We have run a good race by working hard to reach out to you, the voter. I have traveled almost 40,000 miles in an effort to meet Missourians from across the state. I did this to give you the opportunity to get to know me and address your concerns about the direction our state is heading.  This is what I believe a statesman should do when seeking support to be your Republican candidate for State Auditor.

Our message has been a positive one focusing on my experience in business and public service. It speaks to my proven track record of accomplishment in the Missouri House and highlights my overwhelming support among House colleagues and numerous well know conservative organizations.

Until this past Monday, July 26 my opponent has been proclaiming that he was ahead and had the momentum going into the final weeks of the Primary election. Many political leaders believed him since his campaign had raised over $1,000,000.  This is an unheard of amount for a race like Auditor.

Then, the Post-Dispatch published a statewide poll that stunned my opponent and his campaign with the truth: they were behind by five points with one week to go.

My opponent opened his playbook to a well used page in politics: mudslinging, making false accusations and even lying in an attempt to deceive. His desperation to win this race at all costs should make people reflect on what kind of person would sink to this level in a Republican Primary.

I will respond to just a few of the half-truths, distortions and complete lies he has used on radio and television ads around the state. Below are the accusations and lies that have been spread by my opponent followed by the truth:

1. They say I voted YES for my own pay raise – This one is an outright lie. The Missouri House voted on whether or not to accept a pay raise a few years ago. My recorded vote was NO.

2. They say I filed a false Missouri Ethics report – My opponent’s campaign filed an Ethics complaint against me and immediately send out a press release condemning me.  The Missouri Ethics Commission interviewed people and gathered the necessary information to reach a conclusion. On June 28, 2010, the Commission issued a ruling that DISMISSED the case and said the “allegation was unsubstantiated.”  Why does my opponent continue to mislead voters around the State by not providing all the facts?

3. They say I travel on junkets – Like many of my colleagues in the General Assembly I joined a national organization ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) that examines proposed legislation and looks at various issues that states face. This conservative leaning organization has meetings around the country throughout the year. I was honored to be selected to serve on a national task force dealing with budgetary issues. As a member of the task force the expectation is that I attend these task force meetings where we work together to find solutions to the challenges we face.  Once again, my opponent refuses to provide all the facts to give voters an accurate picture.

I ask you, is my opponent the kind of candidate you want to serve in a position of public trust?

Do you want someone who constantly speaks of fighting to root out fraud when his campaign is built on fraud with the intent to deceive the voters of Missouri?

If Republicans want to vote for someone who is desperately trying to buy this race, they have that opportunity. If they want someone who believes in the dignity of public service and has a proven track record then I ask you to vote for Allen Icet for Auditor on Tuesday, August 3.

In announcing his support for the Chairman of the Missouri House Budget Committee, Hulshof stressed Icet’s ability to make tough decisions during tough budget times.

“Allen has worked tirelessly in his effort to produce balanced budgets,“ said Hulshof. “I have no doubt Allen’s experience and discipline in fiscal matters will serve the state well when he becomes Missouri’s next financial watchdog.”

Hulshof also praised Icet’s conservative principles.

“With Allen you’re getting a tried and true conservative who is on the right side of issues ranging from the sanctity of life to Second Amendment rights to the belief that government money does not belong to the government – but to the taxpayers.”

Icet is pleased to welcome the support of the six-term Member of Congress.

“I’m honored to have this endorsement,” said Icet. “Kenny has long been a champion of the conservative beliefs I embrace and his backing means a great deal to the campaign and to me, personally.”

Icet has previously earned the endorsements of such well-known conservative organizations as the National Rifle Association, Missouri Right to Life, Missourians United for Life, and the Missouri chapter of Concerned Women for America. Icet is the conservative in next Tuesday Republican primary for State Auditor.

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In a recent television ad Schweich falsely claims his Republican opponent, Allen Icet, had violated ethics rules. It was the Schweich campaign that initially filed a frivolous and politically-motivated complaint – a complaint that was almost immediately dismissed by the Missouri Ethics Commission as “unsubstantiated.” Schweich, an attorney, should know better than to spread untruths.

Schweich further claims, incorrectly, that he is the only candidate in this race with experience conducting audits. In a joint appearance, last week, on Mark Reardon’s show on KMOX radio in St. Louis, Icet touted his experience in the field, telling the host and Schweich, “I actually have done audits – internal audits within businesses . I’ve done fiscal audits. I’ve done internal audits.” Schweich, sitting in the same studio, was unable to refute what Icet said.

These attacks against Icet are evidence of Schweich grasping for whatever he believes might make his campaign more attractive to real Republicans. Having contributed campaign money to Claire McCaskill in the past, it is no surprise that Schweich finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to convince true conservatives – those who have not given money to liberal Democrats – that he is a conservative.

Financial support for McCaskill is not the only thing Schweich has done to alienate conservatives. Schweich has praised Barack Obama for selecting “an all star cabinet.” Conservatives have also been angered by Schweich’s vigorous opposition to proposals to have America’s military police our own borders. The Icet for Auditor campaign calls on Tom Schweich to denounce his blatant lies and to engage in a truthful exchange of ideas and facts.

If the remaining week of the campaign focuses on ideas and facts Allen Icet will win a resounding victory next Tuesday.

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Heading into the final week of the Republican campaign for State Auditor, Allen Icet is pleased to welcome the endorsement of the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund.

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With just over a week to go before the August 3^rd primary elections, a new public opinion poll gives conservative candidate Allen Icet a five percentage point lead in his match-up with Tom Schweich in the Republican race for State Auditor.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/KMOV-TV survey, conducted July 19-21, puts Allen ahead with 28 percent support among decided voters, compared to 23 percent for Schweich.

Allen is in front despite being outspent by a more than three to one margin during the recently concluded quarterly reporting period. It is through the efforts of grass-roots conservatives who have been working tirelessly on Allen’s behalf that the campaign is overcoming Schweich’s excessive spending.

Keep spreading the word, talking up Allen’s record of accomplishment as House Budget Chair in the General Assembly, and convincing undecided friends and colleagues to back the true fiscal and social conservative in this race. We are entering the homestretch of the primary campaign and victory is within reach.

Political campaigning has always been a no-holds-barred donnybrook. Mudslinging in America is as common as fleas on a hound dog. Since the early days of the Union candidates have gone at each other tooth and nail.

Thomas Jefferson’s rivals accused him of having a slave mistress. Abraham Lincoln was bitterly ridiculed because of his physical appearance, and Grover Cleveland’s opponent claimed he fathered an illegitimate child.

The public generally doesn’t like negative campaigning although there’s not much chance it will ever disappear. In recent years there’s been a backlash against those who resort to unfounded and irresponsible charges to garner votes. The savvy citizen turns away in disgust when tactics become gratuitous and malicious. When a candidate cannot win on his own merits and feels his best chance is to discredit the other guy, he skates on thin ice.

Fast forward to the present. Some Missourians in 2010 scratch their heads over the bizarre behavior of a candidate who implies he has the money and credentials to win his race in a cakewalk, yet can’t resist throwing sharp stones at his primary opponent.

It’s one thing if two candidates possess drastically different political philosophies. If one contender believes in bureaucracy expansion and the nanny state and the other espouses limited government and personal freedoms; an observer could see how the fur might fly. But in this race both claim to be rock-solid conservatives. Perhaps the two claims aren’t equally valid.

Thomas Schweich wants to be State Auditor. That is, he wanted to be a U.S. Senator but Congressman Roy Blunt was first in line. After party leaders huddled, Schweich announced he would run for Auditor. Previous Missouri Auditors have graduated to higher positions and it seems clear he may view the post as a stepping-stone to political immortality.

Although Schweich boasts of having big-money supporters such as Sam Fox (a big supporter of embryonic stem-cell research) and Bert Walker, plus the endorsements of former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and former Republican Senator Jack Danforth (who is not known for his conservatism), Schweich seems worried about the progress of his opponent Allen Icet, who presently serves as a State Representative for the 84th District and Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Schweich’s spokesman calls Icet a “professional politician” and a “career politician,” while viewing Schweich as an “outsider.” “Icet is the ultimate, irresponsible insider,” according to a Schweich campaign email.

Ask conservatives who know Icet well. Ask the Tea Party people who can sniff out a RINO (a Republican in Name Only) and a moderate a mile away. Ask Icet’s colleagues in the Missouri House of Representatives. Ask the faith community. Ask conservative organizations such as Concerned Women for America and Missouri Eagle Forum. They may be baffled by the Schweich campaign’s reckless characterization of Icet as “irresponsible.”

Icet is an engineer by profession, with an advanced degree from Washington University and a distinguished career with Monsanto. In 2002 the highly respected State Representative Bill Linton ended years of public service. His friends and colleagues wanted to replace him with someone as selfless, conservative and committed to limited government. They wanted someone who would champion morality and defend the unborn. They approached Icet and asked him to run. He did and in the following years his constituents found he lived up to Representative Linton’s high standards.

Said one of Icet’s colleagues: “Tom Schweich would be lucky to have as many admirers as Allen Icet has. Few people in Jefferson City are more highly respected because of their honesty, fairness and impeccable principles.”

But Schweich sees another Allen Icet — one that would trade funds from the public treasury for support for his candidacy.

In a state-wide email to prospective voters Schweich’s campaign wrote; “Rep. Icet has based his credibility as a candidate for State Auditor on endorsements of his fellow State House members. What Icet doesn’t mention is that these endorsements were given while Icet served as Budget Chairman. As Budget Chairman he controlled funding for projects in each of the Representative’s districts.”

Sit back and let that sink in a moment. The implication is that more than 82 fellow State Representatives have endorsed Icet for Auditor because they think he may be able to shovel pork their way. That’s a serious slur against Icet and an insult to every State Representative who endorsed him and put their trust in their budget leader.

Schweich seemed bothered when Joe Wurzelbacher (Joe the Plumber) came to Missouri on Icet’s behalf. A Schweich email alleged that Icet paid for an endorsement. Icet’s staff was quick to acknowledge it did pick up Wurzelbacher’s expenses and gave him a stipend for his time and trouble. Picking up expenses and paying speakers a stipend is pretty much a standard procedure for political campaigns and fund raisers, so to me that’s much ado about nothing.

If Romney personally paid all his expenses when he came to Missouri to stump for Schweich that was certainly generous of him, but Romney is undoubtedly a lot wealthier than Joe the Plumber.

Contrast that with the thousands of dollars spent to fly office holders like Nancy Pelosi to campaign stops on behalf of fellow liberals. Does the candidate pay those expenses or does the taxpayer pay for them?

Schweich pointedly noted that Joe the Plumber leveled criticism at the Republican Party. Heaven forbid! How dare Icet bring in someone to bad-mouth the GOP?

Those who have read Joe’s book know he speaks candidly. He is less beholden to a party than he is to the principled individual. Joe believes Americans should give their support only to true conservatives—men and women who fight to shrink government and protect liberties, free markets and capitalism. He is clearly not a fan of those who call themselves Republican but vote for more federal spending and Washington control. Those are RINO characteristics.

Many statements by Schweich make voters wonder just how conservative he really is. Take for example this quote from a Post-Dispatch op-ed on March 3, 2009: “We need to stick by our core values of protection of life and the right to bear arms but get out of people’s bedrooms and private lives with our mean-spirited moral dictates.” He went on to say we need to be “more tolerant, more energetic, less close-minded, less judgmental.” Wait just a minute here, “get out of people’s bedrooms and private lives with our mean-spirited moral dictates,” being “more tolerant…less close-minded…less judgmental?” Isn’t that the same terminology used by those who support same-sex marriage and abortion rights?

Conservatives wonder about his stand on other topics, too. “On the more complicated issue of stem cell research, however, he’s on the fence. His backer, Danforth, helped lead the effort to protect stem cell research in Missouri, angering some Republicans. Schweich said he has ‘some concern’ with embryonic stem cell research. ‘I want to see more science on that issue,’ he said.” (Tony Messenger, Political Fix, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 14, 2009)

Schweich wants to see more science? Real conservatives know the human embryo is life in its nascent form. When you destroy it for “science” you end a human life. Are there other questions?

Although Schweich claims to be solidly pro-life, he seems not to have written much or spoken much about that seminal issue. However, according to a Friends of McCaskill Campaign Finance Report dated January 15, 2001, he gave $500 to Claire McCaskill (a Democrat) in her bid for State Auditor. McCaskill is one of the country’s most blatant pro-abortion proponents who fully backs President Obama’s abortion-on-demand agenda.

Since when does a Republican give money to a Democrat to help them get elected? Someone’s going to have to explain that one to me!

Aside from financially supporting a Democrat, there’s a question of his voting record. Obviously Schweich doesn’t have a voting record when it comes to legislation since he has never been a legislator, but one would think he would at least support fellow conservatives by voting for them when they run for office. Not Schweich. When Republican Senator Jim Talent faced McCaskill in the 2006 U.S. Senate race, Schweich didn’t vote. In fact, according to Post-Dispatch blogger Tony Messenger in an August 3, 2009 piece, “A check of St. Louis County voting records show that Schweich has voted seven times since 2000, skipping 2006 entirely and not voting in any municipal elections.” Perhaps Mr. Schweich doesn’t know about absentee ballots?

And now for the pièce de résistance! In December 2008, Schweich penned a New York Times op-ed piece where he stated, “President-elect Barack Obama has chosen an all-star cabinet with great promise.” Let me repeat that. Schweich stated, “President-elect Barack Obama has chosen an all-star cabinet with great promise.” Let’s see, Hillary Clinton, Timothy Geithner, Kenneth Salazar, Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano (just to name a few) of Obama’s Cabinet members are “all-stars” according to Schweich? I don’t think so!

All of this seems to bring up a lot of major questions: Why would Thomas Schweich with his sterling credentials and big-money allies find it necessary to attack a fellow conservative to win a Republican primary? Why on earth would a Republican financially support a liberal, pro-abortion Democrat? Why would a Republican praise Barack Obama and his choice of cabinet members? Why doesn’t Schweich just run on his own merits?

The Tea Party thinks it knows the answers. And I’m sure many other conservatives do, too.

Jim Day is the Publisher and Executive Editor of the St. Louis MetroVoice, which is a conservative Christian newspaper that serves the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and adjacent counties. For more information regarding the MetroVoice visit their website at www.metrovoice.net or call 636-936-8119.

Read in the St. Louis Metro Voice

Organized in 1974, Missouri Right to Life is Missouri’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization.

Missouri Right to Life knows that my record stands for conservative values and the protection of the unborn.  I have worked diligently to protect tax payers’ from funding abortions in the State of Missouri.

Missouri Right to Life recognizes that I will continue to have a pro-life record and be a watchdog for the taxpayers, ensuring that their money is not being wasted on programs that violate the beliefs and values of Missourians.