Stark Contrast Podcast

Here is my most recent podcast.  Enjoy!

There Are Stark Contrasts

Post-Runoff Interview with KTOK's Reid Mullins

Thank-you to KTOK's morning drive time host, Reid Mullins for having me on this morning to talk about the runoff and about my candidacy for congress.  Reid is a good man and an exceptional broadcaster and I appreciate the opportunity to tell voters about the alternatives in this race for Congress.

Enjoy!

August 25 Interview with Reid Mullins

Well Wishes

Tomorrow, voters will go to the polls and determine which of the GOP candidates will face me this November and I have to say, the race for the seat being vacated by Congresswoman Mary Fallin has been very interesting and in many ways is emblematic of the reasons why I chose to run as an Independent Conservative.

James Lankford and Kevin Calvey are both good men whom I believe to have their hearts in the right place.  It's unfortunate that the candidates have gotten so ugly in the run-off with one another over the whole "he said/she said" mess, rather than having substantive debates and discussions over the issues we face as a country and what we face right here in Central Oklahoma.

Why is it there was no real debate scheduled between the two of them?  The problem is that voters are left with only the impressions that are portrayed by media advisers through advertising.  Hopefully, there will be some debates for you to enjoy during the general election.

Both men will be eagerly awaiting the results of the polls and I wish them both well.

Iran Gets Serious

Breitbart is reporting that Iran plans to put on display a vast array of weapons for the world to see and it underscores the importance of issues facing members of Congress.  Forget measuring the drapes and kissing babies during the season of campaigns, it's time to face the seriousness of the Iranian threat to the world and to the United States.

Iran is not a friend to the United States and neither have they been for a very long time.  Their goal is the elimination of the our ally, Israel, as well as destruction of this great country so many have shed their blood to protect.  We embrace freedom, whereas Iranian leadership embraces tyranny.  And their plan this week to display a collection of their weaponry shows that they are turning their nose to any diplomatic relations whatsoever.

There is even talk that President Obama wants to meet with the Iranian president.  I find that distasteful to say the least.

At this point, war is not the answer.  The answer is to use our influence wisely, to use the resource we have available to convince our allies that working with and publicly trading with Iran is not only a bad idea, but it simply fuels the beast.  We need to starve the beast, push them to the table for reasoned negotiations but we need to make sure they know without hesitation that if our allies are attacked and our interests are attacked, we will respond in a way that will make history.

We need real leadership with a record of leadership to speak up in Congress, someone with the ability to say the things that need to be said and to do so with no thought of angering special interests.  We need someone who can make decisions at critical moments, who has been trained to do so without first contacting a pollster or political consultant.

Right now, in the 5th District race, I am the only candidate who can look you in the eye and say "I've been there, I've done that, and I am more than qualified to do that right now."

Dave

NatGas Act Needs Approval Now, Not Later

H.R. 1835, also known as the "Natural Gas Act," is a significant solution to our ever-increasing dependence upon foreign oil.  Approximately 70% of the oil we consume in this great country is imported and much of it comes from nations that are far less than friendly to us.

So, in essence, we're subsidizing the war against our own people.  It just makes no sense whatsoever.

As Bob Barr has written in a column for the Huffington Post (not my favorite website in the world), Congress is talking a lot about it, members of both sides of the aisle support it, but it is just stalling and no one is moving forward with leadership to push the issue.

Barr states:

From my experience in the Congress and following a lot of these things as a consultant on the outside, the NAT GAS Act for many months has been competing with our national fixation on healthcare right now. That's the bad news. The good news is that more and more Americans are now focusing on the economy and creating jobs, all of which this piece of legislation will impact positively.

Oklahoma knows a little about natural gas and is one of the nation's leading producers of natural gas we have energy innovators such as Chesapeake Energy and Devon Energy headquartered in Central Oklahoma.  These companies are job-creators and they know that without a question, the Nat Gas Act would stimulate the economy and help create jobs immediately in the private sector building natural gas infrastructure.

Fact:
Natural gas is a clean burning alternative for vehicles and is exceptionally efficient.

Fact:
Natural gas is abundant.

Fact:
The use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel alternative is not only good for the environment, but reduces our dependence upon foreign oil.

Fact:
The Natural Gas Act will create jobs for Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District.

So, why is Congress so slow to act?  Again, it's a lack of leadership and a lack of vision for the future.  For decades, Congress has been reactionary rather than pro-active.

When elected to Congress, it will be at the top of my list of priorities to pass the Natural Gas Act.

Dave

Experience Counts...Or, At Least It Should

When an entrepreneur applies for a loan to start a business, generally the banks take their time to decide whether or not to give the loan and the criteria to qualify for a loan can be quite daunting.  Lenders want to know whether or not the applicant has the ability to pay back that loan, what risks are involved and most importantly, whether or not the applicant's business plan can be accomplished.

In other words, lenders want to know if the applicant has the ability to back up his plan with action.

When we survey the problems facing America, we need leadership with experience to meet those problems head-on with decisiveness, a plan of action and the ability to put those efforts into motion and see them through to fruition.  This November, we have to decide which of the candidates for Congress have the record to match their rhetoric.

*Economy:  We need to create jobs, we need to build our economic infrastructure to pay off debt.  When you look at the candidates for public office, I am the only candidate with a degree in economics - and I received my degree from the United States Naval Academy.  Not only did I receive my degree in economics, I have put my education to good use.  I own not one, but two businesses.  I know how to get job creators to Oklahoma because I am a successful entrepreneur and have been for over 17 years.  No other candidate can say that.

*National Debt.  Our national debt is ridiculous and is one of the greatest threats to national security we face every single day.  There are many ways to tackle our debt and the first thing to do is to cut spending and scrutinize earmarks more closely.  The "good old boy" network in Washington creates an environment where everyone is in it for themselves, ensuring they have mechanisms for re-election rather than cutting spending where necessary and getting the best return on our investments elsewhere.  I am the only candidate who is debt-free in my personal life and in my political life.  None of the other candidates can say that of themselves and politically, they are all receiving special interest money and I am not.  They will be beholden to those interests whereas I will not and can get to work raising the awareness of a "zero tolerance" for wasteful spending.

*Illegal Immigration.  I grew up in California and have seen how bad it can be when illegal immigration runs rampant.  Unlike my opponents, my position on illegal immigration is very clear and has been very consistent.  I believe we must secure our borders immediately and require e-verify for all employers to verify the status of their employees.  Businesses who knowingly hire illegals should be punished.  Period.  This has always been my position and there is no waffling for me.  As a business owner, I understand the importance of playing by the rules - I have signed both sides of a paycheck...my experience shows that I can, and will, make illegal immigration a priority.

*Military.  We are still at war and for some reason, many have forgotten this fact.  Our troops have been in Iraq and Afghanistan for 10 years now and I support their efforts, but Congress and the United Nations have worked in tandem to tie the hands of our troops.  As a Navy SEAL, I am a decorated Desert Storm veteran.  We had a clear mission, clear targets and we knew our objectives.  I have worked with the Pentagon and I know that the time has come to set some clear and concise objectives for our troops and when the mission is complete, we bring them home safely.  None of my opponents can say that they have been a part of the world's most elite military force - the Navy SEALs.  I didn't become a Navy SEAL to build my resume' and someday run for public office.  It was a call of duty for me and so is my running for Congress.  I consider serving in Congress another call of duty, a deployment, if you will.  It's not a career path for me, but is rather a call to fix the problems career politicians, lawyers and wanna-be career politicians have created.

You see, experience does matter - and I'm talking about "real world" experience.  Not "career politician" experience.  Real experience where the decisions made on a daily basis could cost someone their lives or their livelihood.  I understand unlike any candidate in this race for Congress how important it is to choose carefully, to make decisions when under the most extreme of circumstances and those decisions are based on experience, education and a commitment to serve ALL of the people of Oklahoma's 5th District...not just special interests.

This November, you have to decide whether or not you're going to elect someone from the two parties that are responsible for the mess we're in, or if you're going to send someone to Congress who has real experience, who is not beholden to special interests, who is a business owner (not a "business man"), who is not a lawyer, and is a person who has no "stars" in his eyes when it comes to Washington.  This November, you have a real choice to make.  You can vote for the status quo - people who have surrounded themselves with people who are part of the problem and not the solution - or you can vote for experienced leadership that is conservative.

I hope you make the decision to become a part of the Dave White Revolution.

Check it out for yourself.

Dave

Campaign Contributions and More.

I received an email from a supporter who has been very concerned about campaign finance reform and the problems with contributors "owning" candidates for public office.  He supports my campaign because I receive no PAC money, no special interest money, and have limited my contributions to $100 per person per household.  I take contributions only from people who live or work in the 5th Congressional District. 

Campaigning can be very tough.  I've only been doing it for a few short months now while my opponents have been doing it for at least two years and for one, perhaps even four years.  It's not something I relish, other than the fact that I have met some incredible people along the way and increasingly I find that people are tired of the status quo - even candidates who say they aren't part of the status quo.

I invite you to take a look at this website my friend sent me and look at the different tabs, such as contributions, etc. and you'll be shocked, I am sure.

When you contrast these with my contributions, my record and my ability to accomplish what I say I will accomplish - owing no favors - I am confident that you'll join the Dave White Revolution.

Dave