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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
April 19, 2005
/ 10 Nisan , 5765
Catching up with Pat Toomey... 10 minutes with president of the Club for Growth
By
Bill Steigerwald
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
When he was named president of the Club for Growth (clubforgrowth.org) last year, Pat Toomey didn't need anyone to tell him how important it was having the Republican lobbying group on his side in a tight political race.
When the former Lehigh Valley congressman almost unseated Arlen Specter in the Senate primary last spring, the club which specializes in helping candidates who favor small government, free markets and low taxes contributed nearly $1 million to his campaign.
I asked Toomey about his new job and his future political plans, when I called him at his offices in Washington:
Q: What's the mission of the Club for Growth?
A: It is ultimately to adopt pro-growth economic policy, particularly at the national level. We do that by advocating for limited government and lower taxes, less government spending, less regulation, all the hallmarks of a free-enterprise system. And we do it by encouraging our members, the 31,000 and growing membership that we have all across the country, to support candidates for the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate who agree with our Reaganesque vision of limited government as the condition that is necessary for economic prosperity.
Q: What was your record in 2004 in terms of who you supported and how they did?
A: I'd have to double-check to get the exact figures, but it was probably 15 and 7, something like that.
Q: What was your biggest success story last year?
A: The two biggest were the Senate race in South Carolina, where the Club for Growth played a big role in helping Jim DeMint win a tough, very competitive primary. He's a great conservative, a believer in limited government and all the things that are important to us. He went on to win a tough general election, also with our help. The second big one for us was Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, another very outspoken and passionate leader in the conservative movement.
Q: Besides Ron Paul, my favorite congressman, who's the perfect Republican congressman right now, according to the Club for Growth?
A: There's a good handful of good guys. Jeff Flake of Arizona comes to mind as one of the real stalwarts who's really deeply committed to personal freedom and economic freedom and consistently works to reduce the size and scope of government.
Q: If you researched the current Republican congressmen, how many would pass your test on taxes and growth?
A: I'm looking to bring on board somebody who can help us compile those kinds of statistics. Historically, the club has never really gone back and evaluated the voting records. My guess is that we would find somewhere between 50 and 70 House members who consistently vote for pro-growth policy, although only 20 or 25 really have sterling records in that regard. And maybe there's a dozen or so in the Senate.
Q: Would you back President Bush based on his record?
A: First of all, we only focus on economic issues, so that's a narrow segment. It's important, but it's only a part of how most people evaluate a president. When I look at President Bush's record, personally, I agree with the president on what he's done on social and cultural issues. I agree with his judicial nominees. I think the most important issue by far was his leadership in the war on Islamo-fascist terrorists. I think his leadership in providing the tax cuts that helped get this economy going again was tremendous. So on balance, I was happy to support the president's re-election, even though I disagreed with him about some of the spending measures the Medicare bill, for instance. But I have to say that in the second Bush administration that's just begun, I love his domestic policy priorities as much as his foreign policy, where he's advocating Social Security reform, with personal retirement accounts as the indispensable centerpiece. He's advocating making the tax cuts permanent and profoundly reforming our tax code, which we badly need. And he's pushing for tort reform, which we also need.
Q: What's your explanation for someone like Sen. Lindsey Graham who's a former tax-cutter of the Club-for-Growth kind proposing to raise the income level that's subject to Social Security taxes?
A: You know, I'm really not sure what motivates him. Some people sometime get so wrapped up in getting a deal done that they lose sight of the merits of the deal. It's not worth doing Social Security reform if we don't do it right. And a massive tax increase, such as the one that Sen. Graham has proposed which would more than wipe out the benefits of the Bush tax cuts for the people affected by it would set our economy back terribly, and, in and of itself, would not solve the problems of Social Security. I think we're better off not doing anything than doing that.
Q: Even Rick Santorum seems to be suffering what you called "economic amnesia" when you were writing about Sen. Graham. He called for a hike in the minimum wage, for instance.
A: Well, I don't know. I think Sen. Santorum generally votes a pretty solidly conservative line. You'd have to ask him about the motivation for the vote on the minimum wage. On the minimum wage debate, I think it was pretty clear that neither proposal was going to pass. Beyond that, I'm not sure.
Q: Are you done with politics?
A: Not necessarily.
Q: We've had one letter from someone hoping you'd run against Ed Rendell.
A: I'm not going to be a candidate for governor in '06.
Q: Is there anything else you can tell us about your future?
A: I certainly haven't ruled out running for office again in the future. Another statewide run is a distinct possibility. ... I'm loving my job at the Club for Growth. I think we do some great things and it's great fun. ... (B)ut at some point down the road I might very well take a look at another political race
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Bill Steigerwald is an associate editor and columnist at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Comment by clicking here.
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