Frank Antenori Takes the Oil Free Pledge

I sent a MoveOn.org challenge to all the Democrats (who all took the pledge) and all the Republicans in the race for CD 8 to abstain from taking donations from oil interests. To his credit, the only Republican candidate to even bother responding was Frank Antenori. Frank agreed not to take money from oil interests, though he eschews any association with the notorious bete noir MoveOn.org.

Here’s his acceptance letter in full:

Mike,

Although I would not take contributions from oil companies, you’d have to understand that the last thing I would want to do is associate myself in anyway with moveon.org.  I don’t think oil companies are evil, but large corporate donations, in my opinion, are corrupting the system and creating the perception that members of Congress are bought off.

Therefore I wouldn’t take these large corporate donations, regardless of the industry, out of the logic that I do not want the voters to even perceive I can be bought.

Oil Companies, like Wal-Mart, have become corporate punching bags for the left.  I think it gives people with little understanding of economics something to complain about.  The problem isn’t Wal-Mart or the Big Oil, it’s the perception by many that the economic deck is stacked against them.

I joined the Army at 18.  Since then, I have not taken a single dime from my parents.  Every thing I own I worked for.  I have strove for and accomplished many things in my life because I decided to get off my ass and do it rather than sit and complain, dream or wish I had something. (Hence the reason for running for Congress)

I put my self through college on nights and weekends so I can land a decent job when I retired from the military.  I did it while serving in one of the most demanding jobs in the Army, in between deployments and often with little sleep.  During those five years, I saw little of my family and had
very little free time.  So my sympathy level for people that complain while sitting at home on the couch drinking beer is very low.

Even after I retired, I continue to work hard to better myself and my family’s lifestyle.  I wrote a book, again in my spare time.  I’m also saving money to purchase a small business for my wife.  While the moveon.org crowd is out crying about big oil, I’ll be working on the next major project in my life.

There’s little time to complain, and all complaining does is make you feel better, it does nothing to improve your lot in life or solve the problem. Like the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words.  While those on the left complain about the problem, I’ll be spending countless hours researching and getting smart on ways to reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Thanks again for the kind words.  The offer for that beer is still open.

Oh, if you ever have the desire to interview a Republican for you blog, let me know.

Frank

Frank Antenori
Candidate for Congress
8th Congressional District of Arizona

Though I obviously disagree with Frank on many of the issues, if I had to choose among the Republican candidates for the office, I would choose a man of principles and common sense like Frank to be my Congressman. If CD 8’s Republicans have a lick of sense, they’d choose Antenori as their candidate: lucky for us Democrats, they very likely won’t.

Frank makes an interesting proposition that I interview him for this blog. I certainly never contemplated such an interview before, but I think it might be interesting to see the difference between Frank’s answers to my 20 questions, and those given by former liberal Republican, Dr. Chat.