Press Office of James Lee Taggert

[jamestaggert]

Budget FY 2009

"I wish to take this chance to affirm my loyalty to the Republican party and to its general platform. I am not out to sow discord in the party. Nor is it my intention to cause division in our ranks. And I'd like to say that I think the media is exaggerating the current situation in the Republican party. All I hear all the time is reporters talkin' about southern Republicans being at the throats of their northern colleagues. An' this just ain't the case. I'd say that this was a difference of opinion on a particular issue and NOT a major point of contention. Bottom line, you shouldn't believe all the hype you read in the media."

"However, that being said, I cannot refuse my responsibility and duty towards the citizens of the great state of Louisiana. And my primary duty is to them and to their interests. Therefore, if I feel that a piece of legislation is not in the favor of my state, people are goin' to here about it. Its as simple as that. And I'm not going to support somethin' that puts my state in the shitter, pardon me for sayin' so."

"I got here, a copy of Louisiana's current employment and income figures. And its sure as hell ain't pretty. I have to be realistic. Things are not fine and dandy in my state. The current unemployment rate stands at over 10%. 10%! Your average annual household income in the state of Louisiana, 32,000 dollars a year. Compare that to the 42,000 dollars a year, which is this nation's overall average. Fact of the matter is, I have people in the state of Louisiana who need financial support, who need work training and who need the means to better themselves."

"A tax credit is a short term solution. Giving a family some extra spending money only goes so far. Its like Jesus and the hungry people. What did Jesus do? Instead of just constantly giving them fish, he taught them how to fish so that they could fend for themselves. Well, this is the same situation. My viewpoint is that allowing people to better themselves in the job market will have much more far reaching results than simply giving them enough money for an extra "lunch" or an extra bag of groceries. Because at the end of the day, an extra lunch or an extra bag of groceries doesn't change the overall financial situation of that family. Whereas giving a family more mobility and adaptability in the job market does."

[jamestaggert]

Gay Marriage

"Personally, I think the definition of marriage should not change. I do not support changing the traditional definition of marriage. And I think that if the matter is left to the individual states and a bunch of stuffy old judges and liberal hot shot lawyers, we are going to have a lot of states just changing the status of marriage. And I think that is goddamn deplorable."

"I think the matter should be left to the people. Changing something as important as the definition of marriage should not be done without consulting the citizens of this nation or of each individual state, if the matter is to be left for each individual state to decide. A free vote or referendum should be held on this matter."

"Simply putting something as sacred as the institution of marriage in the hands of a few crusty politicians for them to decide on the definition is outrageous."

[jamestaggert]

On National Defense and Ethan Hall

"Sometimes I think that I've taken crazy pills when I listen to some of the garbage that comes out of the mouthes of Democrats. Here we are in 2009, with troop commitments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. And now we have the very real possibility of a conflict with both Syria and Iran. Yet, Democrats demand that the defense budget be cut. That it be scaled down. Well, I suggest that Congressman Ethan Hall should take a plane to the Middle East and ask some of our brave men and women if they feel the defense budget should be slashed. With equipment shortages and malfunctions, and quite possibly a new war on the horizon with Syria and Iran, this is a time of great uncertainty and now is not the time to get cheap with the military."

"Listen, nobody likes war. Least of all the soldiers doing the actually fighting. But sometimes the use of force becomes necessary. The fact of the matter is, Iran and Syria are both a threat to our security. And to the security of the free world. A country like Iran, with its corrupt, theocratic nut ball regime, cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons. "

"Would you allow a drunk to hold a pistol? Probably not. So, why then, should a schizophrenic country like Iran be allowed to have nukes?."

[jamestaggert]

Response to Congressman Ethan Hall's Comments

Congressman James Lee Taggert guest on WIBR - AM 1300 News/Talk Radio

"I never said Democrats don't care about American lives. That there, was Mr.Hall putting words into my mouth. What I said was that Democrats are incompetent when it comes to safeguarding American lives. Especially when it comes to safeguarding the lives of our soldiers. Listen, when a war with two countries is about to break out and you already have troop engagements in two other regions of the world, you do not cut the defense budget. That is being incompetent."

Q: But, if I understand correctly, Mr. Hall was saying that there is simply the need to better screen defense spending.

"Listen, its no secret that most Democrats view the military as some big useless evil machine that eats up billions of dollars. Whenever a Democrat talks about cutting government spending, its either law enforcement, the justice system or the military. And that is sure as shit.
What Mr.Hall and other Democrats want to do is seriously scale down the military. This talk about just "trimming the fat" is dangerous in that it will lead to a slippery slope. And I'm not altogether too certain that "trimming the fat" so to speak is really what Mr.Hall is after. This is just getting his foot in the door so that more cuts can be made."

"Listen, I'm all for putting in better procedures for approving and investing in defense projects, Lord knows I've seen plenty of cases where money was wasted during my career in the Corps. That is all fine and dandy. But I think that making major changes in the budget is not the way to go, not at this time."

"How come whenever a Republican advocates cuts in programs such as welfare, trimming the fat as Mr.Hall says, Democrats are always getting their underwear in a notch? How come all social programs are always sacred and are never due for some fat trimming? Yet, the military, the shield and sword of America, the institution, that for the most part, has assured the safety and security of democracy throughout the world should get a fat trimming?."

"The fact of the matter is we live in an age where more and more of the burden of protecting liberty and democracy falls on American shoulders. The UN has been essentially useless as of yet. And there is no other nation out there who has the military capacity or the resolution to defend the interests of freedom and liberty out there in the world. In a nutshell, America stands alone. And if we are to keep being the guardians of democracy and freedom, then we need a healthy, vibrant and well funded military."

[jamestaggert]

Syria & Iran

"Unfortunately, diplomacy and the olive branch will only get you so far. Nobody wants a war. But sometimes the use of force is the only way. And it is clearly the only language understood by regimes of the likes of those who currently rule in both Iran and Syria. Such regimes with dictators only bow down to force. History shall show that appeasement, incessent diplomacy and bargaining only encourages power hungry individuals to make the territorial grab."

"As of yet both Syria and Iran have been totally uncooperative and unwilling to scale back their aggressive rhetoric. In fact, they openly flaunt their aggressive intentions and constantly re-affirm their desire for war. Democrats cry out: "Where is the evidence? Where is the evidence that these two countries are a threat?." Evidence? Goddamn it! Does anyone in the Democratic party read a newspaper or watch the news? Every week one of them shit for brains leaders is out talking about wiping out Israel or destroying Western ideals."

"And now, with the detotonation of several nuclear weapons, we clearly have the evidence that they have the means to back up such threats. For crissakes, the free world hasn't had a more obvious set of signals of danger since Hitler wrote Mein Kempf and basically mapped out his aims."

"Personally, I was willing to allow the UN the chance to work as an institution and fullfill its role as a mediator and guardian of international stability. But clearly, those of us who hold jaded views of the UN are not going to become any more idealistic with the recent news coming from that institution. Apparently, due solely to the wishes of Communist China, we are not to interfere in Iran's business of rocking the boat in the Middle East."

"I am disgusted and dissapointed with the UN. Unfortunately, America will once again shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the international community in absence of anyone else with either the capacity or willingness to do so."