Republican wants workers in Congress - He's a CEO

[Debi]

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2005/04/26/news/politics/8f9d97a3df94fdef86256fee004d2061.txt

Restaurateur running for Congress
By PAT KINNEY, Assistant City Editor

WATERLOO --- Davenport restaurateur Mike Whalen said he would offer a working person's voice if elected to Congress to succeed Jim Nussle.

"I can remember keeping a small business alive in the farm depression of this area in the '80s," he said. "So when someone talks economic development to me, I remember waking up in the middle of the night wondering if our business would survive. And I had everything I owned on the line."

Whalen is CEO and founder of Heart of America Restaurants and Hotels and operates the Machine Shed restaurants in Davenport, Des Moines and Wisconsin. He's seeking the Republican nomination for the 1st District Congressional seat in 2006.

More "workers" are needed in Congress, instead of career politicians, he said. "I'm passionate about approaching some of the problems I think are coming up in the next few years.

<snip>

"I would look Mr. Harkin in the eye and say does he think a 19 percent payroll tax, before we even do something about Medicare, would be good for American jobs? It would be disastrous," Whalen said.

"I think it's more fundamentally honest to transition to personal, not private, accounts, just like the federal workers have," and have had for 20 years, Whalen said. "I'm anxious to hear why Sen. Harkin doesn't think that would work for the rest of the country."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anyone want to tell this guy he's running for Congress not the senate?

[Wapsie B]

1. Where's Nussle going?

Did anything in his past finally catch up to him?

[CoffeeCat]

3. Nussle is running for Iowa Gov...

...that's the rumor anyway.

[Wapsie B]

6. Oh yes.

That would make sense. He'd have the famers in his back pocket too. I'd use other terms but I'm trying to keep it clean.

[Debi]

8. He wants to run for Governor

to get rid of those career politicians!

[Montauk6]

2. "Heart of America Restaurants and Hotels" OH GAWD!!!!

Losing my appetite already!

[CoffeeCat]

4. If this guy owns the Machine Shedd...

...then he is a multi-millionaire. Big-time rich.

There's nothing wrong with that. However, to position yourself as a "worker" is not accurate. This guy is the CEO of a company that features a chain of restaurants that generate millions of dollars.

I always hear Machine Shed commercials on 1040WHO radio--our local uber-conservative radio station.

[zbdent]

5. Like the truth is important

to a Repuke . . .

[Debi]

7. And he wants to get rid of career politicians

Just like Nussle wanted to get rid of career politicians 15 years ago!

[Hobarticus]

9. Why is he naming Harkin?

Is he confused?