No doubt, I believe our government is headed in the wrong direction by raising taxes and expanding control into the private sector. Despite all that, I remain optimistic because Americans are not like any other people on earth. The spirit of ingenuity, opportunity and willingness to work hard are still here. Also, the core of our system, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are still in place. If forced to survive apart from the government’s dole, American’s will figure it out.

As Americans, we can choose to continue down this road of expanding the government and raising taxes, even to the point of a Soviet-like economic collapse. That will occur when we get to the point where the private sector can no longer support the government. Or, we can choose to turn it around right now. Either way we decide, we are still Americans and we still have the Constitutional framework in place to rebuild after any collapse. It’s our choice, but my hope is we don’t have to prove my theory. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

“You only have power over people so long as you don’t take everything away from them. But when you’ve robbed a man of everything, he’s no longer in your power – he’s free again.”
– Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Maybe we are all about to be set free again! Along the campaign trail I continue to meet people who have lived under repressive government regimes and are very concerned. They came to America for opportunity and to escape economy-stifling, big-government control. My reply to them is usually twofold. First, don’t be someone who is just along for the ride. Speak out and become involved. When you do that, you turn your one voice and experience into many voices. You have the power as an individual to turn this whole thing around; each of us is capable of the “butterfly effect”. My second point is, our country has something that no other country in the history of the world has, and that is the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we have to, those are the only documents we need to rebuild the country. Those documents are powerful ideas and are in themselves, extremely effective continuity plans that we can fall back on if needed. So, be concerned, but don’t give up hope.

Anywhere socialism or communism has been tried it has failed. It’s a very nice theory that sounds good. But, in practice, that theory does not come close to the success of a free market system. It does not surprise me that people who have only lived and worked in the government or educational fields seem to like big government solutions. It is only when they finally realize that the money that supports the government and educational institutions originates from private business that they see the value of pro-business and free market policy.

Don’t cook the goose that is laying the golden eggs, feed it!

Join the Resistance.

Contact: Mark Schreiber
Mark @Keller4Congress.com

Excluded From Dorchester: Comments from Doug Keller

SEASIDE, OR – Oregon’s longest running grassroots political conference, Dorchester, is set to convene Friday, March 5th. Unfortunately, grass roots CD #1 candidate, Doug Keller, will be excluded from the debate.

Doug said he was excited to have the opportunity to speak and be a part of the Dorchester Conference. “Although I will have the opportunity to pay for a booth and attend the event, I am disappointed that the board has chosen to exclude me from the debate. Nevertheless, I am still excited to meet members of the Republican faithful.”

As a graduate of both the United States Naval Academy and the Army Command and General Staff College with a Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree, Keller is the most educated candidate in the race for CD#1. A military veteran who served his country for 20 years as a Naval Aviator, Keller feels that he will add a dimension to the event that will not be found in either of the proposed Gubernatorial or Congressional candidate debates.

“I feel I am the most well-rounded of the candidates in terms of education and experience and I remain optimistic. I’m glad to be able to provide voters a real choice this election cycle.” Keller says, “We need to resist politics as usual.”

Keller says he will be standing outside the convention center at noon on Saturday during the debate to drink coffee with supporters and discuss issues.

Highlights of the weekend include:

Friday Evening:
8:00PM – Meet Doug at the Opening Ceremonies and Republican Gubernatorial Debate

Saturday Morning:
See Doug at the Keller4Congress booth

Saturday, Noon to 2 PM:
Ask Doug questions and drink coffee outside the convention center. (map)

Saturday Afternoon, 4 PM:
Enjoy the sunset, good eats and warm drinks on the boardwalk in Seaside near Beach Drive and N Avenue.

Sunday Morning:
Sign up to support Doug at the Keller4Congress booth

More information on Doug can be found at http://Keller4Congress.com.

###

About Doug and Dorchester

Doug seeks lively discussion among political activists about timely issues facing the state, nation and world. Many major issues are at the forefront today including; the economy and jobs, taxation, ongoing wars, energy independence, environmental stewardship, education, and abortion among others.

The lively debate, intellectual conversation, humor, and camaraderie in the street and convention will result in hundreds of Oregonians becoming politically active that otherwise would not be. Dorchester is the only grassroots political conference of its kind in the nation and still thrives as it approaches its golden anniversary and Doug hopes that the conference will remain viable in the future.
The Dorchester Board’s letter excluding Doug Keller from the debate can be found here.

Encouraging participation and underlining the fun of politics have been two of the keys to Doug’s campaign. Join the Resistance at Keller4Congress.com.

For more info read: “Politics as usual: Can it be changed?“

My favorite group to be around was the water polo team. Since I was the goalie I was expected to be different. The joking and camaraderie within the team made it feel like family to me. I loved those guys, but more often than not, our lunch schedules did not coincide so sitting with my teammates was, unfortunately, not a regular occurrence. For me, that sports team connection was a taste of things to come in the various ships and squadrons that I served with in the Navy.

The Vietnamese crowd was always nice to me. In Jr. High, I helped with the English as a Second Language program, helping them learn to read and speak English. I enjoyed their company and ate lunch with them on occasion. We got along, but I wasn’t a part of their group and obviously, I stuck out. Despite differences, I always felt welcome.

I liked eating with the smoking-area crowd and sometimes visited with them in the smoking area too. I never smoked cigarettes because I saw what they were doing to my dad. However, I really liked those guys because I admired their individualism and renegade spirits. As a short-haired, straight-laced kid, I didn’t really fit in with them either, but I always felt welcome. They never offered me cigarettes; somehow they knew that wasn’t my thing. That feeling of acceptance when I was obviously not in the group was something great that I will never forget. If you were one of those smoking area kids, thanks!

There was a group of smart kids that I often sat with as well. They were their own group. I really enjoyed the time together with them too because their conversation was on a level of intelligence that was amazing to me. Most of them went on to do great things. Obviously, I didn’t fit in perfectly with them either.

The point I’m making is that it is possible to interact and communicate with different groups while not really being a part of or joining a group’s activities or beliefs. Looking back, I was really blessed by the insights that I gained from all of these groups despite not fitting neatly into any group. I did not realize the value of being an individual at the time, but I’m glad things worked out the way they did. I always thought that it was too bad that the groups didn’t mingle and enjoy each other more.

Today, I find myself in a similar situation. I enjoy time spent with the various crowds around the district. The 9-12/TEA Party folks are great and the “drinking, smoking Republicans” are fun too. I enjoy debating the issues with the liberals that I bump into…the ones that will talk to me anyhow. I like hearing what the Gay and Lesbian crowd has to say. I have mentioned that they sometimes inspire me. Of all the groups they are one of the most welcoming even though we probably have differences on just about every issue. I like the fishermen, the firemen, the police and all the National Guardsmen that I have met, all holding dangerous jobs that I appreciate. There are lots of groups to associate with; and it’s OK not to fit in. The important thing is to try and understand where each group is coming from and if possible, find common ground. That is, to find a way to work with and understanding each group while not compromising principles.

I believe this attitude of inclusiveness is something we need more of in Congress today. You don’t have to agree with opposing views and you don’t have to compromise the principles for which you were elected. However, Congressional Representatives owe citizens the attitude of servants working together for the common good while upholding the Constitution which they swore to defend. My feeling is that we have too many career politicians now who seem to be more interested in serving themselves or silencing dissent. We can’t afford to elect or perpetuate more of the same.

My question to you is, do we want this to continue? Do we want Congress ramming bills through without debate or even reading them? I don’t, and that’s why I want to replace our Representative. One thing however, I don’t want more of the same from Republicans either. I’m tired of the big-spending, government-expanding Republicans.

I saw a lack of inclusiveness on display last weekend. Much to my surprise, I was told that my campaign did not meet the requirements of the Dorchester Board and that I would not be allowed to participate in their forum which will be attended by the Republican faithful of Oregon. They told me that my presence would not add to the “entertainment or educational” value for the convention delegates. Check out the link to the letter from the board. My first thought after reading it was that this is exactly the behavior that citizens are tired of from politicians. Secondly, I thought how will voters get to compare all candidates if one or two of the choices are excluded from events? Finally, I thought who is responsible for this? I am hopeful that the affiliation of some Dorchester Board members with a competitor’s campaign is not a factor; there is simply no way to know. The candidate in question told us that he does not personally support the board’s decision and we believe him.

My campaign made a call to the board and was told that the board’s decision was final. Then I sent an email to the board, requesting they reconsider and reply to my campaign. The reply confirmed the board’s decision and I respect that decision. I will not be presenting my platform at Dorchester. So, for those I told I would be at the candidate’s forum, please accept my apologies. I was in error. In this case the two candidates who are service veterans are not included in the forum. The good news is that the board is still allowing us to set up the booth that we paid for. Outside of the event, we are also going to have an evening get together at our beach house which I hope folks will attend. My goal is to meet as many people as I can so individuals are able to compare candidates in person.

As for entertainment value, it’s definitely subjective. I do have some great sea stories but I admit I’m not always as funny as I think I am. On education however, is there another candidate who can match mine? I am a graduate of the Naval Academy, have earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree, and graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College. I also have a 20+ year Navy career’s worth of experience in leadership, national defense and the study of foreign policy.

There isn’t much I can do except to be open about what is going on while continuing to campaign more determined than ever. It is disappointing that all the CD1 Candidates will not be represented at this CD1 forum but I will be there to meet everyone anyway. If you would like my answer to any of the forum questions, come outside and ask me. I’ll be holding a cup of coffee.

So, what does a grass roots campaign look like? Well, it doesn’t look anything like your typical political campaign. In comparison, some might say it isn’t “viable”. That’s wrong; it has potential to work in a big way and that may be a reason to block me. It’s about regular people working hard and volunteering to make things better. It’s about a guy like me who is willing to work hard and continue to serve the country.

It’s high quality on a low budget, it’s what you want from government, and it looks a lot like a Tea Party. If you want an alternative to politics as usual, I hope you will look at the pictures of us in St. Helens and compare it to the pictures of the TEA Party in Clatskanie. They look similar don’t they? The signs are a bit different, but the common objective is to send a voice of common sense to DC. I hope Tea Party folks take note: we don’t need more of the same old party politics running the Republican Party; we need some new people with fresh ideas; we need you!

As for Dorchester, I’ll be out in the street during the CD1 Candidate forum with my coffee and my friends. Of course, I like company and I invite anyone to support me while I resist “the same old thing”. I invite the other candidates and news reporters to join me as well.

We can’t allow the establishment to play the politics of exclusion as usual. It wasn’t cool in high school, and it isn’t cool now.

Join the Resistance.

That focus is, simply, the dignity of and respect for individuals. Everything else stems from that simple basis. Government must respect individuals when filling its role to protect citizens. Many times I’ve used the image of a referee at a game as an example. The federal government should provide a level playing field and ensure fair play between citizens, not compete with them or pick the winners.

To the extent that government shapes a process it also influences the outcome, and the federal government produces poorer solutions than the combined power of entrepreneurs and innovators working freely. No business is too big to fail – our system has healthy ways for new businesses to grow from the failures of others. In this way the government will foster long-term opportunity.

The results of a controlling government are why I am opposed to a public option for health care. I am willing to look for ways of serving people though healthy competition and greater choice for customers while reducing the burden imposed by litigation and malpractice insurance.

The national government also needs to protect citizens from foreign dangers. Today key weaknesses are our dependence on energy derived from foreign sources and illegal aliens. These are issues that must be addressed and I’ve proposed solutions on my website.

Finally, our government should serve our current needs with a view to respecting the needs of our children. This perspective shapes my view on the debt and the environment, two topics that are very different.

To the extent that we have federal entitlements that exceed our current revenues we are mortgaging our children’s future. It’s something like the reverse mortgage programs advertised on TV without the backing of a larger organization.

With respect to the environment, campers have it right: Leave it better than you found it. Any harvesting we do of natural resources must be balanced by environmental restoration, reforesting, or similar programs to maintain natural habitat.

My platform is about dignity and respect. These are principles all Americans can embrace. The goal is renewed opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you’re on board with these ideas I welcome your support. Join the resistance. Set America free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

As I make my way around the district, I often speak of defending the Constitution. The younger generations don’t seem to have the understanding of the significance of that document that the older generations do. Since the Constitution and the history of the founding of the United States is not a major focus, if covered at all in mainstream education, it is not too surprising that new generations are not as aware. With “progressive/liberals” in charge of our children’s education, it isn’t surprising and I’ll tell you why.

Hearing politicians complain about or marginalize the Constitution is also a common theme. “ It’s too restrictive” or “it doesn’t apply today and should be a living document” are words that you might hear. You might hear frustration when politicians attempt to infringe on citizen’s privacy. Obviously, there is a balance that must be struck between citizen’s privacy and providing for the general safety and security of the population. It is a tough balance to maintain and personally, I would rather err on the side of keeping government out of people’s personal lives.

So, instead of pointing you to a detailed text book analysis of the Constitution, I thought I would say a few words on why it is important to me personally.

To me, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are unusual documents which are the key to why the United States has been so successful. If you look around the world at all the different countries you will find many different ways for people to be organized and governed. Examples include: Marxist dictatorships, socialism, communism, monarchies, to theocracies, and others. The general idea with these forms of government is that people are given their rights to live in their country by their government. The government determines how they live and to a great extent, determines their social standing and benefits. The government or the dictator is the final authority and the expert in how you should live your life in just about every facet of your life too; sometimes the government will even try to force religions or beliefs on their people.

It is that kind of government that the founding fathers were escaping when they made their way to North America. They wanted to live their lives without having a King or a government telling them what to do or believe. They wanted to reap the rewards of their hard work and practice their religion. They also realized that some form of government was necessary to provide basic needs, such as a common defense but they never again wanted to live under repressive rule.

The United States Constitution is unique to me because, in forming the framework of our representative republic, it spells out the rights of the people. It does not give people rights, as most other governments do, it points out that human beings have basic rights given them by God, not to be stepped on by any other authority. It may sound extreme for me to say this, but it is spelled out clearly. You and me… God gave us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, not the government. And because the founding fathers had personal experience with the oppressive rule of a government, they wrote this document which serves to restrict what the government could do. They knew that eventually, if left unchecked, the government would expand and trample the rights of a free people.

So, it is not surprising to hear government officials or “progressive/liberals” complain about the Constitution because it restricts them. In fact, restraining government is exactly what I want it to do because the rights of the individual should continue to outweigh the power of the state. If we allow the Constitution to be marginalized or disregarded, we take away that basic protection of a free people. When I see the government take on roles such as running car companies, banking, finance or other industries I become concerned because a conflict of interest inevitably ensues and suddenly people find themselves with a government that is no longer by the people or for the people.

The United States Constitution is unique in human history because it limits government and upholds the God given rights of the people. It is the cornerstone that the greatness of our country was built on. And just like the cornerstone of a great building, if you start chipping away at it, eventually the whole building will crumble. Combine politicians and bureaucrats bent on expanding their power and control with a public that is not as familiar with the history of the country or the Constitution, or personal experience with oppressive regimes, and I see a recipe for trouble ahead. I see and feel this happening with the way government is expanding and growing into areas that it should not and I feel we must resist it now or eventually lose our rights as human beings, one little chip of government expansion or additional tax at a time. I believe government does have a role however; it needs to be kept in check as our founding fathers knew and warned us about. Liberals/progressives seem to be paving the road with the good intentions of an all knowing and all providing government, I’m just concerned about where the road leads.

Join the Resistance.

Recently I read this message, “…the proposed freeze on one-eighth of the federal budget is not the right move. We should make smart investments in the American people, grow the economy, create jobs, and restore revenues-and then have the fiscal discipline to pay down our national debt. The president has been poorly served by the Wall Street focus of his economic team. This freeze is the last straw. It is time for them to go.”

On the surface this quote sounds pretty good, even a bit fiscally conservative. The problem is that these words come from Congressman David Wu (see his website). This same site also includes this entry, “…my role as a member of Congress is to secure federal funds that would have been spent elsewhere for urgent needs in my district.”

So, Congressman Wu, what should your constituents believe? Your actions are consistent with the pork-barrel and earmark- laden spending of the current congressional majority. Where has your voice been before the current recession when we might have been able to pay down our debt? At that time it was tax and spend, seemingly without restraint.

And, Congressman Wu, haven’t you voted for spending bills without reading them? Did you think that we’d forget your actions as we read your recent words? Congressman Wu’s credibility seems to be lacking. And that is the key point of this newsletter.

In joining this race I’ve committed myself to doing the things necessary to build credibility. You can read my detailed platform on my website, ask me questions in open forums, and examine my background. I’m doing this, in part, so the voters in this district can make an informed choice and then hold me accountable after I’m elected.

There’s a simple rule to building credibility, say what you mean and mean what you say. If that is what you want in a candidate then I welcome your support.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

My gut feeling on this is the American people want no part of either of these proposed partisan democrat healthcare plans. You are actually seeing bi-partisan support for killing these bills. Republicans can’t kill these bills on their own without the support of some democrats. The President and his supporters, like Congressman David Wu, need to abandon their big government solutions and adopt solutions that put power in the hands of individuals and free markets. I like the Republican letter in reply to the President’s overtures; it gives me hope that our party actually has a spine. I hope this letter marks a turning point for Republicans. Here is a link to it; see what you think.

I choose to be optimistic and maybe we can make progress. Personally, I would like to know the President’s plan if he has one. We know what the House Democrats want and we know what the Senate Democrats want, but what is the President’s plan? I’d like to see that.

In that light, I do have some ideas and have found some viable solutions. As with any issue, I look at it with the basic underlying assumption that competition leads to innovation, efficiency, and a pursuit of excellence. So, if I can do something to increase competition in the market place, I believe that is a good start.

Here are some of my healthcare concerns:
- Costs are climbing.
- Individuals and employees at small companies don’t have access to more affordable plans like large employers do.
- Doctor’s malpractice insurance rates are climbing, at times putting doctors out of business.
- People can lose their healthcare coverage between jobs.
- Not everyone has access to an affordable plan.

Solutions:
My first thoughts on this subject were; how come health care insurance can’t be more like automobile insurance? As a consumer, I have a choice between a myriad of companies competing against each other for my business. I have the ability to choose a plan and deductable level that is right for me. I don’t lose my car insurance if I lose my job. I can keep the same insurance company when I move from state to state, even though the states require different minimum levels of coverage. If I want, I can pay for towing coverage or there are even plans that will pay for unexpected maintenance. On the other hand, I can choose a plan that is more affordable but doesn’t have all the expensive bells and whistles. Automobile insurance companies strive to provide the service that I demand and if one company falls short, I can take my business elsewhere.

I thought, why can’t health insurance work like that? So, I started doing a little research and found that a road map already exists and is being pursued in Congress by Representative Paul Ryan from Wisconsin. Here are the major bullet points of his plan that I would support. (I also like the other parts of his plan as they fall in line with my feelings about less government and more control to individuals.)

“The plan ensures universal access to affordable health insurance by restructuring the tax code, allowing all Americans to secure affordable health plans that best suit their needs, and shifting the ownership of health coverage away from the government and employers to individuals.
• Provides a refundable tax credit – $2,300 for individuals and $5,700 for families – to purchase coverage in any State, and keep it with them if they move or change jobs.
• Provides transparency in health care price and quality data, making this critical information readily available before someone needs health services.
• Creates state-based health care exchanges, so individuals and families have a one-stop marketplace to purchase affordable health insurance without being discriminated against based on pre-existing conditions.
• Equips states with tools like auto-enrollment programs and high-risk pools, so affordable health coverage can be accessed by all.
• Addresses health care’s growing strain on small businesses, by allowing them to pool together nationally to offer coverage to their employees.
• Encourages the adoption of health information technology and assists states in establishing solutions to medical malpractice litigation.”

Go to his web site to see more detail. I think this is a great start to addressing the concerns and I would be excited to jump in and band together to move a plan like this forward. I like what I see in the rest of this “road map” because for every issue there is a solution which puts power into the hands of individuals.

The role of government in this process is the critical issue to me. I keep using the playing field analogy and it seems to fit. We want the government to be the referee who maintains the security and the rule of law while providing all the players the same opportunities. I am against that referee favoring one team over another (e.g. GM over Toyota) or actually playing in the game. The ref should not be playing or doing things that set up a conflict of interest. In health care this means keep the government out of it except to ensure the rules are followed and all the players have the same opportunity to succeed.

I’m excited to see what will come of this televised discussion with the President and see if he is open to free market solutions instead of relying on expanding government control. We will see. Viable solutions are out there, and I hope Congressman Ryan has the opportunity to present his in the next weeks.

Perhaps the President will become a fiscal conservative and Join the Resistance to bigger government and higher taxes too. It’s not too late for the real change people hoped for. Then again, if the President isn’t willing to scrap the existing plans from the House and Senate, which are based on big government control of the industry complete with pork…what’s the point?. Sometimes just saying no is the right thing to do.

Join the Resistance.

Today we’re told by Dr. Frank Luntz that what Americans really want is “freedom from fear”, and again America is in a period of economic upheaval. The real question is, in what or whom do we place our faith that we will overcome the uncertainty that tempts us to fear?

A fable by Aesop tells us the following: “At one time the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stag intruded into his domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself on the stranger, asked a man if he were willing to help him in punishing the Stag.

“The man replied that if the Horse would receive a bit in his mouth and agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented and allowed the man to mount him. From that hour he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.”

In our time the American people are the horse, the stag is our the threat of economic ruin, and the American government is the man. To what extent are we, the American people, willing to give our government control of our lives for the promise of a protected future? Are we so lacking faith in ourselves that we’ll willingly trade freedom for a promise? That is not the America that I know.

And, here is the kicker: In this country the government draws all of its strength from American citizens. That’s right, the man and the horse in our fable are the same. Since this is true, how can the American government ever do for us anything that we cannot do for ourselves?

As an individual, perhaps I could get a “government” handout, but that is really a handout from another American citizen. When I take that handout for granted and fail to contribute, I am being rewarded in my lack of contribution and am encouraged to do more of the same. How will we ever be better off as a group with more to share amongst ourselves in a country where non-productivity is rewarded? It simply cannot work.

So, my fellow Americans – fear be damned! That’s right, we have always succeeded in the past and we’ll do so again. We don’t need more government and more rewards to the non-productive because that only leads to economic slavery and an unproductive culture.

Congressman David Wu has made a career promising us more and voting for counterproductive subsidies, so long as we accept his control. However, the only things he can give in return for our votes are his empty promises and soothing words, but not a penny or bite that he doesn’t take from another American, and a productive one at that.

So, are you with me on this? Do you want to refuse the bit and instead run free – free to succeed immeasurably beyond the fears induced by naysayers? If so, I welcome your support.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller

We also take an oath similar to the one our elected officials take, swearing allegiance first to the Constitution. So, the military will obey any legal order from the Commander in Chief other than one that violates the Constitution. This gives the President great latitude in what the military does. My point is, if you expect Admiral Mullen to publically criticize the President on his stand, you will be disappointed. You can probably find some spirited folks within the military to speak out but, they will be quickly squashed because it isn’t their place to exercise free speech.

I on the other hand, am enjoying my new found freedom of speech and hopefully articulate my concerns with changing a policy, put in place by President Clinton, which has worked well up to now. To me, it is not a morality issue. Frankly, when I served with folks I had one concern with them individually and that was, can you do your job? I didn’t care about your gender, the color of your skin or your sexual orientation. All I cared about was if you were going to run through a fire with me, operate our weapon systems, keep us from crashing, watch my back, etc. I am pretty sure I served with gays, and if they did their jobs, I was happy with them…and I didn’t ask. And I believe that should be the deal out here in the civilian world as well, can you do your job? If a person can do a job professionally, then they should have the same opportunities…but the military is not quite the civilian world and if you have never experienced it, you may not realize the concern that I do have.

Imagine a college dormitory, not a newer one, but an older one where you have 100 or more bunk beds in a large open room with open showers and facilities. (This is how most of the crew on our aircraft carriers live.) This dormitory is filled with 99 nineteen year old men… and your daughter. I would argue that until our society feels safe putting their daughter into that dormitory to sleep, change, shower, that openly gay military service cannot work. Now, imagine the flip side of that. 99 nineteen year old women with one 19 year old man. Some may laugh at this, but allowing gays to serve openly is very similar to these situations. If you don’t allow that one nineteen year old guy to bunk and shower with the 99 women, why would you allow the 1 gay guy to bunk and shower with 99 men that he is openly sexually attracted to? Is it not the same situation? Don’t you think the 99 men would have the same level of concern as the 99 women? Do you see the danger, especially to the one person who has been outed in the male berthing area?

In cases where a person has openly professed to be gay, we had to separate him from the crowd. Not because he was immoral or we didn’t like him, but for his own safety. The general society in that 110 man berthing area in the close quarters of the ship didn’t tolerate the situation. Just like the 99 women probably wouldn’t like that one guy in their area. Only when you are talking about 109 nineteen year old men, you are putting that one guy in a bad situation. We had no choice but to get him off the ship.

Now, if we are ready, as a society, to have everyone mixed together in unisex berthing areas, showers and bathrooms (as depicted in the movie, Starship Troopers) then I believe we can have gays serve openly. Until we are willing to take that step, we are putting the morale of our units at risk as well as the safety of the minority in question.

I don’t think our society is ready for this. You have to ask yourself, why? Why change the policy? Will it make the military better and enhance morale? Will it become a more effective fighting force because of this? Will gays who serve openly be as safe as the gays currently serving?

Similar to the environmental and health care policies that are being pushed, I feel there is an underlying agenda being perpetrated here and it all has more to do with the teachings of Rev. Wright, Saul Alinsky and Karl Marx than it does with a care for the environment, taking care of Americans or strengthening our military. Here’s an interesting aside: [On Jan. 10, 1963, Congressman Albert S. Herlong Jr. of Florida read a list of 45 Communist goals into the Congressional Record. The list was derived from researcher Cleon Skousen’s book “The Naked Communist.”] Some people called him extreme; I would say the people who are behind pushing this agenda are not only extreme, but dangerous to the fabric and strength of our country.

My opinion is that openly gay service is not good for our men and women in uniform and I think President Barak Obama, and his supporters like Congressman David Wu, are making a mistake with this policy. We must resist using the military as a social experiment and see this agenda for what it is; pure partisan politics as usual, pushing toward an increasingly bigger and more intrusive government control agenda.

Join the resistance!

Are you wondering why I am so optimistic about being an American? After all, we’re up to our eyeballs in debt and sinking further, our elected leaders often seem deaf to their constituents, the value of the dollar is declining, and unemployment is above 10%.

Every one of these is a challenge that Americans must overcome if we’re to thrive in the future. If I lacked faith in Americans or lacked an understanding of the Constitution I might despair. But Americans have always come through when needed and I believe we will again.

Last week was monumental as the balance of power in the Senate tipped just enough to completely alter the ability of the majority party to implement their agenda over the objections of the minority. Also, last week the Supreme Court eliminated considerable restrictions on free speech as they pertained to political campaigns. These shifts could not have happened if our form of government was broken.

Meanwhile, in Oregon we watched the success of measures 66 & 67 at the ballot box, measures that I opposed. The best information I could find from reputable economists said that these will reduce the ability of businesses to operate, threatening to increase unemployment. In response, groups like the Tea Party have been galvanized into action to identify and remove from office those leaders most committed to these harmful policies. And the Tea Party is doing this through legal and peaceful means.

This process is healthy despite the momentary setback. In the same way, my campaign is robust though we continue to face challenges and uncertainty. I’m receiving an increasing number of invitations to speak to groups. The audience participation was excellent during my live TVCTV this past Wednesday. And, at nearly every step I meet Americans that love and support this country and want to restore common sense to government.

We have the chance to alter this district by electing a conservative to represent it at the national level. We have the chance of further tipping the balance of power in the House of Representatives. These are my objectives and I hope you’re in this contest with me. Tell your friends and encourage them as well. This is a great time to see the power of the American Constitution as a force that protects our freedoms.

Join the Resistance! Set America Free.

Sincerely,

Doug Keller