In December of 2007 I decided to contest in the Second District of Maryland not knowing what the path forward would bring, but confident that along the way I would find a positive outcome as long as I stuck to the principles that have made this country great. This was never about ambition or self promotion, but rather as a duty to my country to fight for the causes that are right and good, as described and defended in the Constitution. I have summed this up in my campaign slogan of Liberty, Peace and Prosperity.

Liberty is about being free to do whatever it is that one pleases so long as it does not infringe on one's neighbor's right to do the same. It is about being free from inspection of personal records and communication by one's government without probable cause of a crime. It is about being an American, and proud of it. The Patriot Act is an abomination that our founding fathers would have never stood for and needs to be repealed. The incumbent in this district voted with Bush to make this permanent.

Peace is about maintaining a strong defense of American territory and borders, while rejecting the adventurism of nation building. Future enemies are only created by meddling in the internal affairs of other nations. America is best served, and in this time of economic turmoil can only pay for, coming home from Iraq, reevaluating the hunt for Bin Laden (not doubling down), and by asking our allies to take a more active role in their own defense. The incumbent in this district voted with Bush to continue our presence in Iraq after we have achieved so much.

Prosperity can be returned to if we follow free market principles. Bailouts, loaned on the good name of taxpayers, should never go to those who took the wrong side of a risky bet. Congress, representing their constituents, have a much greater interest in properly pursing a low-inflation policy, but have less oversight of the system than they have over our most sensitive intelligence agencies. Also ripe for reform is our income tax system, which should start systemic simplification procedure first with our veterans military pay. The incumbent in this district can be expected to vote for the liberal agenda, raising taxes across the board.

Folks, I am an open book. I have posted how I would vote for every bill before congress in near real time on this campaign website. If elected, I will post on my congressional website, within 24 hours, not only my votes but also an explanation for why I voted as I did. As I tell constituents when campaigning, I’m a regular guy, I have a job in the regular economy, I pay a mortgage, I'm proud to be a dad, and I love my wife. I simply disagree with my congressman on his voting record, and I am running for Congress to throw these career incumbents out. My name is Richard Matthews, and I hope to earn your vote on Tuesday.

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

October 14, 2008 is the deadline to register to vote with the Maryland Board of Elections.  This is going to be a close election, so make sure your vote counts!

To register, or to assure that you're ready to go on Election Day, check out the Maryland Board of Elections website.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Interested in volunteering for Election Day?

Contact:
Gary M. Collins
Director of Operations
(443) 621 - 0566
gary@richardmatthews.org

More pictures available if you click Read Full Post in the right hand corner.

UPDATE 10:30PM Friday the 19th

Please read this moving account of Patrick and the many comment pouring in from those who knew him at the Campaign for Liberty

The Matthews campaign has been working hard to spread the message of Liberty, Peace, & Prosperity. Many of our friends who supported Congressman Ron Paul’s Presidential run have joined in our efforts. We are extremely proud to announce that Congressman Ron Paul has endorsed our run for Congress.

Richard shares my interest in lowering taxes, reducing the size of the federal government, bringing our troops home, and protecting the civil liberties of Americans. Richard will work to strengthen the power and independence of State and Local Governments by reducing the federal stranglehold over them. Richard will work hard for the citizens of Maryland. He will bring a fresh voice to the House of Representatives. I encourage all Marylanders of the Second Congressional District to vote for Liberty, Peace, & Prosperity; vote for Richard Matthews.

- Congressman Ron Paul

Thomas Jefferson upon his inauguration recommended peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.

The threats of the modern world do change and sometimes call for signs of solidarity such as the NATO alliance. Created after the Second World War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's policy where an attack on one is considered an attack on all, made it clear that the free nations of the western world would defend any aggression vigorously and immediately. NATO was the answer for the very real threat posed by the Soviets. Anchored by America, a strong case can be made that NATO prevented World War III.

However, in this century, stubborn expansion of NATO could very well be the cause of World War IV. The nation of Georgia, a former state of the Soviet Union and birthplace of Joseph Stalin, is on a pathway to membership in NATO. Extending promises of mutual protection to countries so far away from any reasoned definition of the "North Atlantic" and greatly at risk of boarder disputes and internal conflict is unwise. If this month's military action in the Caucuses instead took place two or three years in the future, America could very well find itself in a shooting war with Russia, something every President since Truman has wisely taken great pains to avoid.

I take seriously the advice of our third President. Alliances such as one with Georgia could entangle the United States in a war that we neither want nor are well prepared to fight. On a world stage that differs considerably from the middle of the twentieth century, we should reevaluate the numerous alliances that we are currently in, the deployment of our forces in over 130 nations, and the purpose of NATO. With a stressed economy and military 100% utilized, we cannot afford to look for new dragons to slay by further extending our commitments to far flung regions of the world.