Today, Ashleigh hit the airwaves and was featured on 105.9’s The Morning Drive with Frank Barnas. The folks at 105.9 have posted the interview in two parts online. To view part one, click here. For part two, click here.
Last week after a health care town meeting in Valdosta, Georgia a Valdosta State University student, Ashleigh Kenny, gave me a tee shirt. The front said, “R.I.P. The U.S. Constitution” the back has a Ronald Reagan quote, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem”.
Upon posting this picture, critical blogs leaped into action. Not just attacking the message but me - no surprise there – and soon they moved on to 21 year old Ashleigh.
The first blogger made a point - isn’t it overly dramatic to suggest the Constitution is under attack? And should I, as loco parentis, encourage this sort of student activism?
Before I could respond others joined in and Ashleigh moved from co-ed to “prostitute.” It’s amazing how perceptive left-wingers can be just from one photo.
After this picture was posted on Jack’s Flickr account, some liberal blogs have taken to personally attacking the constituent who appears with Jack. Ashleigh, a student a Valdosta State University, provided this response to her detractors:
I realize that some controversy has resulted from the blog posting a picture of Congressman Kingston and me, where I presented him a t-shirt that said “R.I.P. The U.S. Constitution”
What those who seek to smear me don’t know, or take the time to find out, is that the back of the shirt is adorned with the words of President Ronald Reagan: “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.”
Perhaps one’s perception of the shirt depends on his or her perception of our Constitution. Personally, I believe it is a fundamental document that was written to insure that the government never became greater than the people. When I look at today’s society, the government’s control seems to increasingly outweigh the people’s. I cannot help but feel that the Constitution has been theoretically buried. This design isn’t meant to point fingers, it’s meant to stir an awareness of what we are losing. It’s about the power of the government increasing, while the power of the people decreases.
This shirt is not meant to stir debate regarding which administration did the most to slaughter our Constitution. While we cannot change the past, we do have the present in our hands, right now. This is where change begins.
I must say, in a time where political scandal consists of perjury, adultery, embezzlement…etc., to be caught standing next to a college kid accepting a pro-liberty t-shirt really doesn’t sound so bad. Maybe that’s just me
Jack hosted town hall meetings in Hazlehurst, Douglas, Valdosta and Folkston today and the turnout was amazing! While we’re still uploading pictures from Valdosta and Folkston, here are a few from Hazlehurst and Douglas to hold you over. There were around 100 people in Hazlehurst and as many as 200 in Douglas!
Pictures from Hazlehurst:
Pictures from Douglas:
More meetings later this week. Tomorrow, Jack will be hosting a town hall meeting in Savannah and on Wednesday he’ll be in Alma, Jesup, Waycross and Brunswick. For more information, click here.
In case you missed it, Jack spoke on the floor yesterday and read a letter from a constituent in Douglas which asks, “Where are the jobs?” To view the clip, click below:
Department of Justice grant to fund new officer for three years
Congressman Jack Kingston (GA-1) today announced a $106,901 grant for the Alma Police Department. The funding will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
“We’ve seen from experience that local initiatives go a lot further toward solving local problems that policies set in Washington,” Congressman Kingston said. “This funding will provide tax relief by savings local tax dollars and, under the stewardship of Chief Livingston, will go a long way to fight crime more effectively through community policing.”
Department of Justice grant to fund new officer for three years
Congressman Jack Kingston (GA-1) today announced a $138,286 grant for the Jesup Police Department. The funding will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
“We’ve seen from experience that local initiatives go a lot further toward solving local problems that policies set in Washington,” Congressman Kingston said. “This funding will provide tax relief by savings local tax dollars and, under the stewardship of Chief Takaki, will go a long way to fight crime more effectively through community policing.”
Committee orders funding, report on DoD efforts to mitigate 5th BCT reversal’s impact
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA) announced today that the Defense Appropriations Committee approved $75 million in economic assistance for Hinesville and Liberty County.�
The funding will be used by the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) to help the area withstand the economic impact levied by the Army’s recent reversal on stationing a new brigade at Fort Stewart.
“Hinesville and Liberty County have stepped up when the military asked them to and now it’s time for the Pentagon to step up and help Hinesville,” Congressman Kingston said. “The Office of Economic Adjustment exists to help communities recover from the base closures and the Army’s reversal on the 5th brigade was as devastating to the area. This is not a hand out but a helping hand and will allow the area to recover from this situation on a strong footing.”
House approves $200 million in military construction for post
Despite the ongoing struggle with Fort Stewart’s much-anticipated brigade, the U.S. House of Representatives appropriated nearly $200 million for construction on post. The funding comes as part of a larger measure which provides for military construction and veterans affairs and will provide for new, state-of-the-art facilities to prepare the post for missions of the future.
“This level of funding indicates the Congress recognizes the growth potential of Fort Stewart and is willing to invest in the post despite the current setback,” Congressman Kingston said. “It is helpful in continuing to make the case that Fort Stewart is ready for more troops and new missions. Building on the already world-class infrastructure, it will continue to improve the post and keep it at the cutting edge of technology.”
Georgia’s own Neal Boortz has been nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame. Ballots are currently being taken so, if you’d like to vote for Neal click here for instructions.
Jack spoke on the House floor today to discuss the economic impact on the City of Hinesville and Liberty County a recent Army decision to no longer direct a 5th BCT to the area. To view the colloquy, click below.
Congressman uses defense hearing to press Army leadership
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A hearing which brought together the Army’s top leadership and the Defense Appropriations Committee, which governs the Army’s funding. Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1) used this opportunity to continue his fight for Fort Stewart and the communities surrounding the post.
Congressman Kingston, who serves as a senior member of the committee, questioned Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey on the commitments made to Fort Stewart and possible assistance available after the Army reversed its long-standing decision to send an additional brigade to the post.
“The Department of Defense has already invested $500 million in this project, the School Board spent almost $400,000 and local infrastructure investments total $40 million,” Congressman Kingston said. “Local businesses have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in providing housing with $73.9 million invested in housing that’s ready and waiting. In 2008, there were 634 housing permits issued alone – that’s remarkable for a year when our economy began slipping.”
Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA/01) announced today that South Georgia flood victims have only days to complete registration for benefits through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to return applications for assistance to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Applications to both SBA and registration with FEMA must be postmarked by June 22. This deadline applies to those whose property and/or business was affected by the storms and flooding in South Georgia from March 26 through April 13.
“Our South Georgia communities have worked very hard to recover from the significant damage caused by the flooding from our March and April storms,” said Congressman Kingston. “It was a tough hit to many who are already struggling with tough times caused by a rough economy. I urge anyone whose property was affected to register with FEMA so that they might be eligible for any resulting damage.”
Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA/01) announced today that a business and housing expo will be held in three South Georgia locations this Friday, June 12 and three North Georgia locations on Saturday, June 13. South Georgia locations include Albany, Hinesville and Warner Robins and North Georgia locations include Athens, Atlanta and Calhoun. The expos are sponsored through a partnership between Governor Sonny Perdue, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Georgia Department of Economic Development and Governor’s Office of Customer Service.
“This is a unique opportunity to capitalize on a multitude of resources,” said Congressman Kingston. “Whether you are thinking of starting your own business, applying for financial assistance or buying a home, the information provided during at the expo can expose untapped resources that people may not have known existed.”
