The Right Message

With all the scandals in Washington D. C. -- the IRS probe, Benghazi cover up, HHS Secretary Sebelius' solicitations for Obama care, and the Justice Department's seizure of phone records of AP and FOX reporters -- it's been hard to know what's going on in America's "District" these days.  Wait a few days, and new denials are sure to come out.

One thing you don't have to wait for is President Obama denying any involvement in any of them.  In fact, he's as surprised as the rest of us when someone leaks the latest scandal.  "This is the first I've heard of it" should become his official motto.  How is it possible the most powerful person in America doesn't know what's going on?  And why was he missing in action the night of the Benghazi attack?

As tempting as it would be to harness our energies against President Obama, I think it would be a big mistake to go after him.  With the midterm elections coming up in 2014, conservatives need to focus their message on one thing:  TRUST.

If we can get the American people to lose trust in Obama and other big government types, we might be able to save this county from an early demise.

In my job as a sales professional, trust is the one thing I have to work at everyday.  Every single time. If my clients lose trust in me or what I am saying, I will lose them as a customer.  And getting them back will be harder than ever (if not impossible).  We need to let the public see these scandals for what they are -- arrogance, abuse of power and in some cases, even criminal.

Take the IRS for example.  Nothing embodies BIG government -- and the abusive administrative state -- like the Internal Revenue Service.  They implement much of the country's social policy through a complicated set of tax codes which control every aspect of our personal and business lives.  The limitless power of the IRS makes it easy for them to snoop, harass and destroy lives.  The agency employs three times the number of people who work for the FBI and has detailed information on every taxpayer in the nation -- including your Social Security number and those of your children, every place you work, how much you make, what you invest in, with whom you do business, the cost of your mortgage and your financial account numbers.  And the IRS answers to no one.

People like President Obama -- who want to bring change to America -- use it to mold the fabric of our lives and to influence political decisions, appointments and elections (as was done through the harassment of conservative and Tea party non-profits).

Now that someone has leaked the truth about the IRS, what should we expect out of Washington?  Don't wait for the IRS to correct itself.  This week's hearings have shown the utter contempt and disrespect Steven Miller, Loris Lerner and Sarah Hall Ingram have for us.   These people have so much power that they don't have to offer any answers, apologies or resignations.  That's not right and the average voter needs to know it.  Tying Obama to the IRS scandal would be nice, but shedding light on big government agencies like the IRS is even better.

Another example should be made of the Justice Department and Eric Holder's involvement in the seizure of phone and email records of reporter's at Fox News and the Associated Press.

The Justice Department's investigations involved a Fox News report that described the thinking of U.S. intelligence officials about North Korea, and one about Associated Press stories that the government said compromised a covert agent helping U.S. forces against al Qaeda in Yemen.

On the heels of the failed "Fast and Furious gun-tracking operation, the Justice Department is a prime example of BIG government losing the trust of the American people.  Making this example even better is the concern coming out of the media and some moderate Democrats.

"It seems clear to me that the actions of the department have in fact impaired the First Amendment," Representative Zoe Lefgren, D-Cailforina, said earlier this month.  "Reporters who might have previously believed that a confidential source would speak to them would no longer have that level of confidence."

Holder's reaction is typical of how things are handled in Washington these days.  Initially claim ignorance, then claim it was a misunderstanding, then say it won't happen again.  Holder is typical of this government's refusal to take responsibility while shielding the president from further scrutiny.  As USA Today reported earlier this month, he is a "sin eater" for President Obama, shielding him from controversies involving the Justice Department, CIA and FBI.

Not surprising, the right is furious about this violation of our first amendment rights.  Fox News chief Roger Ailes responded to the Justice Department's investigation by condemning the Obama administration's choices.

Will justice be served?

"We reject the government's efforts to criminalize the pursuit of investigative journalism and falsely characterize a Fox News reporter to a Federal judge as a "Co-conspirator" in a crime.  I know how concerned you are because you have asked... why should the government make me afraid to use a work phone or email account to gather news or even call a friend or family member?"

Again, I wouldn't focus solely on Eric Holder, although he did personally approve of the search of Fox New's  reporter James Rosen.  Conservatives must educate the average voter that this administration's Justice Department represents government without restraint, willing to violate our first amendment rights without apology or regret.

What the Justice Department has done is really one of the biggest threat to journalism in more than 30 years.  With luck, more media types (NY Times, Washington Post, AP) will call them on it.

In the end, the question is whether Americans want to live and prosper in a free society.  What the Obama administration has done is demonstrate that government intervention threatens our liberties in multiple ways.  These scandals seize our resources to pay for his progressive ideology.  We we are able to see -- yet again -- that public officials are tempted to use their power to reward friends and punish enemies like the Tea Party and conservatives.

Most Americans agree that BIG government is not good.  As Obama's former chief of staff,  Rahm Emanuel, is famous for saying, we must not let this crisis (scandal) go to waste.   Those who favor a smaller government must make "trust" the cornerstone of next year's political elections.