Phil Gramm recently said, “We have become a nation of whiners.” And that this is a “mental” recession. You also have Rush Limbaugh spouting off that 5% of the U.S. carries the other 95%. The Republican party is out-of-touch. The amazing thing, about these statements, is that the GOP is finally being honest about who they are and who they represent. They don’t support the average person. Their base is, as George W. Bush said, “the haves and the have mores.”

The sad part is that they have been able to bring in middle and low income people, as Republican voters, by using wedge issues to distract them from the fact they are voting against their own financial interests. The good news is that people are waking up and realizing that fact.

John Mica is part of that elitist Republican clique. He consistently votes against the middle class.

Eight thousand people a day are facing foreclosure. In District 7 we have some of the worst in the U.S. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal on July 10th, 2008 “Court filings related to foreclosures totaled 1,135 in Volusia and Flagler counties in June.” “Flagler County saw a 242 percent leap…Volusia County also saw a significant 91 percent increase…”

John Mica recently voted against Assistance to States for purchasing Foreclosed Homes HR 5818, Housing Foreclosure Assistance HR 3221, National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act HR 2895, and he voted NO on regulating the Subprime Mortgage industry HR 3915

John Mica voted twice to support the “Enron loophole” (HR 5660 Commodities Futures Modernization Act of 2000) that Phil Gramm finally managed to sneak onto a bill in 2000. Mrs. Wendy Gramm worked at Enron and was part of that criminal operation responsible for most of their employees losing their retirement. Oh, well. That’s the “Ownership Society” for you.

John Mica also voted for the Bankruptcy Bill, in 2005. That bill made sure that average Americans won’t be able to get a fresh start. Studies have shown that most middle class bankruptcies are a result of medical bills. Of course, John Mica and his millionaire buddies don’t have to worry if they make a mistake. Thanks to the Republicans if you are wealthy enough to have an “asset protection trust”, you are able to file bankruptcy, walk away with most all of your assets, and rebuild. Safety nets for the poor are bad. If you are rich, then it’s ok. They also voted down a Democratic amendment to help military personnel. But, the Republicans support the troops, right? At least that’s what the car magnet says.

Faye Armitage is a true progressive who will work hard to help rebuild the middle class through targeted tax breaks, ending the war in Iraq, education, green jobs to replace lost manufacturing jobs, and universal healthcare