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Greitens campaigns in Nevada for governer
Nevada Daily Mail
"I'm running because our government is broken, broken at every level," said Eric Greitens, Republican candidate for Governor of Missouri.
Introduced by former Missouri State Treasurer, Sarah Steelman, Greitens spoke to a group of about 30 people at the Nevada Public Library, Saturday.
"Eric still serves in the Navy Reserves but he left active duty to help other vets, starting with those severely injured in the same action in which he was wounded," said Steelman. "Starting on a shoe-string budget, using his own pay, while sleeping on an air mattress, Eric created a non-profit that didn't just help vets get a job but helped a lot of them start their own businesses."
"I've won some boxing championships and as my old coach used to say, 'If you want different, do different,'" said Greitens. "Together, we can take back our state."
"I was a Navy Seal, did four tours of duty in such places as Afghanistan, the horn of Africa and around the world," said Greitens. "I've personally led special operations and been wounded in the war on terrorism. And I'm telling you that in Orlando, Omar Mateen was not a confused man but an evil terrorist."
Greitens, age 41, earned his bachelor degree at Duke University and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship which led to his earning a masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Oxford in England. He has studied, written and taught about how people can be effective in helping victims of poverty and genocide from Calcutta to Rwanda.
"Whether it's a government trying to help its people out of poverty or helping wounded veterans or the world community provide disaster relief and aid to refugees, institutions too often resort to a welfare mentality," said Greitens.
"Vietnam era veterans talk about a lack of welcome when they returned," said Greitens. "Today's wounded veterans are being told they're helpless, useless and unwanted. Having worked with groups and individuals around the world and right here in Missouri, I've seen that the best way to recover from a disaster or rise out of poverty is to help people learn, create and earn their own way out."
"We have a commander-in-chief who fails to recognize and name our true and greatest enemy -- radical Islamic terrorists -- and take the fight to them," said Greitens. "That confession, that failure of leadership filters all the way down to the state level as well. If we had a true leader in Jefferson City, Ferguson would not have festered and lasted and turned out the way it did."
Greitens then addressed himself to a series of issues, beginning with veterans. "I'll always have the backs of those who put on the gear and walk in harms way," said Greitens.
"Missouri's economy is 47 in economic growth whereas Indiana and Michigan are this country's leaders in factory job growth," noted Greitens.
"The right to bear arms must not stop but instead must be preserved and enhanced," said Greitens.
"We must put an end to the culture of corruption in Jefferson City, ban all gifts from lobbyists and close the revolving door that goes from state house to state lobbyist and put in place a term limit of eight years for every statewide office," insisted Greitens.
"I will ensure that Common Core and other attempts at federal overreach and intrusion in education will stop in Missouri," said Greitens. "I believe parents, teachers and local school boards should be in charge of education."
At this point, the candidate took questions with the first one asking that, if elected, would he work to prevent Syrian, other Muslim and refugees in general from entering Missouri.
In response, Greitens repeated a claim first made by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in a Dec. 15, 2015, GOP debate in Las Vegas. Greitens said, "Obama's own FBI Director, James Comey, has told Congress they cannot vet the Syrians and other refugees coming into this country."
Another question began by stating Vernon County's biggest problem is drugs. The questioner went on to state "our judges and prosecutor say that because our state prisons are full, if we send one prisoner from here, they have to let another one go. So what I want to know is would you support the building of a new prison? You could build it right here. I think the people of this area would welcome the state jobs. Yes, we need drug courts but ours is a joke. We don't lock 'em up, we let 'em off and let 'em out!"
"We need to put the responsibility on the offender," began Greitens. "We need to make it clear that you have to get clean as part of earning parole. I'm tired of the revolving door. I'm a big supporter of law enforcement and if it's necessary, I would not hesitate to build a new prison. But let's make sure that each prisoner completes a GED before getting out. There is an element of moral transformation that has to take place before any prisoner is released, otherwise they will go right back to their same friends, drugs, and crime."
"Government doesn't create jobs but it can and must create good laws, a minimal tax and regulatory environment and a quality infrastructure," said Greitens. "Public safety is important but so is infrastructure. We need good roads and bridges."
Before closing and mingling with those present, the candidate briefly commented on two areas.
"One in three of our fourth graders reads at or above the proficient level," said Greitens. "Think about what that means for the future of those students and our state."
"I believe we must have right-to-work legislation to improve Missouri's job climate," said Greitens. "And together, we're going to put an end to business as usual."