Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein to join Paul Gosar's staff

"Rep. Gosar is getting a wise, experienced and principled hand..."
*
Palin family attorney Thomas Van Flein will be leaving the governor's inner circle to go to work for Congressman-elect Dr. Paul Gosar, whom Gov. Palin had endorsed as a candidate this year. CNN's Political Ticker confirmed the move -- first reported in an Anchorage newspaper gossip column Monday and then picked up by Politico -- with Gosar's office:

"I am pleased to have Tom Van Flein, with his experience and background, help me in D.C. with my District issues and the issues facing our country," said Gosar. "As one of my trusted advisers, I look forward to working with him in Washington and ensuring that we listen to the American people and work to uphold the principles that make this country great."

Van Flein is among only a handful of advisers with regular access to Palin, having served as both a legal, political, and media adviser to the former Alaska governor as she has navigated the political waters since her debut on the national stage in 2008. His is certain to leave a big hole in Palin's circle, especially as the former vice presidential nominee considers gearing up for a presidential election bid.

"Rep. Gosar is getting a wise, experienced and principled hand that will help him hit the ground running. Along with millions of Americans, I will be watching the new freshman class shake up D.C." Palin said in a statement.

[More]

- JP

Gosar wins GOP primary in AZ-01 (Updated)

*
Paul Gosar is the winner of the crowded GOP primary for U.S. Representative in Arizona's 1st District:

After a large field of eight candidates, Republican Paul Gosar won the nomination with 17,0920 votes, or 33.54 percent. Gosar defeated Bradley Beauchamp, with 15.78 percent or 8,038 votes; Russell “Rusty” Bowers, with 13.25 percent or 6,750 votes; Sydney Hay, with 22.27 percent or 11,349 votes; Joe Jaraczewski, with 1.98 percent or 1,008 votes; Jon Jensen, with 2.17 percent or 1,107 votes; Steve Mehta, with 7.9 percent or 4,023 votes; and Thomas J. Zaleski, with 2.85 percent or 1,454 votes.

Sarah Palin endorsed Dr. Gosar in the race.

- JP

Gov. Palin endorses McConnell in CO-3 and Gosar in AZ-1

*
On Facebook Monday, Sarah Palin endorsed two "Papa Grizzlies" for the U.S. Congress:

Uniting America with McConnell and Gosar in Congress

An endorsement’s impact may be fickle and, as I warn the endorsed candidates, is oftentimes a double-edged sword. So I admire the boldness of Bob McConnell and Paul Gosar for accepting my support in their races for Congress! These two patriots are Commonsense Constitutional Conservatives who seek to limit government, protect our 2nd Amendment rights, respect the sanctity of life, support our strong military, and encourage free enterprise. Their work for these commonly held beliefs will help unite this exceptional nation.

Bob McConnell is considered a grassroots underdog candidate running a dynamic, prudent campaign to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. Bob sometimes describes himself as a “recovering lawyer,” but that’s just one of his professions. Impressively, he’s a retired Colonel and Airborne Ranger. He’s a husband and the proud father of three and grandfather of seven, and he’s a true American patriot who wants to serve his fellow Coloradans for all the right reasons. Bob knows that in times like these ordinary citizens must be bold and take a stand to return our country back to our Constitutional roots of limited and fiscally responsible government. A decorated combat veteran, Bob is supported by the honorable Combat Veterans for Congress, and was unique in being able to tell a rally crowd at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum that he’s parachuted out of three of the aircraft in that museum! He’s also an avid outdoorsman who climbed Mt. Everest and lived off the grid as a mountain guide for a number of years.

Please join many other concerned Americans in moving the country onto the right path by supporting Bob McConnell. Visit his website at www.mcconnellforcongress.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

I’m also proud to endorse Dr. Paul Gosar for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. Thankfully, Paul shares our belief that the federal government’s reckless spending is putting us on a dangerous path towards insolvency – and he’s determined to do something about that. In addition to being a proud family man, Paul is a dentist, and as a small business owner running his practice, Paul understands the challenges confronting job creators when DC stifles us with endless mandates, over-regulation, plans to impose new energy taxes, and just generally (and unnecessarily) overreaches into the private sector. The good doctor knows that true job creation comes from the private sector, not government; and he will work to rein in the fed’s long arm and get our economy moving again by getting government out of the way.

Paul stands firmly behind Governor Jan Brewer’s efforts to protect Arizonans, and the rest of us for that matter, by securing the border. He’s endorsed by three of Arizona’s leading sheriffs because they know America needs Dr. Paul Gosar to hold Washington accountable on this imperative national security issue.

Paul is a bold man! He deserves our support, so please join me in helping him help this great country. You can visit his website at www.gosarforcongress.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Colorado’s 3rd and Arizona’s 1st Congressional Districts are among the 20 districts that John McCain and I carried in the 2008 election, but they are currently represented by Democrats who voted in favor of Obamacare. Both Bob McConnell and Paul Gosar will work to repeal that mother-of-all-unfunded-mandates and replace it with real free market patient-centered health care reform. Let’s send these good men to Washington so they can get to work for all of us and put a united America back on track.

- Sarah Palin

- JP