Thursday, November 1, 2012

TRUTH PAGE



TOP 5 MYTHS ABOUT MATT SHEA AND HIS OPPONENT

“When the debate is lost slander becomes the tool of the loser.” Socrates

Often, some candidates out of desperation, will launch “attack mail” or “attack advertisements” and use biased media (like the Spokesman-Review) to help their effort.  This happens late in a campaign, so an opponent has no time to respond to false-hoods and half-truths.  A frequently asked question is how Democrats and the Spokesman Review get away with consistently lying by commission or omission during political campaigns.  The answer is that the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that it’s alright for candidates to make false statements about other candidates.  “‘The majority opinion advances the efforts of those who would turn political campaigns into contests of the best stratagems of lies and deceit, to the end that honest discourse and honest candidates are lost in the maelstrom,’ Justice Barbara Madsen wrote in the dissent.”  Read the story here.[1]  This Truth page is presented so you can get the other side of the story and make a fair and informed decision.

MYTH 1:  The political attack ads and website against Matt Shea are “independent.”

TRUTH:  The fact is the Inland Northwest Leadership PAC is funded by, and is a political hit organization for, the:
1.      Washington State Democrats
2.      Roosevelt Fund (State Senate Democrat Fund)
3.      Truman Fund (State House Democrat Fund)
4.      Washington Federation of State Employees/WFSE Council 28
5.      SEIU Healthcare 775NW


MYTH 2:  Matt’s Opponent is a “conservative” “pro-business” Democrat and Matt is a right-wing extremist. 

TRUTH:   Let’s look at the facts.  Matt’s Opponent is endorsed by NARAL, Planned Parenthood, FUSE, and SEIU among many other liberal progressive organizations.[3]

By contrast Matt enjoys broad support among small business organizations including:
Association of Washington Business
  • National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
  • Spokane Association of Realtors
  • Spokane Home Builders Association
  • Washington Restaurant Association
  • Washington Retail Association
  • Washington State Farm Bureau PAC
  • Washington State Veterinary Medical Association PAC
 Matt also enjoys broad support among many well-known conservative organizations:

  • National Rifle Association of America (PVF)
  • Citizens Alliance for Property Rights(CAPR)
  • Gun Owners Action League of Washington
  • Gun Owners of America
  • Faith and Freedom PAC
  • Human Life PAC

Matt also earned “Rookie Legislator of the Year in 2009” hardly the mark of an extremist.
 
Here is a breakdown of where Matt and his opponent stand on the issues:

Initiative/Issue
Biviano
Shea
4th Dist. Voters[4]
Same-Sex Marriage
Supports[5]
Opposes
66% Opposed (R-71)
Income Tax
Supports[6]
Opposes
74% Opposed (I-1098)
Gun Control
Supports[7]
Opposes
Vast Majority Oppose
Implementation of Obamacare
Supports[8]
Opposes
Vast Majority Oppose
2/3rds Requirement to Raise Taxes
Opposes[9]
Supports
74% Supported (I-1053)
Removing Tax Increases by Legislature
Opposes[10]
Supports
74% Supported (I-1107)
Right to Life
Opposes[11]
Supports
Vast Majority Support

As you can see Matt’s positions are in line with the majority of the voters in the 4th District. Who has the most radical anti-business views for the 4th District? The answer is clear – the Democrat who moved here from Seattle and is masquerading as a conservative – Matt's opponent.
 
MYTH 3:  Matt was pointing a gun at someone during a road rage incident.

TRUTH:  As usual the Spokesman Review does not support Matt Shea. No surprise there. However, the timing is clearly suspect...8 months later during an election year the Spokesman Review brings this incident up after doing something almost identical in 2008 to Matt (a hit piece published right after primary ballots drop). In light of this, it is also no surprise the Spokesman Review did not report the key facts corroborated by the witnesses.  Specifically, Mr. Norris came across four lanes of traffic and tried to run into the side of Matt's truck. The independent eyewitness did not see anything “that led up to the Lumina driving, ‘horribly aggressive’” and "Donna believed the driving to be unprovoked" (Police Report Excerpt Below). The other independent witness corroborated this in a sworn affidavit:

“The driver serving across 4 lanes of traffic toward the front of Mr. Shea’s truck was clearly unprovoked.  Mr. Norris then stopped in front of Mr. Shea’s truck.  It was only then that Mr. Shea pulled the gun out of this glove box and set it on the seat.” 

Fearing for his own life and everyone around him, Matt pulled the gun out and set it on the seat just in case he had to defend himself and those near him in traffic.

At no time did Matt point the gun at anyone, which Mr. Norris readily admitted. "Leroy did not believe that the driver of the truck pointed the gun at him at any time" (Police Report Excerpt Below). Matt immediately called the State Patrol liaison for legislators and reported it as an attempt on his life (legislators do not have any security out of session). The fourth witness stated clearly “Rep. Shea maintained a calm demeanor throughout the incident…To be honest I would have done the same thing if I were him…”

The real issue here is why wasn't this Mr. Norris prosecuted with vehicular assault, especially with what appears to be an extensive record of similar behavior including charges for reckless driving and hit and run? By contrast, Matt Shea is a trained decorated Army combat veteran. As Matt himself says, “ask any law enforcement officer or military man and they will tell you, your number one job is coming home to your family at night.”
MYTH 4:  Matt is a wife-beater.

TRUTH:  The Democrats and the Spokesman Review have hashed and rehashed this myth since 2008 with the proverbial question “how many times did you beat your wife Matt?”  The truth is that Matt’s wife left him in 2007 and then filed for divorce.  She then went on a two week vacation to Mexico with her boyfriend.  Matt attempted everything in his power to keep the marriage together including immediately putting himself under the authority of his church pastor Ken Ortize in an effort to resolve the situation but to no avail.  Matt’s former wife and her attorney proceeded to make several outrageous allegations including that Matt physically abused her. This has, unfortunately, become a standard practice in many, if not all, divorce proceedings to gain leverage in settlement negotiations. 

At that time Matt was the executive director of a pro-family advocacy organization.  As a result of these allegations and at his behest, the board of directors, composed of a group of local Christian leaders, conducted a formal and thorough investigation.  This included a complete review of the entire court file and formal interviews of both Matt and his former wife.   The group completely exonerated Matt concluding, “the allegations had no basis in fact.”

Following this, Matt’s former wife violated the mutual restraining order several times including breaking into his house.  Consequently, through his attorney, Matt filed a Contempt of Court Motion. The matter was then quickly settled, the divorce finalized, and all restraining orders immediately dropped once Matt delivered the settlement check to his former wife.  Matt later discovered that his former wife’s attorney Paul Mack was a prominent Spokane County Democrat who has given campaign contributions to high profile Democrats Tim Hattenburg, Christine Gregoire,[12] Mark Mays, Don Barbieri, and Patty Murray.[13]

MYTH 5: Matt believes FEMA has established concentration camps and filled them with “political prisoners.”

TRUTH:  This one is the most laughable but people continue to spread this myth based on an interview Matt did with the Alex Jones show on February 9, 2009.  First, Matt categorically does not believe that.  Second, the entire context of the interview was about unconstitutional federal overreach including cap and trade, Obamacare, unfunded mandates on states, nationalization of banks and car makers, and the infringement of civil liberties.  Third, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a database called the National Shelter System[14] of designated emergency relocation shelters and centers[15] (camps or “mass shelters[16]) in conjunction with the National Disaster Housing Strategy.[17]  Designated “FEMA Camps and Shelters” as it were, do in fact exist.  That is not at issue.  In fact, Matt applauds the preparation for natural disasters[18] done by FEMA and the encouragement of FEMA for individuals to “Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.”[19]  As a former Company Commander in the United States Army that served in Iraq, Matt Shea understands how critical it is to be prepared for huge forced evacuations of people.  The concern Matt acknowledged on the Alex Jones Show is that these designated “FEMA Camps and Shelters” could be used for something other than emergency relocation in the event of a natural disaster because of centralized federal control.  Specifically, he acknowledged the concerns of many[20] that a centralized shelter system could be used for purposes contrary to the Washington State and Federal Constitutions as was the case during World War II with Japanese-American internment.[21]  A constitutional attorney, Matt believes safeguards need to be in place to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again but tempered with the ability to provide disaster relief.


[4] The percentage results from the 4th District come from recent votes on Initiatives and Referenda.
[5] Endorsed by Equal Right Washington through the “progressive voter guide” and stated at http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=22359
[8] Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Debate. According to the Washington Policy Center Obamacare will cost $30 Billion over 10 years to implement, paid for predominantly by small businesses.
[15] http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr645 is an example of what is meant by a “center.”  This bill died in committee.

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