[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1346-E1347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        DEEPLY ROOTED PRINCIPLES

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2003

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to read the essay of 
Patrick Anabaldi, a member of the Valley Center Teenage Republican 
Club. He is currently a senior at Valley Center High School.
  ``As an active Teenage Republican Club (TARS) member for the past two 
years, I have come to realize what the Republican tenets are all about. 
The Republican Party has been around for quite a while now proving that 
it can stand the test of time. Over these years the GOP has also shown 
that it's economic and social policy are fully capable of leading this 
country into times of economic expansion

[[Page E1347]]

and much needed ethical revival. Some of the events that have aided in 
my political education include TARS meeting, the advocacy workshop, 
Advanced Placement (AP) Government class, and AP macroeconomics class. 
Because of the truth that the republican principles hold I have firmly 
established them into my own life.
  One of the most politically education functions I have ever 
participated in was the Advocacy workshop, which took place in our 
state capital Sacramento. This was a TARS function supported by the 
charitable Federated Republican Women of Valley Center. During this 
trip I not only got to meet some powerful political leaders in today's 
world, but was also taught some key issues that separate us as 
republicans. For instance, I discovered why we hold to our economic 
ideals though the whole scandal that involved Gray Davis, electricity 
and our horrendous deficit here in California. At this point I began to 
see that Republicans have great solutions for our state and nation's 
numerous problems. At the conclusion of this trip I took advantage of 
the opportunity to tell the whole Valley Center Federated Republican 
Women's group what I had learned and how it had impacted my life. This 
was a clear milestone in the maturing of my political life. I was 
acting like a Republican not only by standing up and publicly 
proclaiming what I had leaned about the GOP, but also what I now 
believe.
  I have earned the reputation of an accomplished scholar at VCHS by 
taking the hardest courses and excelling in them. AP government and AP 
Macroeconomics are the two current classes of mine that deal with 
politics. In these classes there is much debate about heated political 
issues, and this is another part of my life that reveals my sincerity 
to the republican values. I am known by my peers to thrive in this kind 
of environment not only because I know what I believe in as a 
republican, but also because I have a vehement passion to prove it 
right. I have revealed my opinion in class on countless issues. Some of 
these issues have dealt with fiscal policy, the role of our government 
bureaucracy, the office of the President, war and abortion. Not once 
has my view been contrary to that of the GOP, I am a proud member of 
the Republican Party!
  Next year I will be attending a California University. These days 
Californian schools tend to be incredibly liberal. We've seen this in 
the news through `war protests' and `pro-choice rallies'. As a right-
wing Republican it will be quite a task attending college. But I will 
persevere despite the obstacles in my path because of how deeply rooted 
the values are in my life.''

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