WHITMORE LAKE, Mich.—Viewed as a quirky long-shot candidate, Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) officially announced his intent to run for president during a July 2 Independence Day celebration in Whitmore Lake, Mich. The five-term congressman is the third member of the House of Representatives to enter the race for the Republican nomination and the tenth serious candidate.
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“What we need in Washington is someone who understands that the wave of the future is not big government, it is self government,” said McCotter, who, after the announcement, joined his bipartisan rock and country band on stage at the celebration.
McCotter was born and raised in Michigan, a state known for its long-ailing economy, high unemployment rate, and deflated auto industry.
He said what makes him different from other candidates is that, “Well, I think it’s about the message, and I think it’s about the experience here in Michigan, what we’ve gone through and what we continue to face, and what we hope to spare the rest of the country by getting it right soon.”
Among supporters were Victoria Cesar from Ypsilanti, Mich., and Abby Baldwin from Toledo, Ohio, a freshman in high school. Abby said she thinks McCotter’s pro-life stance is the most important issue. Abby said she and Victoria both feel that there are “a lot more of us out there and we can fight to bring this country back to what it used to be, and it gives us hope.”
Erik and Elizabeth Hildinger are both lecturers at the University of Michigan’s Engineering College. Mr. Hildinger said they came to see McCotter because they are “concerned about the way the country is moving at this point, so we think it is important to show some support for more traditional approaches to government.” Mrs. Hildinger said that she is interested to see “somebody who is going to be something of an underdog, starting off strong.”
Marilyn Sherman is a homemaker from Ann Arbor, Mich. The self-described conservative independent said she was there for the Independence Day celebration, and she had to learn more about McCotter and study him.
McCotter spoke about restructuring the government and it being citizen-driven and about restructuring “Wall Street banks.” McCotter is known for voting against the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry by the federal government in 2008. He did, however, support a subsequent bailout of the auto industry.
Known for a strong command of foreign policy issues, he spoke of sticking up for Israel, whereas the Obama administration is currently viewed as taking a tougher tone with Israel in order to advance peace in the Middle East.
He also emphasized America’s role as a beacon of freedom in all parts of the world.
“Be it either Iran’s Green Revolution or be it communist Chinese oppressed land’s Jasmine Revolution or be it those who stand up to Hugo Chavez or Castro in Latin America, the United States will remain a beacon of liberty to inspire the oppressed,” said McCotter.
During the event, he listed what he calls his five fundamental principles: 1. “Our liberty is from God, not the government.” 2. “Our sovereignty is in our souls not the soil or the scepter.” 3. “Our security is from strength, not appeasement or surrender.” 4. “Our prosperity is from the private sector, not the public sector.” 5. “Our truths are self-evident not relative.”
Charlie Lu contributed to this article.
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