Update: Email from David Hedrick to members of the Daily Paul. He Needs Our Help!

Mr. Hedrick says "I once defended our country as a U.S. Marine on foreign shores."

I would ask how one defends their country while not being in it- especially while fighting in an unConstitutional war?

The issues he covers are not very extensive and are typical matters we've been hearing from Republicans for years. There's no mention of the Fed, nothing about ending the wars, nothing about ending the surveillance state, nothing about ending torture- NOTHING!

David should spend some time reading works by Ron Paul and the Austrian tradition before running for office so that he can have a more developed position.

He sounds like a neo-con.....especially with the "semper fi" stuff.

Just wanted to give you an update. Just talked to David. He has been working on several things to add to his blog section to give people insights into his positions. Here is an excerpt that I took from something he is working on that has NOT BEEN PROOF READ YET. He was asked a question about the Constitutionality of the “authorization of force” to go to war against Iraq. Here is a piece of what he had to say in response. He should have the whole statement on his site soon.

I know he was up till 2am last night working on a statement about the Fed (he wants to audit by the way). Again, remember he is a full time working guy and has two young kids to take care of. I personally know that he leaves for work at 5:30am and does not get home until around 6pm. Then the kids need fed, baths and the animals (Dogs = 2 Labs, Koi and Chickens) need fed and watered. Please be patient. I know he is working a lot now so that he will not have to as the election heats up. Don't forget, his video went viral less than 1-1/2 months ago. He has been busy.

Also, he has a store now that will help him raise money to aid in the campaign. He has people working on more items for this. He already has a "stay away from my kids line". If any of my fellow creative Paul supporters have ideas, please volunteer on his website or pass the idea on. I know he does not have "art" or clothing marketing experience. lol There is a link to the store on his website. I just ordered a shirt. He said if demand is there, he intends to do bulk purchases on some items to bring the price down.

Here is a piece of what I got from him. I know some of you still won't be happy (and nothing will ever change that lol), but this should give you an idea of where David stands in terms of the Constitutionality of the wars:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the opening sentence on my issues page I stated that, "In a great act of wisdom, our founders created a Constitution that placed strict limits on the power of the Federal government." These limits include specific guidelines for declaring and funding war.

James Madison said “The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising armies. A delegation of such powers would have struck, not only at the fabric of our Constitution, but at the foundation of all well organized and well checked governments. The separation of the power of declaring war from that of conducting it, is wisely contrived to exclude the danger of its being declared for the sake of its being conducted.”

I agree with Mr. Madison.

No where in the Constitution does this document give the President the authority to declare war. Also absent from this document is any power allowing the Legislative branch to abdicate this power to the President. In short, there is not a single section to be found that gives the Legislature the enumerated power to “authorize force” to be used at the discretion of the Executive branch.

Our founders wisely put in place a system within our Constitution that would prevent wars from being engaged lightly for trivial pursuits. They were all too aware of the risk to our nation if a single government official or limited group of officials had the unilateral ability to wage wars. To defend against this risk, the Legislative branch was given the power to declare and fund wars and the Executive branch was given the power to conduct wars. This was done with the express intent of one branch of government always maintaining the ability to check the actions of the other. The courts would then review these actions to ensure Constitutional compliance.

Leading up to the war in Iraq our elected representatives passed a resolution that authorized the President to use force. They rejected their responsibility to clearly declare war or not. This was done for a transparent political purpose. Members of the Legislature wanted to maintain the ability to play both sides of the issue later, no matter how the war went. When these political opportunists felt the war was going well, they could trumpet their authorization of force. If the war did not go so well, they could blame the President for abusing the mandate he had been given and chant things like, “Bush lied people died”. This is a political game and a grievous insult to every person who wears the uniform in defense of our nation. The same politicians who were willing to authorize force and have our brave men and women risk their lives, did not even have the courage to risk their own political scalp by following their Constitutional responsibilities. Our elected leaders were willing to let young men and women fight to defend a Constitution that they showed utter contempt for in sending them without fulfilling their responsibilities under that same document.

To ensure that wars are not entered into for transient or self-serving purposes, our founders adopted a Constitution that strictly bound the actions of our leaders. If our elected officials feel strongly enough that war is justified to defend our nation, they must have the determination and courage to declare that war according to the limitations outlined in the U.S. Constitution. If they can not muster up the determination and courage to make such a declaration, the threshold has not been met and the war must not be entered.

We need to know from David, his stance on Nation building, empire keeping, and Foreign interventionalism. We want to know if he wants to continue our isolationist policies. Yes, we are isolationists. Just look at our world standing at the moment. Our leaders are cocky a-holes, we waste perfectly good soldiers, trying to change cultures that we know nothing about.
Does David want to continue down that road?
Or can we count on him for a common sense approach to our DEFENSE.
It's DEFENSE, not OFFENSE.

This has not been addressed on his site.
I have a feeling some wallets might open if he clears the air on this (depending on his stance, of course)

Thank you so much for your clear headed response and advise. I was rather disappointed with some on the comments towards someone who is actually trying to change things.

That was a great video!

Usually there is an awkward contention feeling I get when watching these town hall type videos. Not at all on this one. He was clear forceful and respective.

I don't know all his views, but this was good and clear and the crowd was very supportive. Hopefully a sign of the times

It is easy to attack a sitting fat cat congressman. But do you think we need to send more of our children to die half way around the world over some third world tribal dispute? What do you think?

It concerns me that you got a quick audience with the Fox News Nazis; twice no less. Most true Ron Paul supporters would have used the first Fox interview to say something truthful enough that they wouldn't have been invited back for a second propaganda session.

Where do you stand and why does Fox like you so darn much? Are you A NEO-CON-Nazi or a true Son of Liberty?

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DONT TREAD ON ME

AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN - WASHINGTON'S CRUISERS

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must. like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.-Thomas Paine

The R3volution requires action, not observation!!!!

from the comments below, this seems harder than boot camp in Parris Island. Please know, the people on this site are for the most part pretty intelligent people, and they like a good debate. They also know we are at a crucial time in America when we need to make correct moves and decisions, as we are running out of time. The process of tyranny fast approaches. I am sure you are spread pretty thin, and kind of caught off guard with all these new endeavours. It would probably be the easiest move if you focused on your website to position yourself on all the issues so you can have a place to direct everyone from various blog sites that have questions for you. Centralize yourself and point people who have questions to your website, so you don't have to spend all day on the computer and you can free up time to go out there and promote yourself. I will apologize for some people on here's lack of patience, not their need for answers. We can tend to be pretty demanding, so I hope they loosen up a little bit on ya. Don't get discouraged, and don't forget, there are people on here who are against us, that put on a good show just to take us down. Keep your head up Marine, and make sure not to endorse anyone unless you know all their positions, it could come to bite you in the ass, like the Levin commentor above.
Semper Fi,
tog2476

OK, Please let me jump in here.

I can tell you all right now, we won’t agree on everything. On the Daily Paul, you don’t agree on everything nor should you. Our philosophy on the Constitution however, is the same. Every position I take is made under the intent of upholding the US. Constitution to the best of my ability. Some of us may have differences of opinion on occasion, but we will be fine as long as we all go into this with a faithful interpretation intent and nothing less. Not what we wish the Constitutions said, but what it does say. Welles and I have argued about the Constitution on more than one occasion and I am proud to say that I was always right. Lol

We both respect each other, even when we disagree because we know that both enter the debate with honest intentions and the same goal. That and I know some day Welles will accept my point of view. Lol again.

I will go over my positions in greater detail on my website and I think you will find that we agree on the vast majority of issues. On most others, you will find that we are close. Know that I always approach the ideas of others with an open mind and I am not afraid to admit when I find out I am wrong. I have changed my mind on some things before as I came into an increased understanding of an issue as it relates to the Constitution. This does not happen often or on a whim as, like most of you, I have been studying this stuff you for years, but it does happen and I will never bury my head in the sand on any issue.

I hope that in the future we can all find common ground and understanding and I pray that we will do so while standing on our convictions.

Once again, I think you will find that just like most on this website, we agree much more often that we disagree.

God bless you all, even those who doubt me now.

David William Hedrick

Thanks again Welles. I forgot about the “bumper stickers” :)

webpage is very sketchy. If he was serious about running and collecting donations he would have answered the questions asked here succinctly. There was no position on the war, no position on ending the fed, no position on eliminating the IRS, none on sovereignty, and on and on. Bullshit doesn't float here at the DP. You might be OK but you better get your answers to these questions "short and to the point"

Tell us your views on;

- US foreign policy
- Patriot Act
- Torture
- the current wars
- The Federal Reserve
- Govt. intervention in business
- did you vote for Ron Paul?

We have no idea who you are other than an ex-marine.

I want to tell you all who I am. I am a life long friend of David’s. I have known him since elementary school. I didn’t go with him to the Marines, but I rejoined him when he completed his tour and went to college where we attended together.
I am also a supporter of Ron Paul who I voted for in the last Presidential election and I expect to vote for him in the next. I have spent countless hours reading the posts on this forum in the past, but I am the type who reads and does not participate in the discussion.
David is a patriot and strict Constitutionalist. I know him.
Let me tell you some things you don’t know about him.
David has been into politics for as long as I have known him. That’s right, since the 3rd grade! His parents were not politically active, but he was passionate about his beliefs and would debate teachers, at a very young age. He even made home-made signs out of cardboard to support his chosen candidates outside the school that was used as a polling place on election day. He did this alone and without telling his father who would have forbidden it for sure. I know this. This was in elementary school!
As he grew older his views became more developed, but his passion for politics did not change. In middle school he taped conservative signs, again made by hand, on the backs of the cars of his mothers liberal friends as if they were bumper stickers. In high school, he would argue with any teacher who dared any attempt at indoctrinating us. At the time many thought this was strange, though they liked him because he was a likable guy. During lunch I remember the rest of us would talk about who was dating who, and the big plans for the weekend. David read books on politics. The rest of us were naïve stupid kids concerned about things that mean nothing today. David was never like that.
David is also a natural capitalist. In middle school for example he was running three businesses. He sold candy between classes which was contraband by the way. During lunch he discovered that he could buy school lunches and sell of the pieces for a profit. On the weekend he mowed lawns. He had so many customers that other students worked for him. This was in middle school!
In college he battled with liberal professors on a daily basis and still managed to get A’s. It didn’t matter who they were, he went straight at them. Even a lawyer who was a professor of political science admitted openly in one class that he would hate to face David in the courtroom after David tore apart one of his positions.
As far as political experience goes: he has worked on more campaigns than I know. He was never afraid to support the true conservative underdog. He worked on the recall of liberal California Governor Grey Davis and I remember his dismay when Arnold beat McClintock the most conservative candidate in the race.
David was never happy that McCain was the Republican nominee, because he knew that while McCain may be a war hero, he has never been a conservative.
He was Capitan of the College Republicans and an officer on the marksmanship club, both of which he helped found on a liberal university.

For those of you bashing him now, I must admit that I find it odd that you have chosen to do so in the final hours leading up to and into his first money bomb. Then you expect him to answer your every question without delay. You are aware that he doesn’t sit on this site all day right? I hardly think what you are doing is fair.
You make statements about him many of which are patently false. You presume to be the only individual who has the right to develop the one litmus test and demand conformity. Are you really so arrogant as to assume that your opinion is the one true opinion and anyone who disagrees with you in the slightest or does not respond immediately is a fake? Really?
You ask him to disavow every unconstitutional government entity by name? Or is it just your pet list? He already stated his opinion of the Constitution and strict adherence. You really can’t put that together yourself? Perhaps he should list every single entity in an excel spreadsheet and go one by one down the list.

I find your criticism at this late hour completely unfair. Congratulations, you have successfully smeared and undermined a candidate that is one of us. This is the reason true constitutionalist candidates will almost always loose. As the saying goes, with friends like this, who needs enemies. We will not win, because we are divided. Questioning is a great thing, but grandstanding unfairly at a critical time might make you feel good, but you have damaged our cause and the funding of a great patriot this day.
What if his name had Paul behind it? Think about what he would have raised then and think about what that says about us. Is that what is important? (if you think I am criticizing Rand you miss my point)
I have to wonder about those who came out against him without a single fact, could you be a supporter of his “liberal” or even “conservative” competition? Hmmmm. Now that would make sense.

I am waiting David for your response.
Until then...
I will use this thread as testimony to make a point.
and a suggestion to DP: Hold Candidates feet to the Fire.

I HOSTED and dedicated countless hours of my time to the website RonPaulAudio.... some of you may remember.

It was an election that many besides myself exhausted ourselves for. We are still the foot soldiers... if you will....
Remember: we anguished every step of the way.... from the CSPAN announcement for Candidacy, through each and every Presidential debate....through Iowa and finally to the Primaries.

We FOOT SOLDIERS have instincts now..... hard and calloused... not easily mislead nor deterred by flatteries or vague avoidance.

We are as well, steeped in "acceptance" of the principles of Liberty as is our own Dr. Paul.... embracing PLENTY of room for diversity of thought and competing ideas and discourse within ranks. I Love it.

However, there are certain Principles of Liberty that do not budge.
One of them is the Use of Force by the Collective.... you're either one of US David
..... or you're one of them.

Which is it? Consider this a bump..... for Liberty.

What was his stand on non-interventionism... on preemptive war! He says on the Levin show (CFR) that Levin is his main man and reason for entering politics, and right after that Levin says: "...you weren't yelling... you want to see yelling? Look at those left wing 'nut jobs' who opposed the war!" Hedrick said little to that comment however, but one might wonder.

See the clip at 2:29 into the interview:
http://www.davidwhedrick.com/Videos-1.htm

What is his position on abolishing the Patriot Act, on ending the Fed and returning to a Constitutional dollar, on removing the Dept of Education, and every other alphabet soap agency, including the FDA, HEW, EPA, etc., unless specifically specified in one of the Art 1 sec 8 proscribed duties, which are exhaustive in scope and not expansive!!!

I hope it changes and that he can demonstrate that he voted for a Paul type candidate in the last election, and is not just a new conversion story like Beck, waiting in the wings to grab a GOP position when the people are down and out with hopelessness! Check who he supported with funds in the last election, if he was able to at all, being on the shoe string military budget if still in service.

While McCain rebuilds the party in the globalist image it has been foolishly perpetuating the last few years, Beck and Palin are planning a split in the GOP, just as phony Perot (Rockefeller boy) did in the 1990's. Mark my words there is a plan being hatched to confuse the GOP and the grassroots... they play political chess and take no prisoners.

Unless the Paul grassroots spends more time on the elections upcoming and spreads the fire of liberty through the precincts, the precincts will be swept up in the heat of battle just as they were in the last. Bottom line is that there are way more sheeple out there who, though concerned with their next meal, do not know how to fight, and are awaiting the ballot and the name placed on the ballot by the GOP... if it is Paul, be prepared for a Beck and Palin betrayal !!!

"Suspicion is a Virtue, if in the interests of the good of the people." Patrick Henry

"We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone - it is to the brave..."

I do want to make it clear, that I support the Constitution as written and not how anyone wishes it had been written.

Please help David if you can !!!!

Please help spread the word.

Sorry if I missed it....
but after watching SemperFi Jesse Kelley (Arizona candidate for District 8/Tucson) on Freedom Watch along with SemperFi Adam Kokesh and seeing their GLARING differences regarding the wars we are currently fighting.... I went through your thread(s) David and did not find where you clearly stated your positions:

(1.) on the current wars, come home immediately vs. stay?
(2.) was the war on Iraq "declared" to your satisfaction?
(3.) support the overall position of non-interventionism, no treaties, no alliances? Drop NATO?
(4.) support the withdrawal of ALL U.S. troops from around the World?

It is not clear on your website either.

So that's basically 4 questions.
Would you mind answering those and bringing some clarity to this forum and those from whom you seek money-bomb support?

The money bomb just started on the East coast.

Hi everyone.

bump for October 2nd money bomb...

Oct 2nd !!

So there will be a money bomb for him on October 2nd? I will give a small donation but I have not heard about this being promoted.

Hello David!

I am glad to see you are standing up for your/our rights in running for your congressional seat! I am, however, starting to feel squeezed. I have been contacted from federal candidates and state candidates across the country at this point asking for support. I am also working to establish my Campaign for Liberty chapter here in Baltimore.

While I am happy to support liberty minded individuals, I have to economize. While I agree with the platform points on your site, I am not sure what the rest of your platform looks like. I would be happy to donate to your campaign and promote you on my website if we see eye to eye on more then just a few issues. Here is a quick litmus test for my support. I understand if you decline to complete it.

Do you support foreign interventionism?
Do you support drug decriminalization?
Do you support intervening in the financial collapse of institutions that pose a "systematic risk"?
Do you support the Patriot Act?
Do you believe free market caused the boom/bust of the last several years?

Shelly Roche could get him on Freedom Watch.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must. like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.-Thomas Paine

The R3volution requires action, not observation!!!!

you can try and get in touch with Adam Kokesh some how, some way. He is a former Marine and I am sure would be able to give his brother David some pointers on running a grassroots campaign. Don't forget to have David sign up for www.ivaw.org, that is if he is against the Iraq occupation, which after he researches and realizes we are there, I am sure he will become against it. There may be veterans in his state that are members of www.ivaw.org that will be willing to canvass for him, worst case scenario they would at least know who he is when they go to the voting booth. Good luck to you David, count me in for your first money bomb.

So many Paul supporters have been e-mailing their promises of support.

Thank you all again! I would spend more time on this website, but I am working on answering questions that will be posted on the town hall blog section on my website. Check back there on occasion and you will see that your trust has not been misplaced. Right now I am working on a response to a Second Amendment question from someone in California. I think you will like my position.

David