{"id":2884,"date":"2008-02-14T23:57:00","date_gmt":"2008-02-15T05:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/02\/greer-says-refusing-to-quit-puts-him-in-good-company\/"},"modified":"2008-02-14T23:57:00","modified_gmt":"2008-02-15T05:57:00","slug":"greer-says-refusing-to-quit-puts-him-in-good-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/02\/greer-says-refusing-to-quit-puts-him-in-good-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Greer says refusing to quit puts him in good company"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the fourth in an occasional series of articles based on conversations with the Second Congressional District candidates. Articles on each candidate who agrees to an interview will run before the parties\u2019 preprimary nominating conventions on March 15.<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Some dismiss C. Earl Greer\u2019s<\/a> candidacy for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce<\/a> because he lost the GOP primary for the seat in 2002, a Public Regulation Commission race in 2006 and the state party chair race in 2007.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer is quick to point out that he won the PRC primary in 2006, beating two other candidates, including a popular Do\u00f1a<\/st1:placename> Ana<\/st1:placename> County<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place> commissioner. More important, he said, he\u2019s not a quitter, and that puts him in the same category as Joe Skeen<\/a>, Abraham Lincoln<\/a> and Ronald Reagan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a quitter. I don\u2019t flip-flop. I\u2019m not going to quit my party because I\u2019m a little unhappy. I\u2019m not going to leave the district because I lost,\u201d Greer said in a recent interview. \u201cThey should be proud that I\u2019m not a quitter.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said that\u2019s what\u2019s different about his campaign.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t get mad, take my toys and go home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The other Republican candidates in the race are rancher and retired banker Aubrey L. Dunn Jr.<\/a>, former state Rep. Terry Marquardt<\/a>, Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman<\/a>, Las Cruces daycare-center owner Greg Sowards<\/a> and restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley<\/a>. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer is focused on reaching voters directly, calling his campaign \u201cGrassroots for Greer\u201d and pledging personal meetings with anyone who requests them. Though he isn\u2019t expected to raise as much money as the better-funded candidates \u2013 Dunn, Newman and Tinsley \u2013 Greer said his campaign \u201cwill have the resources we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The issues he is focusing on during the campaign are defense, the economy and energy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Defense<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer includes a number of other issues \u2013 including immigration and caring for veterans \u2013 under defense.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He said securing the border is critical to the nation\u2019s security, and said attempts to limit illegal crossings using technology and National Guard troops have helped, but to fully secure the border, additional Border Patrol agents are needed.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely necessary, from a national security standpoint, that we get that border closed,\u201d Greer said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

But he\u2019s also quick to point out that the 9\/11 hijackers came through Canada<\/st1:country-region>, legally, and he said monitoring of those who come to America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> legally must also be improved.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer\u2019s second focus under defense is America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s \u201cheroes\u201d \u2013 which he said includes soldiers, police officers, firefighters and Border Patrol agents. He spoke about the poor care many veterans are receiving.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIf they\u2019re going to be willing to sacrifice everything for us, we\u2019ve got to be willing to have both pay and care that is unequalled in the world,\u201d Greer said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Though Greer said President Bush has mishandled some issues related to the war on terror, he doesn\u2019t believe America<\/st1:country-region> should pull its soldiers out of Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. He said there\u2019s one factor that must be considered when judging the situation.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve not had another attack since Sept. 11,\u201d Greer said. \u201cSo you can second-guess, you can armchair quarterback, but the proof is in the pudding.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said President Bush has made mistakes, but so have other presidents. He said President Clinton pulled some resources from the intelligence community that might have been useful before and after 9\/11.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The economy<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said he has been disappointed with Washington Republicans when it comes to the economy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThey let the budget get out of control and we can\u2019t do that. They became Democrats,\u201d Greer said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

When I pointed out the inflammatory nature of that comment against members of his own party, Greer also said Democrats who now control Congress are doing nothing to fix the problem. And he talked about the need to work together.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be red. I don\u2019t want to be blue. I want to be red, white and blue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said Congress and the president must balance the nation\u2019s budget. He contends that will fix a host of other problems, including the fluctuating interest rates that have led to so many home foreclosures in recent months.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer also advocates a simpler tax code. He\u2019s interested in both a flat-tax system and a sales-tax system, and said he hasn\u2019t decided which he prefers. The overall goal, Greer said, needs to be allowing people to keep as much of their own money as possible. He also favors making the Bush tax cuts permanent.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Energy<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to become independent from the Middle East and Venezuela<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> \u2013 bottom line,\u201d Greer said about his goals in the area of energy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

France<\/st1:country-region>, Greer said, has led the way in nuclear energy, and America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> needs to move in the same direction. He said he also wants to open more land to drilling, with safeguards to protect the environment.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer advocates offering incentives for the energy industry to develop alternative-energy technology. His focus, because we live in Southern New Mexico<\/st1:place>, is solar and wind.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said the United States<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place> must find a way to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Accomplishing that goal will be important for the environment and for the nation\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2018Why can\u2019t a regular guy run?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer\u2019s roots are deep in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>. His family has lived in the Second Congressional District for five generations and in the state since the 1500s. He\u2019s half Hispanic and fluent in Spanish, and he grew up on a ranch. He graduated from high school in Truth or Consequences and went to college at New Mexico<\/st1:placename> State<\/st1:placetype> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer has been married for 31 years and has four children and three grandchildren. He\u2019s been in real estate for 30 years. He sold most of his family\u2019s Sierra<\/st1:placename> County<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> ranch in 1997, but still owns a portion of it.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said one of his strengths is straight talk. He said people have learned they can trust him because he doesn\u2019t flip-flop.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I change my mind on issues, you\u2019ll always know that there was something very specific that I wasn\u2019t aware of,\u201d Greer said. \u201cI don\u2019t say what I think it takes to win. I tell you what I believe and am going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Talking about his commitment to grassroots campaigning, Greer said his agenda \u201cis what\u2019s best for the district, not what\u2019s best for me.\u201d He said while other candidates will \u201ccome in and be slick,\u201d he believes voters will see that he is \u201cone of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cOthers will surround themselves with consultants. \u2026 When you sit down with me, you\u2019re going to be talking to the guy who is making the decisions,\u201d Greer said. \u201cThat\u2019s the way we will govern. That\u2019s the way we will lead. We\u2019re going to know where the people are at.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t a regular guy run?\u201d Greer asked. \u201cThis isn\u2019t supposed to be an elitist group.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Prior interviews with Second Congressional District candidates:<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 Al Kissling<\/a>, published Jan. 28, 2008<\/p>\n

\u2022 Aubrey L. Dunn Jr.<\/a>, published Jan. 14, 2008<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 Harry Teague<\/a>, published Dec. 20, 2007<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the fourth in an occasional series of articles based on conversations with the Second Congressional District candidates. Articles on each candidate who agrees to an interview will run before the parties\u2019 preprimary nominating conventions on March 15. Some dismiss C. Earl Greer\u2019s candidacy for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}