Tommy Sowers Responds to Emerson's Smears

Instead of demanding an apology to millions of Americans because you perceive you were slighted, how about exhibiting some of the toughness we'd expect from a Green Beret and shaking it off? Petty and thin-skinned, dude. The woman you're running against is tougher than you are.

I am a Vietnam era veteran living in Cape. Let me say that Jo Ann Emerson has been nothing but good to our veterans. Jo Ann was there when we built the new VFW hall on Kingshighway, Jo Ann visits the MO Vets home in Cape and she has a excellent staff that has helped me and my friends with VA benefits. To say Jo Ann does not respect our military men and women is just not true.

The real issue Jo Ann was trying to talk about was Don't Ask Don't Tell. As a guy who has spent time in combat zones I appreciate Jo Ann not wanting to make this a political issue. The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell or any other military policy should be made by military leaders, not politicans.

What I find unbelieveable is that a Congress person would not be aware that an Army Major commanded troops. I hope she isn't on any Defense Department committees. She shows a complete lack of knowledge about the military. I am a life long Republican too

Bill:

I am also a veteran (Gulf War 1) and I would like to echo you praise of Ms. Emerson's work with veterans. I had trouble getting the VA to help me with an issue and Jo Ann personally called the VA in Washington to handle the problem.

"Don't as, Don't tell" is such a complicated issue. I agree with Bill and with Jo Ann that the issue should be handled by the military and not by politicians.

Thank you to all our veterans on this Memorial Day weekend!

Congressman Ike Skelton, a Democrat, voted against repealing the "Don't ask Don't tell" policy.

Sowers, I respect you for your military service and for your 100 mile walk. But, your political and economic views are way to the left of the majority of voters in this district. Bill Emerson was congressman from '83-'96 and Joann has been congresswoman from '96 until now. That's a total of 27 years.

That being said, I agree we need a change in Washington, but it's not A Democrat with socialistic leanings. That's why I and many other conservatives are voting for Bob Parker in the primary.

Sowers, check out http://www.dailystatesman.com/story/1637146.html

and scroll down. You'll see a comment I made about you coming to Dexter! And Sowers, you can come by our place any time! You're welcome in Dexter even if we do disagree with your politics!

I had the mispleasure of meeting Tommy Sowers today along the 100 mile yard sale route. I found him to be loud, obnoxious and argumentative. I merely asked him if he would have voted for Obama's Health Care bill. He said he would have. I told him that was the end of our discussion. He continued to try and engage me in conversation. I told him I was a Tea Partier and believed that government had only those powers given to it in the Constitution. He went on and on about being a Constitution scholar yet would not acknowledge that there are only nine things that the Constitution expressly gives government the power to do:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

I told Sowers that I may not vote for Jo Ann Gladney but I'll be damned if I vote for Tommy Sowers as we have too many Democrats in Congress as it is. He said in a snotty manner "There is someone running on the Tea Party ticket....go ahead and vote for them."

Sounds to me like he gave you honest answers. Would you have rather he lied? Perhaps your dialogue was not the best. Sounds like you wanted to be controversial/ If the poor of the poorest in this district voted, there would not be a Repub anywhere in the 8th district. Keep supporting JAE and maybe we can become the poorest district in the nation.

This Sowers guys sounds like another bleeding heart whiner. And being in command and commanding are two different things. Jo Ann Emerson has been a tireless supporter of veterans and veteran causes. So far I've heard hundreds of Missourians who have benefited and appreciate Ms. Emerson's efforts. What I've heard from Sowers and given the caliber of those who try to cover for him doesn't summon much encouragement. Keep on walking Sowers; keep in touch.

howdydoody.....oh to the contrary. I told him our conversation was over and he kept trying to tell me why my views were wrong. You are correct that if the poorest of the poor in our district voted that there would not be a Repulican in office, but really, do you want someone who cannot run their own households and manage their own finances choosing our representative?

Again I will not vote for Jo Ann Gladney (this woman will not take her current husband's name because it would be incovenient for her politically.) she did not speak against Obama's Healthcare bill on the floor of the House when it was being debated. Thus, the 8th district had no voice in Washington.

Pulling rank on a potential constituent with that "I'm a constitutional scholar" line is lame. And troubling. Is this another Democrat who plans to rule over us instead of for us, due to the fact that he claims to know more than we do?

I believe that Tommy Sowers has helped a lot of soldiers (who will become veterans) during his 11 years of service. He had 2 tours to Iraq and commanded troops. I read here that Joanne Emerson has helped veterans and should get credit. The issue here is that Joanne Emerson said she didn't think he has commanded anybody. If you are over 10 years old you know that's not true because everybody over a private commands someone. If she doesn't know it, she should not be voting on military issues. Saying she will let military leaders decide don't ask, don't tell is ducking the issue. Does she believe any group should be discriminated against? She voted against equal pay for women so I have to believe she will discriminate.

I missed that one. I didn't know she voted against the equal pay for women. That's disgraceful. Maybe she needs to make less than her male co-horts in congress. I bet that would help change her mind. What in the world has she done that would be of any bnefit to the 8th district?

It's true that Emerson voted 'no' on the Lily Ledbetter Act, along with virtually every other Republican in the House. Only 3 Republicans supported it. If you read the bill, you'll see that this legislation is more about adjusting the limits of an equal pay lawsuit than discrimination itself. Saying that "she voted against equal pay for women" is misleading.

I think that what we are witnessing is the advent of a career politician who has held office for a long time, and now finds herself in a most unfamiliar situation - Rep. Emerson has to actively campaign for her job for the first time ever.

She hasn't responded to the pension bailout bill sponsership issue very well (if at all; basically allowing the special interests to defend her position), and now this.

Sooner or later Rep. Emerson has a lot of explaining to do. Enjoy the show.

As for my position on Don't Ask Don't Tell - government creates chaos. Such are the moral hazards of a standing army.

LC,

I think I will simply throw a party and sell maps to my house. That will keep the FCC out of it.

Actually, my committee is planning on throwing an event at Capaha Park for voters to hear the third party and indpendent candidates from around the district and state without noise from the Big Government Party in early October.

Maybe I can get some homebrewers that I know to set up a booth so that folks can sample their wares. Have a few local bands perform, hold a tricycle race (in leau of the Tour of Missouri), hand out some Stalin Awards, serve up some Donkey Dogs and Elephant burgers (they are both made of pork coincidently) and have some fun.

Tommy Sowers brags on his facebook page about liberal positions on health care and Don't Ask Don't Tell. Serioulsy, letting gays openly serve in the military. Who would support such a dummy, and why? Tommy Sowers is just as bad as Dorman Grace.

As I've stated before, Sowers is an opportunist whose politics and economics are way to the left of the majority of voters in the 8th district.

We will not forget Sowers tacky campaign stop at Hickory Log where and when the Stoddard County Republican Club was meeting in April. The Stoddard County Women's Democrat Club was meeting at American Steak House at the same time. Why in this world did he and his driver stop by Hickory Log when his party was meeting elsewhere? Typical Democrat Party tacky campaign!

swift:

He probably wanted to see what you two were doing.

Zalmanian, your grammar and speeling are atrocious! Not only that, but you are judgemental by saying, "most Repubs hate gays anyway". Hating a lifestyle is different than hating a person involved in that lifestyle. At any rate, we need Bob Parker!