Shadegg Running Again

Here's his statement.

Last Thursday, 146 of my colleagues in the U.S. House signed a letter asking me to reconsider, an unprecedented event.  Yesterday I received a letter signed by the leaders of 33 different Conservative organizations from across America also urging me to reverse my announced intentions.

The letter signed by my colleagues in the U.S. House emphasized my hard work and expertise in health care reform.  I have fought for patient-centered health care reform since my arrival in Congress.  I fear we may be on the brink of dramatically damaging the delivery of health care in America -- making it worse, not better. We all recognize the current system doesn't work well for millions of Americans.  Health care decisions are being made by third parties, such as insurance adjustors, employer personnel departments, and health care plans, not patients and their families.  Many of the changes being promoted by some would make a bad situation even worse.  They would move further away from patient choice, personal responsibility, and individual control and toward government run, bureaucrat-controlled health care.

The letter from Conservative leaders also noted the grave challenges confronting our nation today.  The attacks of 9/11 demonstrated to the world the deadly threat radical Islam poses to civilization.  It is my firm belief that we must confront this danger, without hesitation, if we are to keep it from destroying our society and the freedoms we hold dear.  This is another threat I highlighted ten days ago.

The personal factors which led to my initial decision are very real and very important.  My family has encouraged and supported my public service and they have sacrificed to allow me to serve the state and nation we all love.  In discussing the reaction of my constituents to my decision, we have determined as a family that we are willing to continue to make these sacrifices because the cause is so worthwhile.

Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana, when asked why he circulated the letter amongst my colleagues urging me to reconsider, quoted President Abraham Lincoln who when asked why he kept General Ulysses S. Grant responded: "I cannot spare the man, he fights."  Frankly, my family has encouraged me, over the last week to reconsider my decision and is willing to continue to sacrifice so I may continue to fight.

Serving the people of Arizona in the Congress is a tremendous honor and privilege.  With the support of my wife, Shirley, my children, Courtney and Stephen, and with the support of the voters of the 3rd Congressional District in November, I will continue to fight for them and to uphold Conservative principles in United States House of Representatives.  Therefore, I will campaign for re-election and will continue to fight in Congress for economic prosperity, human rights, personal freedom, and individual responsibility.

Comments

[buttercup]

Although I have great respect for Congressman Shadegg I have lost some of it after this episode. His unexpected announcement that he wouldn't run, the subsequent rigamarole over who might replace him, and finally the 180 degree turnaround when Shadegg decided not to retire after all.

To me, Shadegg is now akin to a little boy, who takes his toys and leaves the sandbox, pouting, to get attention, and then, mollified by the attention he receives, decides to "allow" the rest of the sandbox to again be graced by his presence (and his toys!).

[Surprised]

To me, it reminds me much more of George Washington's reluctant statesmanship - the man wanted nothing more at several points in his career than to just retire to his beloved home, but every time his country needed him, he came back.