Republicans see a few people standing on stage during most debates, but there are actually dozens of candidates who have filed to run for president next year and are vying for the party nomination. In fact, as the Washington Post reported, 259 Americans have filed to seek the nation’s highest elected office – most are fringe candidates of various parties who never actively campaign.
But, for a businesswoman from Fredericksburg, Virginia, the need to fix America’s jobless crisis has spurred her into a cross country speaking tour. Sheila “Samm” Tittle runs a small business in central Virginia and is, in many ways, an ordinary messenger carrying an extraordinary message to the population.
“There are only three qualifications to be president in the constitution,” Tittle said in a telephone interview. “I meet all three of those qualifications.”
The U.S. Constitution requires a candidate for president to be at least 35 years old, a natural born U.S. citizen and a resident of the United States for 14 years prior to election.
For Tittle, a polite, well-spoken woman, the main obstacle is competing against other candidates who have millions of dollars in funding and vast campaign organizations. She is building a grassroots organization across the country as she presses her campaign message of America First.
According to campaign manager Rick Knox, Tittle has already made campaign stops throughout the Deep South, hitting the key states of Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and, most recently, Tennessee.
“(Tittle) will be heading for Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kentucky next week,” Knox said.
Tittle on Jobs: The Tittle economic plan is a multi-angled approach to the root causes of unemployment, as well as a return to the basic foundations that the Founding Fathers envisioned.
“We need to let the free enterprise system work,” she said.
While the Great Recession has agonizingly destroyed American families, Tittle said one major impediment to sustained recovery been the outsourcing of American jobs to foreign countries where labor costs are significantly lower. The job exodus has significantly contributed to 15 million Americans being out of work, she said.
“It must stop. Businesses have a responsibility to the people they serve. They have a responsibility to keep the jobs and the profits in this country…to build this country…to promote this country.”
Tittle calls her plan the “American Economic Nationalism Act,” and thinks it will serve as a roadmap to a sustained U.S. economic recovery.
“We’re putting America back on top,” she said. “We’re going to go back to the future with a program that focuses of putting America first, putting families first, putting jobs first and putting workers first.”
Among the provisions of her economic plan are penalties for companies that outsource jobs.
“These companies are reaping the benefits of our democracy. They cannot be allowed to cheat our people,” she said. “People have to come before profits.”
Tittle on Federal Spending: Without question, Tittle believes that long-serving members of Congress have contributed to the financial downfall of the country. She advocates term limits for elected members of Congress, as well as members of the judiciary. She goes even further by saying congressional staff should only be able to serve for 12 years as well.
“They get elected and fund their own cushy salaries, pensions and benefits,” she said. “If we cut their pay and their perks and the time Congress is in session, they can spend more time in their districts getting work done.”
But, tackling the federal budget requires more then just congressional reform. Tittle said all foreign aid should be cut by 80 percent.
“We are not the police dog of the world,” she said.
That goes for foreign military bases as well. Tittle said that maintaining military bases in countries since the end of World War II has outlasted its effectiveness.
“We need to bring our soldiers home and stop spending money in foreign countries to keep them safe,” she said. “Let them take care of their own security.”
But, Tittle is not an isolationist.
“Right now, the balance needs to be on taking care of America. No other country is going to do that for us,” she said. “We can help those who need a hand up, but the hand outs have to stop.”
Tittle on Social Security: Shoring up the Social Security system is a task that can no longer be passed to another generation, Tittle said. Her reform plan makes no changes to Americans age 50 and older.
“They worked for their benefits, and they are entitled to them,” she said.
For those under 50 years of age, Tittle would raise the retirement age to 70 and give young people a choice for their retirement.
“I would give them an option of where to invest the money, but it would have to be invested somewhere,” she said.
Tittle is a serious candidate competing on serious subjects. In many ways, her campaign is following exactly the same footsteps as presidents did two centuries ago. In the early days of our Republic, candidates depended on carrying their message to the people rather then crafting elegant campaign commercials. It’s grassroots American politics at its finest. It’s refreshing.