The Arizona House Republican is running for reelection after his colleagues asked him to reconsider. You heard it here first.
In an interview moments ago, he told me:
At the end of the day, there are two things that are important to me: My family and the fight for freedom. I had consulted with my family and reached the decision that I would fight for freedom from somewhere else. And there has been a reaction to that decision. The overwhelming reaction has been that people would like me to keep up the fight for freedom inside the U.S. House.
I am overwhelmed and humbled by the reaction of my colleagues. When the conservative movement asks you to stick around, that’s a pretty tough request to turn down.”
On the battles he believes are most important, prompting him to stay and fight:
If I had to name one big thing, it would be the fight to oppose socialized medicine…Obama and Clinton have made it clear they want socialized medicine and they would push socialized medicine even though they don’t call it socialized medicine…And I would quickly add a second, which is radical Islam.
I’ve always believed the problems we have in health care today is that too many third parties make the decisions — your employer, your HMO, a doctor you didn’t pick. A bureaucratically run government-controlled program would be even more of a mistake. On this, Clinton and Obama have it just plain wrong…
In deciding to run for re-election, it is my intention to focus my efforts less in the US House and more across America. I’ve spent a lot of time in Washington trying to change Congress by trying to convince my colleagues in Congress. At times that has been enjoyable and fruitful. But I also want to get out there more and convince the American people. I’ll speak to any group that will hear me…about these important issues.