Congressman Cliff Stearns

Clifford Bundy Stearns is a Member of Congress from Florida (6th Congressional District). Congressman Stearns was born in Washington, D.C. on April 16, 1941;, attended Hearst Elementary School in Washington, D.C. from 1946-1952, then graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. in 1959.  Congressman Stearns has a B.S. degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and then went briefly to the University of California, Los Angeles, Calif., 1965. Stearns served in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1967.  For 21 years, Stearns has had a strangle hold on his seat in Congress. He was first sworn into office on January 3, 1989. With over $2.5 million in his campaign bank account, over 66% of this money comes from special interests and less than 20% from residents in the Congressional District. Real Estate, Telecom Companies, Telephone Utilities, Pharmaceutical and Health Care Companies, and Law Firms are the big five industries that line the campaign pockets of Cliff Stearns. While unemployment soared in the Sixth Congressional District, Stearns was in Washington, D.C. with his friends raising millions in his where his only opponent is Florida Whig Candidate John Annarumma.  On September 30, 2009 you could have paid $1,000 as an individual or $2,000 as a political action committee to attend a Wizards vs. Celtics basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington.  On July 23, 2009 and June 11, 2009 you could have paid $500 as an individual or $1,000 as a political action committee to have breakfast with Stearns at the Capitol Hill Club or have Coffee with Cliff at “the” Club on April 29 or 23, 2009 for the same entrance fee (did they serve Star Bucks?).  And of course there was that Florida favorite “Sunshine Breakfast with Cliff on September 23, 2008 for $1,000 per person at the infamous Capitol Hill Club.  Again, while millions of people were looking for work, Clifford was having a thousand dollar breakfast.

When asked if Stearns should leave Congress and retire, a crowd began chanting...

The Capitol Hill Club has a rich heritage and truly represents everything that is wrong with Washington, D.C. The concept of a national social club for Republicans only, began as the dream of the late New Jersey Congressman, James C. Auchincloss, in 1950 as a way to have open and frank conversations in private and away from prying eyes and ears of the media. An original group of 100 from 22 states formed the nucleus of what has become the nation’s premier insider’s political club.  In 1951 the Republicans purchased the Madison Building from the Library of Congress for a very reasonable sum and immediately opened for business.  Eleven years later, the Club moved to more spacious headquarters, and in 1972 built its present home, just one block from the U.S. Capitol; which allows Republicans a place to gather and discuss outside the presence of the media and sunshine. Club members of the Capitol Hill Club include the nation’s most influential people: Presidents and Vice Presidents, GOP Members of Congress, Governors, state party leaders and influential Republicans everywhere who are willing to pay the price of admission.  The clubhouse has 5 levels and is chalk full of portraits of distinguished Republicans of past and present. The Eisenhower Lounge is frequently used for receptions, parties, and important events.  The Presidential Dining room on the second floor is often the site of fund raising events where exotic cuisine is prepared by renowned chefs.  Former Florida Republican Party Chairman Greer, who was forced out of office due to accusations within the Florida GOP of financial misappropriation, has reportedly frequented this Republican Conclave on several occasions. The “Club” is for members and invited guest only and offers a “superb venue” for “Representative and their guests to dine and discuss the day’s political agenda.”  In other words, here’s the place to take the checks and cut the deals. When the day is done and drinks are needed, the Auchincloss Grill is the place to be. With sofas and nooks for private and “personal” conversations or to slumber and lay around with staff when a filibuster is ongoing, the Grill is “the” private spot on the Hill.  The room features a secure wireless internet for surfing the web and making wire bank transfers.  The third and fourth levels have a variety of private meeting rooms. As many as 400 card-carrying guests can be accommodated for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  At $2,000 per political action committee, the “Club” offers the quickest and most private way to raise $800,000 at a crack. The Bolton Room is often the perfect setting for the “private” fundraiser.

 

The current menu for Congressman Stearns and his guest at the Capitol Hill Club includes Jumbo Lump Crabmeat & Shrimp Martini, Spicy Cocktail Sauce, Smoked Salmon Tart, Cucumbers, Capers, Red Onion, Dill Lemon Vinaigrette in Phyllo Shell, Roasted Asparagus Crisp, Asparagus Wrapped in Proscuitte & Phyllo with Baby Arugula & Shaved Parmesan, Pan Seared Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Citrus Sauce, Stuffed Portabella Mushroom, Pine Nuts, Asiago Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers on Field Greens, New Zealand Mussels Casino, Herbed Pancetta Stuffing & Garlic Butter, Grilled Eggplant Ratatouille, Bermuda Onion & Tomato Soup, Lobster Bisque, Roasted Corn Soup Garnished with a Petite Crab Cake, Aged Certified Black Angus Beef, Double Cut Grilled Pork Chop, Pearl Onions, Braised Red Cabbage, Baby Apples, Port Glaze, Grilled American Double Lamb Chops and Currant Sauce, Ratatouille, Saffron Couscous, Grilled Beef Tenderloin On Sautéed Exotic Mushrooms & Baby Spinach, Roasted Garlic Oven Dried Tomatoes, Herbed Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Certified Black Angus Sirloin Steak, Roast Fingerling Potatoes, Baby Vegetables, Sautéed Spinach, On the Bone Cowboy Cut Ribeye Steak. Thyme Potato Cake, Grilled Portabella Mushroom, Topped with Crisped Shallots, Pistachio Crusted Breast of Chicken, Caramelized Artichokes, Asparagus, Roasted Potatoes, Sun Dried Tomato Basil Sauce, Grilled Sea Bass, Cannellini Bean Ragout, Corn, Sweet Onion, Tomato, Fresh Herb, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes On Ratatouille, with Parmesan Polenta, Warm Arugula, Caperberry Lemon Sauce, Pan Roasted Grouper, Savoy Cabbage, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Fingerling Potatoes, Fennel Mustard Sauce, Seared Duck Breast Over Gnocchi, Baby Green Beans, Carrots, Butternut Squash, & Fennel Balsamic Port Sauce, Lobster Ravioli & Sautéed Shrimp Red, Green, & Yellow Peppers, Tomato, & Basil, Saffron Cream Sauce, or Steamed 1 ½ Lb. Maine Lobster.

Not exactly the menu at Denny’s is it?

With all this now in the open, we have to wonder what the TEA party movement members in the 6th Congressional District think about a Republican Good-Old-Boys who has his "Friends of Stearns" attending the various TEA party events with trusted Republican Executive Committee Party members while back "home" in D.C. he dines on lobster and crab cakes?  Various TEA party movement coalitions got all ginned up over the cost of the recent TEA party convention in Nashville, but all the while, Clifford is just one another D.C. insider and only one example (and oh do we have the dirt on the others) of flashy spending by the Grand Old Party ancient guard.

Disgusting Isn't It

  

While Clifford Bundy Stearns was hob nobbing with his rich and powerful handlers, lobbyists, and deal-makers, John Annarumma (Deputy Sheriff & U.S. Army National Guard) has and continues defending the nation like millions of other true Americans who answer the call.

 

John Annarumma, a real patriot and Whig candidate for Congress.

 

Time to elect some of these fellas to Congress. We can't wait for mortality to thin the herd in Congress. The Florida Whig Party is for those who believe in Principles above Party and We the People Above Self Interest. In 2010 We the People have the opportunity tell the nation that our Congressional Districts are occupied by working men and women, not ELITE POWER BROKERS and WE ARE NOT FOR SALE.

And speaking of FOR SALE, watch what Stearns does if there is no Republican to challenge him in the primary. At the last possible moment (90 days before the general election) Stearns will abuse his Congressional franking privilege. The franking privilege gives lawmakers millions in tax dollars to create a favorable public image by mailing material that is not suppose to be political but informational to the voters; but alas, when you look at a Stearns mailer its blatant political posturing.  Experts across the political spectrum have labeled the frank as an unfair electioneering tool. In past election cycles, Congressional incumbents such as Clifford have spent as much on franking alone as challengers have spent on their entire campaigns; and in 2010 this will happen again. Already there have been meetings to outline form and format of the pre-election frank by Stearns, depending upon who is in the race. The Florida Whig Party calls upon Clifford Bundy Stearns to support and abide before passage with H.R. 2687, introduced by Representative Ray LaHood during the 110th Congress, which would effectively prohibit Representatives from mass mailing newsletters, questionnaires, or congratulatory notices. The prohibition would not cover certain other types of mass mailings made by Members, including federal documents (such as the Congressional Record) or voter registration information. The proposed legislation would apply only to Representatives; it would not affect mass mailings made by Senators. We won’t hold our breath as Stearns is the poster boy for questionable franking material.

Again, for all Whigs, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, third party registered voters, and all Tea party movement members who are fed up with the abuse by the good-old-boy incumbents, pay careful attention to issues such as abusive franking and simply toss the insiders like Stearns out of office.

It's Time For Whigs In Congress