URBANDALE, Iowa – Former U.S. Rep. David Young, 51, of Van Meter had two high-profile Republicans, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, speak on his behalf at a breakfast fundraising event on Tuesday morning at the Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant.
Stefanik, 35, was one of the primary defenders of President Donald Trump during the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry and hearings.
She is considered a rising star within the Republican Party and was out for the Iowa Caucus as a surrogate for Trump. She spoke at the Republican caucuses in Rockwell City on Monday night.
“Obviously, the Democrats don’t know how to do math. They can’t be trusted running our government, an epic disaster. But look at how crystal clear President Trump’s win was among Republican caucus-goers, they had the exact number, the count, and he overwhelmingly has the support of Iowans,” Stefanik told Caffeinated Thoughts mocking the delay of the results of the Democratic caucus.
During her remarks, she said Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District race presents a contrast for voters as they decide between Democrat incumbent U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, 54, of West Des Moines and Young if he wins the Republican nomination. Axne prevented Young from serving a third term defeating him in 2018.
“David really crystalizes the choice that we have this election. It is a choice between socialism and the American dream. We need to stand strong for the American dream, folks, because we see how it is slipping away,” Stefanik said.
“All you have to do is listen to the Democratic candidates who are coming to Iowa, and they are talking about a government takeover of healthcare. They’re talking about gun confiscation. They’re talking about shredding our constitutional rights, and we need to stand strong for our conservative principles and our constitutional liberties. And I can tell you David Young did that while he was in Congress,” she said.
“He is a strong conservative, he has delivered results in his district, he is a strong voice for Iowa’s small businesses, Iowa farmers, and Iowa’s hardworking families,” Stefanik added.
She addressed President Trump’s impeachment, saying the left didn’t limit their attack to President Trump.
“It’s not just an attack on President Trump; it’s an attack on the American voter, it’s an attack on the American voter, and the ability for voters in this country to vote for who they want as president,” Stefanik explained.
Scalise, 54, agreed with Stefanik that the sides were clearer than they ever been. Like Stefanik, he spent the night before as a surrogate for President Trump speaking at the Republican caucuses held in Urbandale.
“You used to have blue dogs, moderates, and conservatives, and liberals, and blue dogs. There are no blue dogs left. There are no moderates. There are almost no liberals left; it’s become a socialist party on the Democratic side,” he said.
Scalise said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has let her caucus be by the “AOCs of the world,” referring to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., leading to support of policies such as the Green New Deal.
“Name a single bill that Pelosi brought to the floor that matters to families. All they are about is their own personal power,” he said.
Scalise pointed out that Young was named to the House Appropriations Committee after less than four years in Congress and in his position helped rebuild the military by after what he said was eight years of neglect under the Obama administration.
“We lost two seats in Iowa. We want to flip the House back; it starts here in Iowa with David,” he concluded.
Young pointed out the importance of the upcoming election noting policies and philosophies represented by the names on the ballot.
“I’m David Young, and I believe in capitalism and free enterprise,” he said to applause. “It’s not just about the pursuit of wealth and money, and that’s fine, the baseline is that it is all about freedom, right? It’s about freedom, our responsibilities, our opportunities, the sovereignty of the individual, right? Risk and reward, if you fail, it should not be at the hands of the government. Where do our rights come from – God, not government, right?”
He said Democrats brought socialism to the table.
“Socialism is a theme that is running throughout the Democratic Party today. We need to put a nail in the coffin of that philosophy. We do not need to live in a government system where private enterprise is banished. Social means the extinction of private property. Stalin, Pol Pot, Hugo Chavez, they need to remain in the dustbin and that philosophy with it,” Young stated.
He stated that he supports Trump because the alternative is unacceptable, and because the president kept his promises.
“He needs help in the U.S. House of Representatives. We need to take this seat back,” Young stated before introducing Stefanik.
At the close of the event, Scalise, Stefanik, and Young were joined by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, 50, of Illinois who attended the event and who also participated as a surrogate for President Trump at a Republican precinct caucus in Des Moines.