September 15 update !!!
We have been waiting for years for someone to find this.......and it finally happened !!!! I received the following press release from Tim Cunha this morning..It's a long read, but WELL WORTH IT !!!!
From: Tim Cunha, Democrat for U. S. Congress, District 6
To: News Media
Re: Clifford Stearns' Broken Promises to serve only 6 terms and then retire from Congress by the year 2000
Everyone recalls but no one has been able to document incumbent Clifford Stearns' promises to rid Washington of "professional politicians", to be a "citizen congressman," to support term limits, to honor term limits even if they were not enacted into law, and, specifically, to serve no more than 6 terms (12 years). First elected in 1988, his time was up in 2000. To this day, when he and his staff are asked about his term limit pledge by the public and by the press, his standard answer is that he was in favor of term limits but only if they applied to everyone-that is just blatantly untrue.
..........The following quotes are from St. Petersburg Times, in the late 1980s and early 1990s: Cliff Stearns says he'd be a "citizen congressman" and says ... getting "professional politicians" out of Congress leads to a more ... effective government.
[In 1988, Stearns said that his opponent Florida Speaker of the House, Democrat John] Mills' 10 years in the Legislature make him a "professional politician." Stearns, who has no government experience, says Washington needs more citizen congressmen.
Stearns attacked his Democratic opponent Jon Mills during a debate Thursday, saying he's been in office too long and has become a professional politician.
Stearns calls Mills, the speaker of the Florida House, a professional politician. Stearns says part of the problem with the nation today is Congress: too many professional politicians in office, not enough citizen congressmen.
[Stearns] also supports term limits. "I'm not a professional politician," he said. "I'm going to do this for a short amount of time and then go back to business."
Another Florida congressman, Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns of Ocala, says he supports term limits and will hold himself to 12 years even if there is no law requiring him to leave. "I believe in term limits and I'm going to abide by it myself," said Stearns, first elected in 1988. "I plan to be out of the House after 12 years."
Tim Cunha's statement:
The voters must be able to trust their elected officials. Mr. Stearns' pledge to his constituents and his party represents a covenant between him and the people. It must not be taken lightly, it must not be ignored when it becomes inconvenient, it must no be evaded out of expediency or conceit. Promises from public servants must be kept. Period.
Mr. Stearns should do the honorable thing and withdraw from the race so that the Republican State Committee can appoint a suitable alternate. I'm sure that one of Stearns' arguments for hanging on past the year 2000 is that he thinks no one else is more qualified to run than he. Does he truly believe that there is no other Republican from Jacksonville to Leesburg who is qualified to run for Congress? Do Republicans believe that?
Do the voters believe that Washington has failed us, and that, after 20 years, Stearns (who was born, raised, and educated through college in Washington D.C.) is partly responsible for that failure? Do the voters question the motivation of a career congressman who receives so much money from energy producers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and telecommunications companies that you can predict his votes just by following the money? Are they appalled that he has spent the last eight years--the eight years beyond his promised twelve--supporting the Bush administration in destroying our economy, spending us into horrendous debt, and making us all less secure financially and militarily? I believe the voters have had enough of failed policies and broken promises. I am running to wrest control of Washington from the professional politicians, to serve as a citizen congressman, and to change Washington to make it work for the people once again.
ABOVE COMMENTS FROM TIM CUNHA
As you know, my wife and I had an inside look at the Stearns' camp for 18 years....We have talked about this statement many many times. Altho we came to Ocala shortly after Stearns went to Congress in January 1989, it was common knowledge (then) that he would retire in 2000. Well friends, 2000 came and Stearns wondered if that statement was ever "PRINTED" ... They looked, and looked and looked..They scoured the archives of the Star Banner and Gainesville Sun.....but they couldn't find it.....Therefore, he never said it....
We used to laugh at the fact that no one was smart enough to realize that the district was DIFFERENT in 2000 than in 1988. The district moved after the 1990 Census.. (that's a whole story in itself) Maybe if Stearns had a real Press Secretary they would have found the article.
I can not believe that reporters covering local Politics never went to the trouble to find this..They all knew it was out there.....Stearns' former opponent couldn't find it...... But TIM CUNHA DID !!!
Now the fun begins !!! How will the Stearns' camp spin this one ???? Will the Star Banner/Gainesville Sun and other media outlets use this information?? Do we have any "REAL REPORTERS" out there...????
Tim Cunha and his staff has led the horse to the water.......will they drink ??????
Lee J Freshwater 9-15-08
