Lake Zurich, IL - February 7, 2010
Three and a half months ago when Illinois 8th District Republican Nominee Joe Walsh began his run for the nomination, he called himself a “tea party conservative first and a Republican second.” At the time, he was the only candidate articulating the belief that most Republicans and Independents were scared and angry with the crazy growth of government spending and were holding both parties accountable. This past Tuesday, Walsh won by a wide margin in a crowded field, becoming the first tea party-endorsed Republican Candidate nominated this year in a Primary election. Illinois held the first Primary election of 2010.

The win has received national attention. The Wall Street Journal on February 7 wrote, “The Tea Party movement boasts of at least one primary victory so far. Illinois venture capitalist Joe Walsh won a six-way contest on Feb. 2 to be the party’s nominee against well-funded incumbent Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean in a suburban Chicago swing district.”

This morning on Fox News Sunday, panelist Bill Kristol commented on the tea party movement and the Illinois primaries noting the tea party movement won an important victory in the Illinois 8th District, where a tea party candidate defeated an elected official and the Party establishment’s pick. Kristol predicted that Walsh would present a strong challenge to Bean in the fall.

Walsh spoke in Nashville this past Friday at the National Tea Party Convention on what it was like to run as a tea party candidate. “Many in the media are curious to see if I’ll continue as a tea party candidate in the General. The answer is quite easy — yes.” said Joe Walsh. “To me this has nothing to do with party and this is not a fringe movement by any means. I’m convinced the tea party movement consists of Republicans, Independents, and quite a few Democrats who are fed up, frustrated, and scared by the rapid growth in government spending and want accountability from their elected officials. That’s a coalition of voters I’ll be happy to represent in the general election.”

To all of our Friends, Supporters, and Volunteers

What an incredible job you have done these past few months. You’ve helped spread the message that freedom is on the march in America once again. You’ve helped show everyone in the 8th District and around the country that an army of folks can come together in short order when they feel like they’re losing their country.

Words can’t express my profound feeling of gratitude for your efforts. I’m your candidate, but this was your victory. You have made a difference in your neighborhoods, your state and - hopefully - in Washington. In these next nine months, we will grow this army of concerned Americans tenfold to defeat Melissa Bean - and begin our fight to defeat the destructive power of big government.

We’ll get started in a few days.

Thank you so much for your support. God bless you…and God Bless America.

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh Republican Nominee on

Feb 2, 2010

Joe Walsh Republican Nominee on

Feb 2, 2010  Part 2

Joe Cantafio Proud to be an American

Press Release - Lake Zurich, IL - January 29, 2010

Most of us are sick of politicians — both Republicans and Democrats — who once elected to office have a distressing tendency to increase the size of government, erode our freedoms, and stay in office way too long. They forget who they are and where they came from.

I want to stand for something different. I will lead by example and act as a Citizen Legislator - the type of person our Founding Fathers saw as the main avenue to protect our freedoms, the very freedoms that are threatened daily by politicians who’ve become a special class unto themselves.

I make the following six-point pledge to the voters of the Illinois 8th District. As your congressman:

1. I will not serve more than 3 terms in the House (6 years), if so privileged.

2. I will not receive any health plans or retirement benefits that only congressmen get and that aren’t available to all Americans.

3. I will not vote for any legislation which increases the size of government or isn’t supported by the Constitution.

4. I will never add an earmark to any bill.

5. I will always speak my mind and tell my constituents the truth.

6. I will always be accessible to my constituents and hold town halls on a regular basis, in good times or bad

We need to get Americans to feel good about their government again. Vote for me on Feb 2nd.

Sincerely,
Joe Walsh

For far too long, they have allowed politicians to speak for them. These politicians have gone to Washington promising to represent the people only to represent themselves at the expense of the people.

As of Tuesday, February 2nd, the voice of the American electorate is silent no more.

On Tuesday, February 2nd, in the 8th district of Illinois, the voice of the people was heard loud and clear. Make no mistake, the people have spoken.

They said NO to bigger government; NO to more taxes; NO to less freedom. They said YES to more accountability; YES to more freedom; YES to the Constitution.

On February 2nd, we all began the journey to get our country back. A journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step. My friends in the 8th district, let’s all walk together on this journey to freedom.

Thank you for all your support. Rest up…we’ve got plenty of walking to do these next nine months.

Joe

From Joe Walsh visit with the Palatine Tea Party Rally at the Palatine Public Library:

Listen to our newly launched radio advertising campaign currently running on talk radio AM 560 WIND and going broader in the coming days.
I’m Joe Walsh and I’m running for Congress because I feel like we are losing our country and I want it back.
Growing up, my parents taught me what’s right and what’s wrong. But these auto and bank bailouts, this crazy health care reform bill … they are wrong
I will fight to stop this reckless out of control spending that will bankrupt our kids and grand-kids.

With high unemployment I will fight for mandatory e-verify and punish companies that hire illegal workers.

I will work to keep jobs here in the 8th district by pushing to expand Route 53 North.

Serving the people is not hard if you know the difference between right and wrong.
If you feel like you are losing your country then vote for me, Joe Walsh, on February 2nd.

Joe Walsh was on the the Dennis Miller show on AM 560 WIND January 27.  Listen to Joe and Dennis discuss the 8th Illinois Congressional race and the impact that the tea party movement is having on this election cycle.

Lake Zurich, IL - February 1, 2010

“This race will be watched by political trend-spotters not just because of any
threat to Bean but because it pits a tea-party insurgent (Joe Walsh) against a Republican mayor (Maria Rodriguez) with support from key GOP politicians”

- Chicago Sun-Times

Rarely in elections are we presented with a choice that is both historic and clear-cut. The Republican Primary in the 8th District tomorrow is such an election. Two very good people are the front runners. One is enthusiastically endorsed by all the tea party groups and conservative grassroots organizations, one was handpicked by a few Party bosses. One is running because he feels like he is losing his country, the other is running because she was asked. One is called the “tea party conservative”, the other is called “the only elected official in the race.”

We’re all tea party folks now because we are all fed up, concerned, scared, and yes, angry about the direction the country is heading. The only way we can beat Melissa Bean in November is with a candidate who will energetically excite and help round up all of the Republicans, Independents,and Democrats who feel this way. Melissa Bean is on the wrong side of this historic debate.

It’s going to take a revolution — passionate and loud — not a typical political campaign. It’s going to take a tea party conservative, not a typical Republican candidate.

Our goal is to beat Melissa Bean, pull our Republican Party back to its conservative roots, and begin to take our country back. This is not the time to be safe, timid, or go with what the newspapers or Party bosses say. This is your time to call the shots. And only by listening to you all, tea party Republicans, Independents, and Democrats everywhere, will we win.

I will lead by example and act as a Citizen Legislator - the type of person our Founding Fathers envisioned. My pledge to you is as follows:

1. I will not serve more than 3 terms in the House (6 years), if so privileged.
2. I will not receive any health plans or retirement benefits that only congressmen get and that aren’t available to all Americans.
3. I will not vote for any legislation which increases the size of government or isn’t supported by the Constitution.
4. I will never add an earmark to any bill.
5. I will always speak my mind and tell my constituents the truth.
6. I will always be accessible to my constituents and hold town halls on a regular basis, in good times or bad

We need to get Americans to feel good about their government again.

Spread the word — email and call — everyone you know in the next 24 hours. Tell them we’ve got a revolution brewing in the 8th district.

Sincerely,
Joe Walsh