Rebuttal to Fort Myers News Press endorsement of Chauncy Goss

[David Shestokas]

REBUTTAL TO NEWS PRESS ENDORSEMENT

OF CHAUNCEY GOSS

AN INDIVIDUAL COMFORTABLE WITH BIG GOV'T & NOT CONSTRAINED BY THE CONSTITUTION

 

On July14, the Fort Myers News Press endorsed Chauncey Goss, an election opponent of Sheriff Mack's choice for Congress in Florida's 19th District, Byron Donalds  The following explains why the News Press decision was in error.

While I have found Mr. Goss likeable when I have met him briefly, I find his advertising disturbing.  He touts his work assisting businesses assess “the impact of government regulation on their bottom line”.  This is not the work of an individual committed to a smaller role for government. He has a career based upon billing business for coping with the morass of government regulation. It is the work of someone who has made peace with big government and found a way to capitalize upon it. 

Many Americans believe American innovation needs to be freed from the shackles of government.  A recommendation to vote for a man whose work is based upon those shackles appears to miss the mark.  There appears to be no philosophical underpinning to Mr. Goss’ candidacy. He has worked in Washington and has used that experience to bill customers who have trouble understanding what the government requires of them. 

If Mr. Goss were desirous of lifting government burdens from business and freeing Americans from its ever increasing weight, he had the experience and contacts to work to that end.  He chose to make a living billing clients seeking relief from the government’s weight.  This is an excellent way to make a living, but does not demonstrate commitment to Constitutional values, nor provide faith that he would in fact, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution in the conduct of his office.

On May 21^st Mr. Goss showed a belief in a large intrusive government at the Congressional Forum in Cape Coral.  He was the only Republican to state he would vote to extend the Patriot Act.  The Patriot Act authorizes indefinite detentions of immigrants; law enforcement searches of homes and businesses without the owner’s or the occupant’s permission or knowledge; the expanded use of National Security Letters (allowing the FBI to search telephone, e-mail, and financial records without a court order) and expanded access of law enforcement agencies to business, library and financial records.  Mr. Goss would vote to extend this authority, much of which likely violates the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment and several other provisions intended to protect Americans from an overreaching government.  He essentially said on the stage he would not feel constrained by the Constitution as a congressman.

As Mr. Goss is comfortable with heavy government regulation of business and admits freely he would vote in violation of the Constitution, I find the News Press endorsement difficult to comprehend.