Mumpower Would Support Bush Impeachment

by Bill Fishburne
Tribune Senior Editor

ASHEVILLE – True to his word to run a “principled” campaign, GOP Congressional candidate Dr. Carl Mumpower this week broke with mainstream Republicans and said he “would support” the impeachment of President George W. Bush over his failure to enforce the nation’s borders.

Mumpower issued his statement in a news release on June 3, and backed it up later in the day with an announcement that, as expected, his position had cost him support among some of his heretofore faithful supporters.

“I said in the beginning I wanted the people of WNC to know my name and where I stood on the issues and that they would take things from there,” Mumpower told the Tribune. “Nothing has changed since that time. I have no interest in seducing or manipulating the voters and would encourage those looking for that kind of candidate to support the other guy. If there are those who believe principles matter more than party, power, politics, or popularity, then I might be the right person. I'll leave that in the hands of each man and woman who cares about the future of WNC and the country. Between now and November I will stand up for what is right and stand against what is wrong with enthusiasm.”

Mumpower’s statement came on the heels of a Bush decision to bring National Guard troops home from the Mexican border, in accordance with the original scheduled withdrawal.

On May 16, 2006, Bush announced his plan to send up to 6,000 National Guard soldiers to the nation’s southern border. The troops went in to perform administrative and support tasks, freeing up Border Patrol agents to handle actual border enforcement. The plan, termed “Operation Jump Start” was intended to give the Border Patrol time to hire and train new agents.

During their time on the border the Guardsmen built fences and roads, maintained equipment, monitored TV and other sensors and provided aviation support. When illegals were sighted, Border Patrol agents were called in to make arrests, since the Guardsmen were not authorized to serve as law enforcement agents.

When the program began the Border Patrol had a total of 12,000 agents, including administrative employees, to guard 1,969 miles of border with Mexico. Congress authorized the hiring of 6,000 additional agents at the time “Jump Start” was announced. Only half that number have actually been hired at this time, according to the Border Patrol, which also said they anticipate completing the expansion by the end of the year.

On March 24, 2008, the White House confirmed the program would end on July 15 despite pleas from border state governors that the soldiers remain on duty. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger complained that the troops had not finished their jobs. “"We cannot afford to jeopardize the safety and security of our fellow Americans by removing personnel prematurely," the governor said in February.

On May 28, a coalition of border state governors went to Mexico City to meet with Mexican authorities concerning border issues. Illegal immigration was on the list but topics also included the high and increasing levels of violence on the Mexican side caused by fights between various drug cartels and the Mexican government. The governors noted that only 3,000 troops were currently deployed along the border, about half the number that were promised when the program began.

In his statement regarding Bush and the National Guard’s withdrawal, Mumpower said "One need look no further than the title of these troops (National Guard) to understand their intended purpose. The President has persistently failed his oath of office by ignoring the rule of law prescribed in the Constitution.

“It makes no difference that the President is from my own party - he should be held accountable for his failure to protect America's sovereignty.”

"Were the President serious, he would be strengthening ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the National Guard, and local enforcement powers instead of soft-pedaling to avoid offending the Mexican government, business interests, and Hispanic voters,” noted Mumpower. “We have border agents working in the field with one hand tied behind their backs and others resting in jail courtesy of a paralyzed judicial system. If Bush had a courage button he would be diligently going after the businesses that fund the mass migration by illegally employing aliens. The rush could have been reversed long ago with fines and accountability for these law breakers.”

Mumpower did not reserve his criticism for the President. “We also have a cowardly Congress that is equally accountable for cutting the heart out of America's middle class," said Mumpower. “Drugs, burdens on our health care and social service system, and criminals are also coming through our porous borders. With a persisting substitution of motion for action, our leaders have dodged their responsibilities to secure our borders, and future generations are going to suffer the consequences of their neglect.”

“I take no pleasure in suggesting robust action against a member of my own party, but where do my stronger responsibilities lie? Principle driven Republicans should clean up their own yard rather than continue the old game of carping at Democrats. That party has been kidnaped by special interests and extremists, but it is not too late to salvage my party and work to get us back to our core principles,” Mumpower said.

He added, “the President's inaction on illegal immigration does not call for passive silence - folks looking for another wimpy politician willing to play the game need to invest their vote in someone else. Illegal immigration is the greatest law breaking scheme in America's history and accountability for this harm starts with the guy at the top.”

Robert Danos, Chairman of the Henderson County Republican Party, commented on Mumpower’s statement, saying: “Obviously impeachment is much further than I would go, but it is a fact that Carl is not alone in his deep disappointment with the President on this issue.”

Tim Johnson, Chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party, pledged the Party’s continued support for Mumpower and also asked, “Where does the other guy (Rep. Heath Shuler) stand on the issue?”

“As you are well aware, Dr. Mumpower is his own person,” Johnson said. “He served in the Armed Forces in Vietnam and continues to serve our community as a member of city council for the city of Asheville. As the Republican nominee for the 11th U.S. Congressional District, I by no means would assume to tell him what he should say or not say to include comments about our President.

“Dr. Mumpower is his own person, independent, conservative thinking and principle based. His statement has obviously received an enormous amount of media attention and rightly so. The Buncombe County Republican Party will continue to enthusiastically support his candidacy and believes our candidates, like Carl, bring a fresh perspective to the political landscape that includes sometimes being at odds with his own party. We do not believe in telling our candidates what to say, think, or do,” Johnson said.

Mumpower told the Tribune that, “If the President had found the courage and will to protect our borders and the sovereignty of America I imagine he would have gotten the same kind of grief I am getting right now.

“It is past time for the Republican Party to take a more aggressive stance in confronting unprincipled actions by our own members. There is nothing productive in throwing rocks at the other party while we overlook our failures. My party had control of Congress and the Presidency for years and did nothing to protect our borders, control spending, or reduce government. Anyone who thinks I should be passive about that kind of nonsense is more interested in politics than principles.

“It is important to hold the guy in charge accountable for upholding his oath of office, but Congress has done no better in addressing illegal immigration. They control legislation and the money and have been worse than ineffective. I have no interest in joining the pretense that these emperors are wearing beautiful clothes. The majority of the members of Congress, as evidenced by what they accomplish, are cowards, robber barons, or pandering prostitutes.

“Some argue that the President's failure to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law would not be an impeachable offense. I'll let them find comfort in the legal technicalities - my interest is in accountability and a call to action in protecting our sovereignty.

“Those looking for me to go along to get along between now and November better hold onto their hats. I am confident that in taking a principled position on every issue that I will violate most of the unwritten codes abut how a politician is supposed to behave. There is something sad in this place we have come to as a country, but I am honored to be in this position of responsibility.”

Mumpower concluded with, “What part of "oath of office" is hard to understand?”