“Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead... Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living.”

- Five-Star General of the Army Omar Bradley, WWII veteran and Head of Veterans Affairs from 1946-1947

After receiving another political mailer with pictures of blood-spattered veterans today, I declare I have had ENOUGH of Mr. Dent’s and Mr. Callahan’s wild mudslinging over our military veterans, and both career politicians’ insistence to use them as political pawns in this election.
My strongest criticism of Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan both is the MISUSE of our veterans through endless, unconstitutional, and preemptive wars. Instead of vastly expensive, nation-building missions, I support the capture of the 9/11 criminals by small special forces units enforcing the law under constitutional warrants called letters of marque and reprisal, and increasing bounties for the wanted criminals.

The fact of the matter is that while Mr. Dent’s record on veterans is not pristine, he generally votes acceptably on veteran benefits. I’ll also add that Congress has a tendency to turn bills into messy hodgepodges covering multiple issues which legislation I will sponsor – One Subject at a Time – will fix.

I am the only candidate to have published my views on veterans in a formal campaign plank. The annual budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs has skyrocketed from $45 billion in 2001 to $125 billion today primarily due to the War on Terror.

Our veterans write a check for up to and including their lives to defend our country. Under our constitution, it is the duty of Congress to provide care for any physical or psychological damage veterans have suffered while defending our country. Veterans perform a necessary function in our society and for their service veterans receive deserved benefits and gratitude. It’s important that we have a strong military to deter attacks against the our country and protect it when attacked. However, the greatest way to honor them is to keep them out of unnecessary conflict. The only just war is one carried out in self-defense, as a non-aggressor, and as a last resort.

I support -

• An unequivocal congressional declaration that all physical or psychological damage veterans sustained while defending our country will be paid for by the taxpayer for their entire lives. All veterans should be free to seek medical services at local hospitals instead of VA hospitals, if they so choose. This will also alleviate the VA’s cost of rural health initiatives which increased during 2010 by 600%.

• I support changing the portion of the VA budget covering the above-mentioned expenses from discretionary to mandatory.

• Veterans also face difficulty in obtaining employment upon retirement or separation from the military. In order to assist veterans, I support temporary federal income tax credits that could be granted to employers who hire veterans. This is a zero-cost benefit to veterans and employers alike.

• If a service member dies in combat and has previously collected GI Bill benefits, the family of the deceased is required to repay those benefits to the VA. So far the VA has attempted to recover over $56,000 from the families of 22 deceased service members. This is a complete travesty and should be stopped immediately with any money repaid thus far immediately given back to the families. The text for HR 5148 prohibits “the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts owed to the United States by members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die as a result of an injury incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone.” (Mr. Dent did not co-sponsor HR 5148.)

• I support dismissing any criminal charges against veterans, current service members, and civilians who have refused to participate in any unconstitutional military action. All service members swear an oath to “protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.” Any person refusing to violate the tenets of our Constitution by participating in unconstitutional warfare are fulfilling their oaths, and it is an outrage that any be tried in a court like a petty criminal. This includes, but is not limited to, America’s past military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Somalia, Korea and Vietnam.

• As Congressman, I would file a resolution to the executive branch that all veterans found guilty previously be pardoned immediately, and legislation to clarify that soldiers are not required to participate in unconstitutional warfare.

• I pledge to fight against any and all future attempts to institute a military draft, and I will attempt to specifically ban military drafts. Individuals should be allowed to join the armed forces in a nation’s time of need of their own free will. In a truly free nation, it is my belief that there will be no need for a draft as people would gather to defend our freedoms from being stolen, our wealth plundered, and to protect our families. The idea of using young people between the ages of 18 and 21 as raw material or cannon fodder is likewise morally unacceptable.

• I support ending the Individual Ready Reserve’s mandatory 8-year service requirement immediately. This is a glorified form of a backdoor draft and is no way to thank our veterans for their service.
• A service member’s sexual preferences has no bearing on how well they can defend our country. I support repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

With a few days left until the election, I challenge my career politician opponents to put aside their bickering for a moment and agree to a focused debate on the wars abroad and our veterans. This is because they have shirked their responsibility to the people they serve by skipping or refusing 6 out of 11 debates whereby this topic could have been covered in more detail.

Why would they ever agree to a debate? Because it would be for the good of the people, not their political careers.

October 28, 2010

Towne’s “Our Veterans” plank – http://towneforcongress.com/platform-issues/our-veterans/

Towne’s latest public speech on veterans – http://towneforcongress.com/economy/jobs-debt-veterans-and-war-speech/

Upcoming events are listed below, and anyone wishing to make a donation to cover more TV advertisements can make it below.

• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM till perhaps 12:30 or 1 PM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location Changed!! Location is in the Student Life Zone on the 2nd floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.
• Live interview on WDIY, 6-7 PM on Thursday, October 28.  Listen locally at 88.1 FM or here online.
• Rally and Poll Materials Pickup, 5PM-8:30 PM on Thursday, October 28 at American Sandwich Company at 7001 Route 309, Fairmont Village Shopping Center, Coopersburg, PA 18036.  MAP.  A volunteer will be there to hand out materials from 5 PM on, Jake will arrive around 7:30 to talk for a bit.

• Rally to Restore Sanity, 12 PM- 4 PM on Saturday, October 30 at Porter’s Pub, 700 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18036.  MAP.  The Comedy Central march in DC will be televised from 12-3 pm and Jake will be taking questions from 3-4 pm.  This is not a campaign sponsored event.
• Slatington-Walnutport Halloween Parade: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Replay of “Debate at the State”, 8 PM on Saturday, October 30 on WFMZ Channel 69.

• Easton-Phillipsburg Halloween Parade: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Allentown Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Bethlehem Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.
  • Post-Election Victory Party for all volunteers and supporters at 8 PM on Election Day at Pies On Pizzeria at Front and Pine Streets, Catasauqua!!!!

Jake Towne Issues Flyer Oct 2010

I am very honored and humbled to have received the endorsement of the Express-Times, a major local newspaper in the 15th congressional district, this morning.  Under a headline, “Mr. Towne Should Go to Washington” the Express chose to endorse my candidacy rather than Republocrats Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan after my clear victory at the Debate at the State (footage here, photo courtesy Sue Beyer of the Express-Times).

I have also been very humbled to see strong support from the entire community, and I believe the race in the voting booth on November 2nd is going to be very close indeed and the skewed polling by the Morning Call will be proven to be highly inaccurate.  (The campaign has polled at 8%, 5%, and 3% so we are heading in the right direction. Unlike a two-way race, likely only 35-37% is necessary to win, and all of the skewed polling took place BEFORE the WFMZ debate and Express-Times debates.  Unlike the Express-Times, the Morning Call banned me from their debate.)

Volunteers are still needed to help out at the polls.  Polling materials can be picked up tonight at the American Sandwich Company in Coopersburg from 5-8 pm, or at the Rally to Restore Sanity at Easton’s Porter’s Pub on Saturday afternoon, campaign event details here.  An issues-oriented flyer is available to download or share from here.

From the Express-Times:

“Jake Towne started his congressional campaign more than a year ago on a shoestring budget and an idea — that a straightforward, third-party message could resonate in the Lehigh Valley, especially if the Republican and Democrat got into a divisive fight over which major-party candidate should represent the politically diverse 15th District.

We’re disappointed to see Towne’s independent candidacy hasn’t gained a lot of traction. He’s still in single digits in the polls.

Yet Towne is the best choice in this race, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy. He pledges to set a high ethical standard. He disdains the garbage passing as dialogue on the airwaves.

And he’s for real.

Republican incumbent Charlie Dent has done a credible job, but we need a break from mainstream Republican politics that caused the nation to rebel and elect Barack Obama in 2008. Democrat John Callahan has put together a defensible record as mayor of Bethlehem, but his approach in this race is less than inspiring.

We believe both men are capable of representing the Lehigh Valley, but we also feel we’re being played for suckers in this million-dollar investment in attack ads — you know, the ones that call someone a “disaster” or tax-raise worshipper or a George Bush clone.

We’re tired of the same old crap.

Finally, when The Express-Times’ editorial board had a chance to prod and observe the candidates at Monday’s Debate at the State Theatre — and after examining their records — we concluded, simply, that Towne is more than just a viable alternative. His platform is somewhat libertarian, ardently constitutional, fiscally conservative, socially live-and-let-live, and radically pointed in areas in which we wanted to hear real answers — such as the need to end nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. He is a member of the local Tea Party group, but is not a Tea Party candidate.

Like most candidates, he puts job creation and deficit-cutting at the top of his list. Unlike other members of Congress, he would be free to pursue and vote on those issues without having to check his campaign-supporter list. His assessment of the “two-headed, one-party system” we operate under rings true.

On some issues, he’s closer to Republicans, such as extending the Bush tax cuts, opposing the health care bill, opposing restrictions on gun ownership, redirecting the military to defend our borders. On others, he’s closer to Democrats, such as supporting a woman’s right to have an abortion, allowing gay marriage, eliminating income taxes for households making under $41,000, and eliminating the “Halliburton Loophole” so states such as Pennsylvania can regulate natural gas drilling via the Safe Water Drinking Act.

On other issues — phasing out the “War on Drugs,” questioning the loss of civil liberties under the Patriot Act, pledging to serve two terms, refusing to enlist in federal health care and pension plans — he’s distancing himself from the status quo and setting an example of independence that many people would like to see in their elected representatives.

As a third-party candidate with libertarian leanings, coming out of nowhere, accepting no big political-action-committee contributions, Towne faces a public as wary of newcomers as it is weary of the major party candidates. And that’s a fair suspicion. Towne, who grew up and lives in the Nazareth area, has worked as a chemical engineer in this country and China, and is involved in his community. He’s articulate and, when given the chance, has injected energy and dimension into the 15th District debate.

Callahan and Dent aren’t spending much time or money worrying about Towne. Based on his well-run campaign and his embodiment of qualities people say they want in a congressman, maybe they should be.

We think voters should send a strong message about change — including independence from special interests and typical Washington gamesmanship — by electing a candidate with a steely populist streak.

We think Jake Towne can do the job.”

Upcoming events are listed below, and anyone wishing to make a donation to cover more TV advertisements can make it below.

• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM till perhaps 12:30 or 1 PM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location Changed!! Location is in the Student Life Zone on the 2nd floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.
• Live interview on WDIY, 6-7 PM on Thursday, October 28.  Listen locally at 88.1 FM or here online.
• Rally and Poll Materials Pickup, 5PM-8:30 PM on Thursday, October 28 at American Sandwich Company at 7001 Route 309, Fairmont Village Shopping Center, Coopersburg, PA 18036.  MAP.  A volunteer will be there to hand out materials from 5 PM on, Jake will arrive around 7:30 to talk for a bit.

• Rally to Restore Sanity, 12 PM- 4 PM on Saturday, October 30 at Porter’s Pub, 700 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18036.  MAP.  The Comedy Central march in DC will be televised from 12-3 pm and Jake will be taking questions from 3-4 pm.  This is not a campaign sponsored event.
• Slatington-Walnutport Halloween Parade: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Replay of “Debate at the State”, 8 PM on Saturday, October 30 on WFMZ Channel 69.

• Easton-Phillipsburg Halloween Parade: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Allentown Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Bethlehem Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.
  • Post-Election Victory Party for all volunteers and supporters at 8 PM on Election Day at Pies On Pizzeria at Front and Pine Streets, Catasauqua!!!!

Jake Towne Issues Flyer Oct 2010

Independent congressional candidate Jake Towne claimed a clear victory at the “Debate at the State” – held and co-sponsored by Easton’s historic and beautiful State Theatre.  The Express Times was the main sponsor, and is commended by the campaign for its commitment to hear all candidates.

When Towne challenged Mr. Dent on the constitutionality of his support of the War on Terror and the PATRIOT Act’s civil liberty violations, the incumbent had no coherent response and the 20-year career politician pitifully resorted to accusing Towne as believing in 9/11 conspiracies, a complete and utter lie.  Towne also challenged Mr. Callahan on HIS unflagging support of the unconstitutional War on Terror and endless nation-building.

Towne’s closing statement was met with by far the most applause, which is quite significant since most of the crowd were not previous supporters and were converted by the debate.  While the Republocrat candidates were busy with negative mudslinging, Towne focused on offering solutions to the problems the country faces.

The debate will air on Saturday, October 30th on WFMZ-TV, Channel 69.   Watch footage from the Express Times Debate below, and also from the previous WFMZ debate here.  (Photo courtesy Sue Beyer/Express Times)

Closing statement from Jake Towne (below left)  Towne questioning the constitutionality of Mr. Dent’s support of the undeclared wars and PATRIOT Act. (below right)

Towne asking Mr. Callahan to pledge to take a paycut and give up the congressional perks.  When Mr. Callahan first attempted to dodge the question, snickering from the crowd led him to address the question… and say he would think it over.  (below left)  Towne asking Mr. Callahan why he supports the endless and unconstitutional War on Terror and nation-building.  (below right)

To Towne’s delight, Mr. Callahan asked him a question on the federal department of education.  (Below left)  Towne outlines his stance to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and highlights the contrast on bailouts.  (Below right)

Jake takes a moment to state his stance on Cap and Trade and highlighted hydraulic fracturing as the key environmental risk to the district.  Read his solutions with hydraulic fracturing here.  (Below left)  All candidates share their stances on jobs.  See Jake’s plank here.  (Below right)

All candidates are asked a question about troop withdrawal.  Only Towne answers the question while Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan mudsling at the expense of our veterans.  Only Towne has published a veterans plank.  (Below left)  Towne answers a question on healthcare. (Below right)

Lastly, all candidates are asked a question about negative campaigning.  True to form, Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent answer by mudslinging, while Jake responds by saying, “I think you see so much negative campaigning because they have no new ideas.”  Jake outlines his “Our Open Office” idea.  (video)

Jake will have an online chat at noon today with the Morning Call.  (It’s over, view the transcript here.)  He will also be talking to the East Penn Taxpayer’s Association tonight at 7:30 pm in Emmaus, details below.

Independent congressional candidate Jake Towne has had a tough time locating opponents Mr. Charlie Dent and Mr. John Callahan at debates. Unfortunately, so has the general public. Out of 11 debates, Towne was banned from two (2), was the only candidate to attend another two (2) debates, and another four (4) debates have been canceled due to lack of a response from both career politicians.

Towne stated that after destroying both Establishment candidates in the WFMZ debate last Tuesday and receiving a flood of support, he would be highly surprised if either campaign manager would even allow their candidate to debate, and hopes they still show up to the Express-Times “Debate at the State” on Monday.

Towne for Congress stresses that all public officials are not MASTERS, but SERVANTS. To not accept public scrutiny during candidacy simply highlights how unanswerable, inaccessible, and unresponsive these Establishment career politicians plan to be in office. This is not the type of representation and behavior voters should accept, and underscores Towne’s point that the “two-headed, one-party” system has betrayed and failed the people.

When elected, Jake Towne’s novel-yet-simple form of accountable and transparent government, “Our Open Office,” will give constituents new levels of transparency and accountability never before seen in American government.

(Towne attended the WFMZ and College Hill Neighborhood Association/League of Women Voters debates with Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent. All candidates will be in the October 25^th Express Times debate. Towne was banned from the PBS/Morning Call and JFLV debates. Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent did not show up to the Cedar Crest and LV Tea Party debates, and due to lack of response from both the Pen Argyl, Northampton Community College, Nazareth Chamber of Commerce, and DeSales University debates were canceled. Towne accepted invites to all events.)

Upcoming Events -

• East Penn Taxpayer’s Association Candidates Night on October 19th, 7:30 PM.  Open to the public, will speak for a few minutes and answer questions.  Emmaus Fire Co. #1 on 610 Broad Street, Emmaus, PA.  MAP.

• Catasauqua/North Catasauqua Halloween Parade: Oct. 20 at 6 PM.  Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Talk to Young Americans for Liberty at Moravian College.  Oct 21st at 11:45 AM.  Location is the PPHAC in Room 112.  Building #39 on this campus map.

• Northampton Halloween Parade: Oct. 21 at 6 PM.  Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• Macungie Halloween Parade: 5 p.m. Oct. 23.  Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• Hellertown-Saucon Valley Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 24. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• Express Times Debate, Monday, October 25 at the State Theatre in Easton, 7 PM.  453 Northampton Street Easton, PA 18042.  MAP.  Suggest arriving at 6 PM to ensure seating.  Open to public.
• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM till perhaps 12:30 or 1 PM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location Changed!! Location is in the Student Life Zone on the 2nd floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.

• Slatington-Walnutport Halloween Parade: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• Easton-Phillipsburg Halloween Parade: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Allentown Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Bethlehem Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.   Victory Party for all volunteers at 8 PM at Pies On Pizzeria at Front and Pine Streets, Catasauqua!!!!

At the WFMZ-TV debate last Tuesday, independent congressional candidate Jake Towne challenged both Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan to take some kind of paycut, not enlist in the pension plan and pay for their own healthcare. With all the job losses and paycuts in the private sector, the least either of these career politicians could do is give up a few perks.  Watch the video here.

Congressmen should buy their own healthcare on the marketplace just like everyone else. The Constitution does not entitle Congressmen to free healthcare or lucrative pensions paying up to 80% of their $174,000 salary, all at taxpayer expense.

Since both Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent spent most of their camera time bickering about Bethlehem finances, and who resembles Nancy Pelosi the most (Mr. Dent’s voting record matched 70% with Ms. Pelosi’s in the 110^th Congress), a 15-minute shortened version of the WFMZ debate is now available.

Watch the “All You Need to Know From the WFMZ Debate” here. The full debate is here.

Towne is a chemical engineer who worked in the semiconductor industry prior to running for office as an independent private citizen, including the past 4 years in China. Towne has promised to accept only the median household income and not enlist in the congressional health care or pension plans. The $116,000 remainder of the $174,000 salary will be donated to local non-profit hospitals after taxes. He also champions sound money and a novel-yet-simple form of accountable and transparent government, “Our Open Office.”

And don’t miss “Interview with Two Zombies!!”

Towne for Congress has raised $53,375 per its most recent FEC filing. An additional $4,000 was raised from 63 donors on October 14^th during a 24-hour online money bomb.

A flood of support was received after Towne soundly defeated his bickering career politician opponents during a televised debate on WFMZ last night and subsequently was banned from the PBS/Morning Call debate this evening.

During the FEC financial quarter, over $14,239 was raised, an all-time high for the campaign. Towne for Congress remains either the top, or one of the top, independent or major third party fundraisers in the nation for US House. The campaign has raised money from 1,019 individuals with an average of $52 from each donor.

While his career politician opponents have yet to sink a single penny into their own campaigns, Jake is his campaign’s largest contributor with $3,887 donated so far.

Towne for Congress has raised 100% of all funds with donations from individuals, and does not – and never will – accept corporate PAC or lobbyist donations.

Towne is a chemical engineer who worked in the semiconductor industry prior to running for office as an independent private citizen, including the past 4 years in China.  Towne has promised to accept only the median household income and not enlist in the congressional health care or pension plans. The $116,000 remainder of the $174,000 salary will be donated to local non-profit hospitals.

To watch the WFMZ debate, visit http://towneforcongress.com/events/money-bomb-today-and-wfmz-debate-footage/

The campaign has an urgent need to raise another $4,000 to pay for TV ads in the final couple weeks prior to the election. Watch the ad here or below!

Please consider donating as for some very affordable rates we can get the message out to key demographics. The schedule of ads will be published when available, and I expect everyone will be quite pleased with the number of spots, times and channels the campaign can air with such a limited budget.

Donors giving at least $100 will receive a hardbound copy of Henry Hazlitt’s timeless Economics in One Lesson as a thank-you gift (please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery).  After another 10 copies, I will have to substitute a hardbound copy of “What Has the Government Done to our Money?” as our Hazlitt copies are going quick!

Last month, the campaign raised $2,200 for radio ads during a money bomb, and carefully spent over $6,000. As a result, just about everyone who listens to the radio in the area has heard the ad.

“Know ye not, Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow?” – Lord Byron

Debate footage from last night, a YouTube playlist, then from WFMZ’s website!
And don’t miss “Interview with Two Zombies!!”

Wednesday evening at 8 PM EST on WFMZ-TV Channel 69 will be a live debate between myself and my two career politician opponents, Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan!!  Tune it to watch as it should be a fun time showing the audience how inept the Republocrats are!
Track record so far:

• First Debate – A clear victory, check out the footage here
• Second Debate – Dent and Callahan don’t show, winner by TKO!
• Third Debate – Dent and Callahan don’t show again!
• Fourth Debate - Banned from participating, but I was in the audience
• Fifth Debate – Wednesday night, 10/13, 8 PM EST live on Channel 69!
• Sixth Debate – Banned from participating courtesy the Morning Call and PBS-39

Here is the campaign’s new 30-second TV ad! This Thursday, October 14th, the campaign is holding an online money bomb, all donations will be put towards buying air time!!  Donate here!!

Many thanks to Adam Temple of A.R.T. Productions http://artproandgraphics.net/ for providing this ad!!!

“Know ye not, Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow?” – Lord Byron

From a recent press release: This week, both Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent failed to show up at the second local debate in a row, which turned the evening into another “victory by TKO” for independent congressional candidate Jake Towne. While all three candidates will appear on this week’s WFMZ-69 televised debate, Towne is excluded from the Morning Call/PBS/Greater Lehigh Valley of Chamber Commerce due to a skewed and openly biased poll. Towne is also excluded from a candidate forum tomorrow evening in Allentown.

Organizers of future debates such as the Nazareth Chamber of Commerce are finding it difficult to track down and obtain responses from the two career politicians’ campaigns.

Two weeks ago, both Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent did not show for a debate at Cedar Crest College in a crowded room. Mr. Callahan, who at first accepted the invitation, was instead attending a private fundraiser per his website.

While both Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent may laud debates and democratic elections in public, the truth is that they wish to escape to November 2nd with as little scrutiny from the people as possible. Citizens should question these Establishment career politicians who do not deign to explain themselves to those they wish to serve. There is no higher responsibility of a candidate than to listen to the public and explain themselves.

In marked contrast to his opponents’ escapism from economic reality, Towne spent a day last weekend volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, and served lunch in a Bethlehem soup kitchen as he has done once a week for the past half year.

Towne is a chemical engineer who worked in the semiconductor industry and resigned his job to abroad in Asia to return home and run for office as an independent private citizen. Towne has promised to accept only the median household income and not enlist in the congressional health care or pension plans. The remainder of the $174,000 salary will be donated to local non-profit hospitals. He also champions sound money and a novel-yet-simple form of accountable and transparent government, “Our Open Office.”

Video of Towne’s last speech “Jobs, Debt, Veterans, and War” is here.

Upcoming Events!!

• Crop Walk, October 10th in Bethlehem, registration at 1p.m. under the Hill-To-Hill Bridge, Main and Spring streets.  This charity event benefits soup kitchens around the Lehigh Valley, including the one I volunteer at every week.  The walk begins at 1:30 p.m.  MAP.  Please RSVP to towneforcongress@gmail.com or call 610-392-8156.
• WFMZ-69 Debate to be televised live, October 13 on WFMZ-69, 8 PM.
• Lunch with Allentown Rotary Club, Friday, October 15 at the Holiday Inn, 12:30-1 PM.  904 W. Hamilton Streets, Allentown, PA 18101.  Map.  Briefly address and answer questions from this group.
• Nazareth Area of Commerce Debate on Monday, October 18th, from 9:30-11 AM.  Economic focus.  Tickets are necessary for breakfast, see www.nazarethchamber.com.  Location is Rt 22 and 512 at the Best Western.
• Morning Call Online Chat, online at noon on October 19th.  URL TBA.
• East Penn Taxpayer’s Association Candidates Night on October 19th, 7:30 PM.  Open to the public, will speak for a few minutes and answer questions.  Emmaus Fire Co. #1 on 610 Broad Street, Emmaus, PA.  MAP.
• Pen Argyl Area Concerned Citizens Debate, Wednesday, October 20, evening, exact time/place to be announced.
• De Sales University Debate, Thursday, October 21, 7:30-9 PM in Center Valley, PA.  Located in the Commonwealth Room in the University Center (Building #48 in this map).  Open Q&A from the audience.
• Express Times Debate, Monday, October 25 at the State Theatre in Easton, 7 PM.  453 Northampton Street
  Easton, PA 18042.  MAP.  Open to public.
• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location is the World War II Conference Room – CC117 located on the first floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.
• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.

Today I gave an interview with Nancy March, editor of the Pottstown Mercury newspaper as part of their “Ask the Candidate” program (Part 1 and Part 2).  Before the interview began we were talking about the Mercury’s expose on the ineptitude of the federal stimulus plan as I had predicted in a January 2009 article “Why the Stimulus Plan Will Fail… and a Better Alternative” before the bill was even passed.

Sometimes it may not feel comfortable to be correct, but sorry, the facts just don’t change: the government is fully responsible for causing and worsening this economic depression.  Check out some of the solutions I have written about in my ‘Jobs’ plank, ‘Sound Money and Jobs’ plank, and “The Government’s ‘War’ on Main Street.”

And hopefully you haven’t missed “Interview with Two Zombies“!!!

• PA Liberty Conference. Friday, October 8.  I will be sharing the “Our Open Office” idea with this group at 3 PM in Harrisburg, PA.  Ticketed event, see here for details.
• Crop Walk, October 10th in Bethlehem, registration at 1p.m. under the Hill-To-Hill Bridge, Main and Spring streets.  This charity event benefits soup kitchens around the Lehigh Valley, including the one I volunteer at every week.  The walk begins at 1:30 p.m.  MAP.  Please RSVP to towneforcongress@gmail.com or call 610-392-8156.
• WFMZ-69 Debate to be televised live, October 13 on WFMZ-69, 8 PM.
• Lunch with Allentown Rotary Club, Friday, October 15 at the Holiday Inn, 12:30-1 PM.  904 W. Hamilton Streets, Allentown, PA 18101.  Map.  Briefly address and answer questions from this group.
• Nazareth Area of Commerce Debate on Monday, October 18th, from 9:30-11 AM.  Economic focus.  Tickets are necessary for breakfast, see www.nazarethchamber.com.  Location is Rt 22 and 512 at the Best Western.
• Morning Call Online Chat, online at noon, URL TBA
• East Penn Taxpayer’s Association Candidates Night on October 19th, 7:30 PM.  Open to the public, will speak for a few minutes and answer questions.  Emmaus Fire Co. #1 on 610 Broad Street, Emmaus, PA.  MAP.
• Pen Argyl Area Concerned Citizens Debate, Wednesday, October 20, evening, exact time/place to be announced.
• De Sales University Debate, Thursday, October 21, 7:30-9 PM in Center Valley, PA.  Located in the Commonwealth Room in the University Center (Building #48 in this map).  Open Q&A from the audience.
• Express Times Debate, Monday, October 25 at the State Theatre in Easton, 7 PM.  453 Northampton Street
  Easton, PA 18042.  MAP.  Open to public.
• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location is the World War II Conference Room – CC117 located on the first floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.
• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.