANNIBAL — As Democrats gathered for their annual get-together in Hannibal Friday night, many folks had their minds on the U.S. Senate race in 2010. Most political insiders expect that race to be between Democrat Robin Carnahan — who will be in Hannibal on Saturday — and Republican Roy Blunt, a congressman from Springfield.

Both Carnahan and Blunt have announced for the race, but Republican Sarah Steelman is also talking about facing Blunt in a primary, and Friday night, while Democrats were socializing in the Quality Inn and Suites in Hannibal, Steelman sent out an open letter to Missouri Republicans.

The cause for the letter was a news release sent out by the Missouri Republican Party earlier in the day that challenged reporters at Democrat Days to ask Carnahan a series of questions. But two of those questions seemed particularly focused on strategy if Blunt is in the race. The two questions — one on earmarks and one on having family members who lobby — appear to be intended to neutralize two issues where Blunt and Carnahan might face similar criticism.

But not so fast, says Steelman. She’s against earmarks. She doesn’t have members of her family lobbying the government body where she was elected. So she takes issue with her party choosing to do what appears to be Blunt’s bidding before it has been determined that he is the GOP candidate. (In fairness to the GOP, Blunt has announced, Steelman hasn’t).

Here’s here letter:

A recent communication sent from the Missouri Republican Party to Robin Carnahan contained the following question (#6 out of 10):

6.) Senator Bond supports worthwhile projects for Missouri in Congress. Senator McCaskill won’t. Would you join with Senator McCaskill, so that Missouri unilaterally disarms itself, and gets nothing while other states get projects in Congress?

An Open Letter to Fellow Missouri Republicans

I recently saw the ten questions sent out by the Missouri Republican Party for Robin Carnahan. I don’t have any quarrel with most of the questions. However, I am bewildered by question no. 6, which not only asks Robin Carnahan’s position on the improper, inefficient, and corrupt practice of earmarking, which is an entirely appropriate question, but actually defends pork barrel spending at a time when most republicans, at least those who don’t live in Washington D.C., are trying to stop the mounting and dangerous deficits.

I don’t believe that a majority of the state committee supports inefficient and wasteful spending. I know that a majority of Missourians don’t.

The Missouri Republican Party should not proclaim earmark spending a virtue. It is not. This does nothing but harm the efforts of principled politicians of both parties, who recognize that the old way of doing business; earmarks, pork, and a lack of accountability, has cost America jobs, security, and confidence. The old ways can no longer be tolerated.

I have been asked how the Republican Party lost its Congressional majority. One of the major reasons, in my opinion, is that our party no longer has credibility on fiscal issues. I want our party to flourish and expand and to help lead the country out of this economic disaster. But why would anyone believe in our principles when Republican elected officials don’t? We can no longer be the party that says one thing and does another. We must restore fiscal restraint and discipline. We must be the party that supports ethical reform by holding our elected officials to a higher standard of public service than exists today. We must always remember that Congress is spending taxpayer’s money – it belongs to the people – and it should be spent prudently.

Please remember what Ronald Reagan said in 1964, “The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing. ”

Sincerely,

Sarah Steelman

Other first day Democrat Days notes?

*The keynote speaker tomorrow night, according to the program, that would be Sen. CLARIE McCaskill. Maybe Clairie is her new Twitter name? Oops!

*There is lots of talk about candidates for 2010. Chief among them is state Auditor Susan Montee, who flirted with taking a job in the administration of President Barack Obama, but will run for re-election instead. Judy Baker, who lost the 9th District congressional race, was getting a lot of attention from grass roots Democrats hoping she runs for office again. (Baker’s husband, by the way, played the Conga drums in Rep. Rachel Bringer’s band).

*On some smaller races, Linda Witte, wife of state Rep. Terry Witte, D-Vandalia, is pushing her candidacy to replace her husband, who is term-limited.

Want to know what’s going on at Democrat Days on Saturday? Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tonymess