November 21, 2009
What's Inside:
St. Joseph man believes timing right in run for Congress
Video by Ken Newton
A St. Joseph man with no declared party affiliation and a desire to restore federal separation of powers has decided to run for Congress in Missouri’s 6th District.
Rex S. (Barry) Taylor said Tuesday that he hoped to parlay the support of Democrats, Republicans and independents while putting together a like-minded coalition.
In announcing his intention to run, Mr. Taylor said he hoped such a movement would “become contagious” in all 435 congressional districts.
“If we all get on the same page and figure out what we need to change to bring government from Washington back to the counties, maybe we can define change,” he said.
At age 39, Mr. Taylor ran for the 6th District seat in 1982, finishing second in the Democratic primary. Back then, the King City native had been promoting an organization called “United States Tax Reform,” which was meant to be a grass-roots effort combating the federal tax code.
His Texas-based company ran afoul of the Internal Revenue Service, which held as invalid some trusts created for minimizing income and estate taxes.
Mr. Taylor said Tuesday that the legal problems caused him to cut short his 1982 campaign, though he still managed 7,192 votes.
The candidate expressed his belief that checks-and-balances provisions intended in the U.S. Constitution had “drifted into the cooperation-of-powers doctrine.” He wants district residents to support his rule-of-law ideas and “stop the good-old-boy system of rule of men.”
Claiming a residence in St. Joseph though still looking after a business in Frisco, Texas, Mr. Taylor said he hopes a network of coordinators in each of the district’s 26 counties will build tens of thousands of supporters by year’s end. Also, he will hold monthly meetings for “citizen education” as part of his campaign.
Before the candidate filing period next year, he plans to conduct an Internet poll to determine in what party he should register.
He claims no sweeping disagreements with the current congressman, Republican Sam Graves. But the timing of such a race seems right, Mr. Taylor said.
“The Obama administration, I think they got in there because of one word, change,” he said. “The voters in the 50 United States, I guess, responded to that word, change.”
Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com.
This story has 7 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Holiday requests expected to rise
Grain truck concerns arise after wreck
Toy hamster’s popularity says a lot about economy
Stewart sentenced in sodomy case
In the courts, Nov. 21, 2009
JOB SEARCH
RECENTLY DISCUSSED
Coleman, Intel join forces
(82 comments)
City wants grant to battle smoking
(74 comments)
Your letters, Nov. 21, 2009
(16 comments)
It's your call, Nov. 19, 2009
(54 comments)
More Popular Discussions
(82 comments)
City wants grant to battle smoking
(74 comments)
Your letters, Nov. 21, 2009
(16 comments)
It's your call, Nov. 19, 2009
(54 comments)
I would be more likely to vote for him if he brought his business to Northwest Missouri.
I find this statement outrageously hilarious...."Before the candidate filing period next year, he plans to conduct an Internet poll to determine in what party he should register." Talk about having no ideals or principles.
Sounds like creative thinking to me.......give the voters an opportunity to make a choice.....which political party or possibly, "independent", should we adopt to make the real changes Washington needs.
Given the fact that I am totally disappointed at George Bush's 8 years.....and I find Obama to be unbelievably off course, I would have to do some serious thinking to make a choice.
Taylor may be on to something. I certainly wouldn't object to a veeery substantial turnover in Washington. I sure don't like "politics as usual".
I think we have been through and are in the middle of a Washington that has no ideals or principles.
Giving the people a choice is certainly not inconsistent with having ideals and principles. Sounds to me like he believes in the people having a choice.
sounds to me like he has a problem with paying his tax's.or he run afoul with finding loop holes in the tax game. that is what you pay tax consultants for. they tell you what you can get away with and what you cant. i don't own a company so i have never had this problem but i am a firm believer to pay my tax's and you pay yours.it irks me to see commercials that tell you that you can pay 8% of what you owe. that's just un-american. sorry i feel that way, if you don't, you are part of the problem.
Personally, I think the word, "politician" and the word, "idealist," to be antonyms. Politicians say what you want to hear with very idealistic language. A politician, who sticks by his ideals, will probably not be in office very long. Until I see a politician, going back into private life, not too much better off [financially] than when he/she went into office, I will always have my doubts. My other comment is about the good ol' boys. Once you're elected to a position, you're a part of the good ol' boys--whether you want to be or not. After all, you need majority vote to pass your programs. You don't usually get that by remaining idealistic.
I believe Mr. Taylor sees an opportunity for himself. If he is the same guy I knew in the 80's he sees the political unrest as an opportunity to get elected and all the perks and fringes that come with it. His tax run-in was due to his ties with "posse coma totus" or something to that effect, the group of people didn't believe the state/govt. had the right to issue drivers/marriage licenses, collect taxes, and preform other govt. functions thought by the group to be unconstitutional, but mostly are just necessary inconviences. I would use my vote in a wiser manner.
Here's a site my brother who lives in "ILLinois" shared. Great idea IMHO for those sick & tired of the elected jokers now running our government.
The Kick Them All Out Project - Imposing our undeniable will on the government through the power of our votes!
http://kickthemallout.com/T_A_F/index.php