Steve Poizner 2010 » Blog

Steve’s Prepared Remarks for Election Night

Steven C — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:35:38 +0000

Remarks of Steve Poizner
June 8, 2010
Irvine, CA

Thank you all for being here.

It’s tough competing for airtime with the Los Angeles Lakers, so I appreciate that all of you are here with us tonight.

I am so grateful to have with me tonight the family I love: Carol, my wife of 22 years, and our daughter Rebecca.

They have been a constant source of support during this demanding campaign. And they have been—and always will be—my pride and joy.

During this campaign, I was gratified to have the support of great conservative leaders like Tom McClintock, George Deukmejian, and Jim Brulte.

All of you gathered in this room—and all of our supporters across California—should take pride in knowing that you were the heart and soul of this great cause.

Thank you for your unwavering support and steadfast commitment to conservative change.

A little while ago, I called Meg Whitman to congratulate her and to wish her well in her continuing campaign for governor.

I enjoyed our spirited debates and I hope we’ll get a chance to know each other better in the future.

Running for governor has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Even though we were outspent four-to-one, I know that this campaign was an overwhelming victory for our solutions, values, and ideals.

I believe that being a Republican must be about more than just winning an election.

When we surrender our ideals—and the principles we hold dear in the name of victory—that victory is hollow.

Our task is to press ahead, fighting for these conservative principles, to ensure that they prevail in the Fall.

Meg Whitman began this campaign as a skeptic of our conservative ideals.

We challenged her. And by the end, she embraced our positions on many issues.

Without our fight and your efforts, that never would have happened.

We believe in the urgent need to secure our borders, and vigorously fight any effort to grant amnesty to those who are here illegally.

We believe that broad-based tax relief will grow our economy and create the jobs that Californians so desperately need.

We believe that we should fight President Obama’s big-government takeover of our healthcare system.

We believe in driving the number of abortions to zero by ending all taxpayer funding of abortions.

We believe that our state’s last, best hope is to defeat Jerry Brown and reform Sacramento.

If Meg Whitman runs on conservative principles, she deserves our full support.

I am confident that California’s best days are still ahead of us.

I’ve seen it in entrepreneurs and small business owners—with the boldness and courage to pursue new ideas.

I’ve seen it in the men and women who lay their lives on the line each and every day to protect our state’s citizens.

And I’ve seen it in the moms and dads who want their kids to be the first in their families to go on to college.

We did not prevail today.

But that does not mean that our fight ends here.

We go forward boldly and confidently, secure in the conviction that only our conservative ideals can turn the tide.

Together, we can save California.

You know it.

I know it.

Let’s fight on!

Thank you very much.

Join Us And Meet Steve Before Election Day

Steven C — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:47:08 +0000

Election Day is only a day away but Steve is still on the campaign trail working hard and meeting with everyday Californians. There are only a handful of events left so if you want to be part of history, find an event near you below:

Tuesday, June 8 *Steve Attends a Phone Bank in Torrance* Torrance Campaign Headquarters 24430 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200 Torrance, CA 90505 1:00pm Click here to RSVP
Tuesday, June 8 *Steve Attends a Phone Bank in San Marcos* San Marcos Campaign Headquarters 727 San Marcos Blvd. (Cross Street Grand Avenue) San Marcos, CA 5:00pm Click here to RSVP
Tuesday, June 8 *Steve Hosts an Election Night Party in Irvine* Hilton Hotel 18800 MacArthur Blvd. Irvine, CA 92612 7:00pm Click here to RSVP

Team Poizner Releases New Web Video – “California 2010”

Steven C — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:33:11 +0000

Steve Poizner for Governor released the following web video today, titled “California 2010.” The video comes in the final 24 hour push in the primary campaign and highlights why voters should elect Steve Poizner as their next governor. Watch the video below:

Op-Ed: “Real Deal” To Tea Party Organizers

Steven C — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:48:31 +0000

Check out Steve’s op-ed that appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune, following this past week’s news that 74% of Tea Party members support Steve:

“Real Deal” To Tea Party Organizers
By Steve Poizner
San Diego Union-Tribune
June 6, 2010
Article link

Republicans need to take a long and hard look in the mirror, remember our true values and reaffirm who we are and what we believe in.

We are the party of grass roots activists who support secure borders, fight for lower taxes for all and protect Proposition 13. My opponent disagrees.

Consider illegal immigration. I support Arizona’s tough new law. Meg Whitman , President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderón all oppose the Arizona law. Meg Whitman, standing at the border, announced her support for amnesty. She now says that she didn’t know that what she described was amnesty. I don’t know what’s worse – supporting amnesty or not knowing that her stance was amnesty.

On taxes, I support a 10 percent across-the-board tax cut, coupled with a 10 percent cut in government spending and the creation of a $10 billion rainy day fund. I believe in the free market. True innovation and job creation comes from the private sector, not government.

Don’t be fooled by the lies in my opponent’s attacks ads. I believe in Prop. 13 down to my bones. As governor, I will defend Prop. 13 zealously and without compromise.

I oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, and will fight against it as governor. Meg Whitman has promised to let this practice continue. I believe that we should work together to reduce the number of abortions to zero.

Like Jerry Brown, the ultimate career politician and liberal insider, Meg Whitman offers the promise of a continued status quo. I stand alone as a stark contrast to Jerry Brown. I disagree with Brown on illegal immigration and tax cuts, while Meg Whitman and Brown both oppose Arizona’s immigration law and both oppose across the board tax cuts.

I’m not a rookie, nor am I a career politician. I bring 20 years of experience starting and running companies in Silicon Valley . I grew my last company into a major success, selling it to San Diego-based tech giant Qualcomm.

I went on to downsize and overhaul the entire Department of Insurance, leading to a 15 percent cut in spending. I will bring these same skills to the governor’s office.

It’s time to bring conservative principles back to Sacramento . We are currently fighting for the heart and soul of the Republican Party. As one of my most prominent supporters, Rep. Tom McClintock has said, Meg Whitman will bring us nothing more than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s third term.

Californians cannot afford more of the same. I will bring bold, sweeping changes to get our state back on track. I know voters feel that we are headed in the wrong direction and they want an anti-establishment candidate who is not afraid of reform. I am that candidate.

In a recent poll of tea party groups throughout California, more than 70 percent selected me as their choice for governor and the tea party organizers have labeled me “the real deal.”

I will fight for conservative change: to make government run better, to cut taxes for everyone and to end illegal immigration. With the primary election now upon us, I ask those of you who share these goals for your support, your confidence, and your vote.

Poizner, the state insurance commissioner, is a Republican candidate for governor.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Endorses Steve Poizner

Steven C — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:14:01 +0000

Today, Steve Poizner for Governor announced the endorsement from Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Read Team Poizner’s press release below:

Republican candidate for governor Steve Poizner announced the endorsement today from Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio, who has been Sheriff of Maricopa County since 1992, has been a leader in the fight to end illegal immigration in Arizona and supports Arizona’s law to crack down on those who enter this country illegally.

“Steve Poizner has been a staunch supporter of Arizona’s illegal immigration law,” said Sheriff Arpaio. “I have witnessed firsthand the effect that this law has had on curbing illegal immigration in our state in its early stages, and I believe that as governor, Steve Poizner would enact a similar law to secure California’s borders. Steve Poizner will be tough on illegal immigration, and California and Arizona must work together to fix this problem once and for all.”

“I’m proud to receive the endorsement from Sheriff Arpaio. Being on the frontline of America’s immigration battles, Sheriff Arpaio truly understands the burden that illegal immigration can have on our nation,” said Poizner. “As the only candidate in this race who supports Arizona’s immigration law, voters can trust that as governor, I will cut off taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants and other economic incentives that draw illegal immigrants to California.”

The endorsement from Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues the growing wave of support in the conservative community for Steve Poizner. Poizner has already earned the endorsement of Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the Gun Owners of California, and the California Republican Assembly. In addition, Steve Poizner’s list of endorsers includes Governor George Deukmejian, LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, CA Americans for Prosperity Chairman Peter Foy, former CRA President Mike Spence, former State Senator Richard Mountjoy, Ward Connerly, Orange County GOP Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee Lew Uhler, and eight former Chairs of the California Republican Party.

The Clear Conservative Choice

Steven C — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:25:43 +0000

Check out Steve’s op-ed that appeared in the Flash Report:

The Clear Conservative Choice
By Steve Poizner
FlashReport Blog
June 4, 2010
Article link

This gubernatorial primary is about the heart and soul of the Republican Party. Meg Whitman is trying to buy our party for $100 million. Don’t let her fool you. She is blatantly misrepresenting my record and her own. She is surrounded by Schwarzenegger’s team of consultants who want to rebrand the party and move us to the center. Join me in rebuilding the party based on conservative principles, not post-partisan branding that would make Republicans seem more like Democrats.

Who do we want at the top of the ticket? A life-long conservative like me, endorsed by Tom McClintock, the California Republican Assembly, and Governor George Deukmejian? Or Meg Whitman, who wants to move our party away from its conservative principles, endorsed Barbara Boxer, and supports public funding of abortion?

Join me, Tom McClintock, and thousands of other conservatives as we fight for limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law. Guided by these principles, we will take back first our party, and then our state.

In the course of my 30-year career in business and public service, I’ve held fast to core conservative principles, often accomplishing what others said could not be done. I started two companies from scratch in Silicon Valley and grew them both into major successes.

I was honored to work for President Bush in the White House during the 9/11 crisis, helping to build the Department of Homeland Security.

I spent a year as a volunteer teacher at a high school in East San Jose, deep in the trenches of our broken public education system.

As the state’s elected Insurance Commissioner, I cut spending at my department by nearly 15%, making me perhaps the only person in Sacramento history to voluntarily cut anything.

The Republicans I know are Republicans because they believe in something. Ideals like liberty and the rule of law. I’m a Republican because I share these beliefs. Let’s not dilute our principles by nominating a political newcomer who will use the party for her own benefit. We’ve already seen that movie. The reviews were terrible. We don’t need a sequel.

When it comes to illegal immigration, lowering taxes, protecting Prop 13, reducing the number of abortions, and balancing the needs of our economy with the needs of the environment, one of us is a Republican. The other is just plain wrong.

For example, I stand for tax cuts. Meg Whitman stands for high taxes.

My plan includes tax cuts for everyone, to jumpstart the state’s economy. As part of my bold 10-10-10 plan, we will cut spending 10 percent, cut tax rates by 10 percent, and create a $10-billion rainy-day fund. Meg Whitman says we can’t afford tax cuts and wants Sacramento to play favorites with the tax code. She defended Gov. Pete Wilson’s $112-billion sales tax hike, backed the bank bailout, and praised Obama’s disastrous big-government stimulus bill.

As a matter of conscience, I believe we should do everything in our power to reduce the number of abortions to zero. I oppose taxpayer-funded abortions. My opponent believes that taxpayer-funded abortions are a fundamental right, and has promised to keep state money flowing to abortion providers.

We must stop illegal immigration. Arizona’s new law is reasonable, constitutional, and just common sense. I support it completely. As governor, I’ll work to enact a California version, and support other measures to turn off the magnets and end all taxpayer-supported benefits for illegal immigrants. I will revoke the business licenses of businesses who hire illegal immigrants.

I fear that my opponent simply does not understand the seriousness of the illegal immigration crisis. She joined with President Obama and Mexican President Calderon to attack Arizona’s law. She stood on the border and called for amnesty. That’s not leadership. It’s more liberal failure and it’s gone on for too long.

California’s government is broken, crippled by high taxes and overspending, strained by a bloated bureaucracy that serves liberal special interests at the expense of the people. The state needs a strong, principled, conservative leader. With your support, I can fill that role. As you cast your ballot, I ask you to put your faith in me so we can work together and finally bring sweeping change to Sacramento.

Gun Owners of California Endorse Steve Poizner for Governor

Steven C — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:45:53 +0000

Check out Team Poizner’s press release today of the Gun Owners of California endorsement of Steve:

Praise Poizner’s Commitment to Protecting Second Amendment Rights

The Gun Owners of California announced its endorsement of Steve Poizner for Governor today, praising his strong support for the Second Amendment and his call for the repeal of AB 962, the Ammo Registration Bill. The Gun Owners of California Campaign Committee is a grassroots membership organization of California gun owners and was founded 35 years ago by conservative California State Senator H.L. Richardson.

“We appreciate that Steve Poizner has openly criticized Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing AB 962, the handgun ammunition registration bill last year,” said Tim Macy, GOC Vice Chairman. “His decision to seek a repeal of the bill if elected, as well as his open dialogue with GOC staff, gives us confidence that Steve Poizner will fight to protect our Second Amendment rights and also help us try and rid Californians of the anti-gun laws Schwarzenegger has signed during his tenure as our State’s most anti-Second Amendment governor.”

“The Gun Owners of California is one of the state’s most prominent Second Amendment advocacy groups and a key advocate for individual liberty and personal responsibility,” said Poizner. “I’m proud to have earned their support in my race to be the next governor of California and I look forward to working closely with them during the campaign to advance conservative principles.”

The endorsement from the Gun Owners of California continues the growing wave of support in the conservative community for Steve Poizner. Poizner has already earned the endorsement of Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, and the California Republican Assembly. In addition, Steve Poizner’s list of endorsers includes Governor George Deukmejian, LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, CA Americans for Prosperity Chairman Peter Foy, former CRA President Mike Spence, former State Senator Richard Mountjoy, Ward Connerly, Orange County GOP Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee Lew Uhler, and eight former Chairs of the California Republican Party.

Steve Poizner Receives 72% Support In California Tea Party Straw Poll

Steven C — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:44:45 +0000

Check out this press release from Team Poizner about Steve winning a straw poll among the state’s organized Tea Party groups:

Poizner Is “Completely Aligned With Our Tea Party Values”

In a straw poll conducted over the past week among the organized Tea Party groups statewide, seventy-two percent (72%) of those responding indicated that they support Steve Poizner for the office of Governor of the State of California.

In a memo distributed by Marc Harris, Southern California Coordinator for the Coalition of Tea Party Groups, after his in-depth, one-on-one interview with Steve on behalf of Tea Parties groups across the state, Steve was described as a gubernatorial candidate who is “completely aligned with our Tea Party values.”

The poll was conducted by a combination of telephone (1,417 respondents), and emails forwarded within and among one hundred eighty seven (187) established, grassroots Tea Party groups.

Marc Harris further states in the memo that on “issue after issue, Steve was forthright, candid, and did not evade or hedge on any question or issue. … [Steve] is really tough on illegal immigration and supports Arizona’s law. … [Steve] is just a very down-to-earth, concerned citizen, and identifies much more with the Tea Partiers than with Sacramento insiders. … In the end, I am convinced he is the real deal and ‘one of us.’”

“I am honored to have the overwhelming support of Tea Party members from across California. It’s clear Tea Partiers do not want an establishment candidate in the governor’s office, and that is exactly who Meg Whitman is,” said Poizner. “As governor, I will uphold the ideas of limited government, individual liberty, and a free-market system and I will bring this set of core principles with me to the governor’s office. Ultimately, I believe these core principles will benefit our state and help to bring California back from the brink.”

The other twenty-eight percent (28%) broke down as follows: Undecided 18%; Meg Whitman 8%; Other Candidates 2%

It is worthwhile to note that in a similar poll taken in the first week of March, 2010, (sample size: 814) the percentages were: Undecided 53%; Poizner 14%, Whitman 23%; Larry Naritelli 9%; Others 1%.

Read the results of the Straw Poll here.

Read the Memo from Marc Harris here.

In Case You Missed It: Pick Poizner: He’s The Worthiest Of The Candidates In GOP Gubernatorial Primary

Steven C — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:08:40 +0000

Check out this article from the LA Daily News touting Steve as the “worthiest of the candidates” in the GOP gubernatorial primary:

Pick Poizner: He’s The Worthiest Of The Candidates In GOP Gubernatorial Primary
Editorial
Los Angeles Daily News
May 30, 2010
Article link

In choosing the nominee for the gubernatorial primary, we urge GOP voters to ignore the ubiquitous and nasty ads and ask themselves which of the two candidates – Steve Poizner or Meg Whitman – is best prepared to be governor of a state in dire financial trouble.

They should consider which candidate has the experience in both government as well as private industry, which has been willing to meet with the press and public, and which one has a record of public service and an interest in public policy long before this election.

If Republican voters do that they will find that Poizner, the current insurance commissioner, is the worthier candidate.

Whitman, the former CEO of eBay, may have solid business background, but she lacks the political and public service background essential for the state’s top executive. She didn’t even bother to vote in many California elections.

Poizner, by contrast, was co-founder of two education groups, EdVoice and the California Charter Schools Association. He also was a White House fellow, focusing on cybersecurity and emergency communications and taught a semester of 12th-grade American government at a San Jose high school. In 2006, Poizner won a statewide election to become California’s insurance commissioner. …

Both would attack the state’s chronic fiscal problems, illegal immigration and pension problems, but only Poizner truly grasps what it takes to solve problems in government.

More importantly, of the two, only Poizner stands a chance in the election against Jerry Brown, the master politician who will have the might of the Democratic Party political machine on his side. That alone makes him the best choice in this primary.

Statement from Steve Poizner On Memorial Day

Steven C — Mon, 31 May 2010 17:29:56 +0000

Statement from Steve Poizner on this Memorial Day:

“On this Memorial Day, we remember and honor the service men and women who gave their lives for our country and those who continue to serve our country today. We live in the greatest country in the world, where all things are possible, thanks to the service of these men and women. As Californians gather today to celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones, let us not forget the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.”

Steve Poizner 2010 » Blog

Steve’s Prepared Remarks for Election Night

Join Us And Meet Steve Before Election Day

Tuesday, June 8

Tuesday, June 8

Tuesday, June 8

Team Poizner Releases New Web Video – “California 2010”

Op-Ed: “Real Deal” To Tea Party Organizers

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Endorses Steve Poizner

The Clear Conservative Choice

Gun Owners of California Endorse Steve Poizner for Governor

Steve Poizner Receives 72% Support In California Tea Party Straw Poll

In Case You Missed It: Pick Poizner: He’s The Worthiest Of The Candidates In GOP Gubernatorial Primary

Statement from Steve Poizner On Memorial Day