Anthony Mele for Congress 2012 - NY District 17

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Anthony Mele Get out the vote
Anthony Mele for Congress

Anthony Melé (Tony) is a true American patriot having served our country in a variety of capacities for much of his adult life. Not one to quit, Tony fervently believes that the most effective way to continue serving this country is through elected office. Accordingly, Tony is seeking the nomination for the 17th Congressional District in New York.A CALL TO ACTION FROM ANTHONY MELE The plan to restore the 17th Congressional seat to the people requires immediate action. We can no longer afford to be passive in this fight. The stakes are too high, and failure is not an option. I ask for your support to seek the nomination to be your candidate. To secure the nomination and gain the Republican ballot line will require the pledge of your time, your activism, and your help with fundraising to keep me independent of the party bosses who are accustomed to selling the line to the highest bidder. One look at past elections for this seat will tell the sad tale. The candidates anointed by the party bosses came to the table with a substantial personal wallet and closely resembled their opponent, Eliot Engel. Every one of them lost miserably. Doing more of the same and anticipating a different outcome is a sure sign of insanity, not to mention political suicide. Nominating a "Republican Eliot Engel" has little chance of invigorating the electorate and drawing out the voters who have consistently stayed home on Election Day. The party bosses have consistently circumvented the nominating process by pre-selecting the nominee who will simply enrich their treasure chest. The message to other potential candidates is “this is a millionaire’s club only, all else need not apply”.It has always been a "blue blood" clique freezing out the "blue collar" candidates. If the line/seat is for sale to the highest bidder, then the nominee is no longer beholden to you, but instead to those who control the ballot. Money is the fuel that drives the campaign engine because it pays to get out the message. Prepare for the negative ads that will be contrived against me and the rumor and buzz that precedes it. If photographs of me walking on water surfaced, they would say “see Tony Mele can't swim”. I am the only blue collar candidate with white collar experience. I will not compromise, relent, or surrender the fight because I am fighting for all of you more than for myself. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, expect to hear my competitors parrot my words in a contemptuous attempt to co-opt our message and deceive you. I give you my word of honor that I will not compromise my principles or trade your trust for the empty promises of the power hungry few that would cling to their titles at the price of our national pride, virtue and strength. If you are ready to fight to take back your vote, your rights, your freedom and your country—I’d be honored to lead.Follow me.

"We need a Congressman who represents the working man and not the Tax Man." TonyMelé

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BIOGROPHY

ABOUT TONY MELE

"The US Constitution is my platform." Tony Melé

Tony and Michael

National Republical Latino Coalition

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NY District 17 map

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Anthony Melé was born at Fordham Hospital in the Bronx, Sept. 3rd 1958 and grew up in the “shadow” of Yankee Stadium. Raised in the Bronx during turbulent political times, amidst the civil rights movement, the assassination of President Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, social and political awareness came early. He attended Arturo Toscanini Jr. High School and was selected to represent his 7th grade class in a city wide assembly at the United Nation’s General Assembly. Tony’s first taste of politics came by way of campaigning for his neighbor Barry Salman, who ran for City Council and is now a Judge. He attended Taft High School and graduated from Tenafly High School in New Jersey. Tony Melé enlisted in the US Army in 1976, went on active duty 1977 and by 1979 achieved the rank of Noncommissioned Officer and Guidon Bearer for the elite Infantry unit, “The Old Guard”. He was also selected to serve at the Pentagon for the Secretary of Defense, Office of Public Relations with the Pentagon.At the end of a distiguished six year career with the Army, Tony obtained a B.S. in International Relations and Counter Terrorism from the State University of NY and an M.A. in Diplomacy-International Conflict Management from Norwich University, Vermont. Putting his education to work, Tony has established himself as an internationally known and highly respected security expert. He has honed his operational expertise with challenging US military assignments and corporate consulting contracts, providing a wide range of protection, security, procurement, and support and training services. He has attained progressive levels of management responsibility as a corporate officer, CEO and project manager responsible for sales, services and technical teams throughout the US, Middle-East, Africa, Europe and Latin America.Mr. Melé sits on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Rockland County and member of the Chestnut Ridge Rotary Club. Mr. Melé was a formidable republican challenger for Ramapo Town Supervisor in 2007,. He galvanized supporters drawing the largest voter turnout in recent memory, winning a majority of votes in 9 out of 12 towns villages. The entrenched incumbent barely won re-election.He is also a local radio talk show host, responsible for content production and broadcasting. He is a vocal advocate for youth services and veterans issues. He conducts leadership seminars for young people sponsored by several colleges and universities. He has addressed the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, advocating statehood for Puerto Rico.He is Chairman of the 65th Honor Task Force, dedicated to the recognition of unsung heroes and veterans of past wars. He has been called upon to provide Congressional testimony and was recognized by the New York City Council, the Office of the Mayor, and the Governors of New York and Puerto Rico for his efforts. Mr. Melé was invited by the NYC Police Academy to present a cultural seminar to Precinct Commanders. He is an avid public speaker and is consistently requested as the keynote speaker by a wide range of organizations, including Harvard University and the National Security Agency. Mr. Melé was decorated for valor by the US Army, was a nominee for the White House Fellowship program, and received special recognition awards from the U.S. Congress, the US Secret Service, the U.S. Marshal Service and a Presidential appointment as the Selective Service local board member for the Hudson Valley, State of New York. Anthony Melé carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution wherever he goes.He believes that its authors intended it to be used to help govern our nation, not to be loosely interpretted or changed to fit a given circumstance. He also believes that elected officials have the responsibility to listen to their constituents and speak for them, not to assume that they know better. "Our State and Federal governments are spinning out of control. It’s time to take them back".Tony’s political views are not complicated—they can be found in the Constitution and can be summed up fairly easily-He is a Conservative and a strict Constitutionalist and believes:in smaller Government and fewer Govt. Depts. in all casesin responsive Government, not phony transparencieswe must balance our budgets and cut as deeply as necessary to achieve that endstrongly in National Security/Defense (his forte) and all it entails including Enforcing the immigration laws currently on our books Electronic border controlin lowering taxes as an economic stimulusin energy independence-including drilling offshore and in Anwar“Health Care” reform reformed nothing and must be revisitedAwards and CommendationsDepartment of the Army The Army Commendation Medal for ValorOffice of the Secretary of Defense Certificate of Appreciation

"Congress telling us they must first pass the Bill to find out what is in it, is like telling us to high dive head first into a cement swimming pool to find out if there is water in it." Tony Melé

ISSUES

Spending

National Debt

Budget Reform

Job Creation

Healthcare

National Security

Energy

The Environment

Education

Immigration

Veterans

Spending TAX ACTIONSBusiness taxes should be lowered to 15%.The Bush tax cuts must remain.The death tax should be permanently repealed.There can be no more special taxes or tax breaks that will force behavior modification. The VAT tax (even if the income tax is repealed) has not worked in Europe and wont work hereNO NEW TAXES--Tax reductions have always been proven to stimulate the economy and therefore allow accelerated job creation.Cap and Trade is a tax on energy and will over burden an already crippled heavy industry. This will inevitably, either through cost saving job cuts or moves to overseas, cause further job losses in effected sectors.

National Debt National Debt

Budget Reform BUDGET REFORM In order to affect meaningful budgetary reform, certain necessary steps must be taken: A complete moratorium on earmarks.Line item veto.A moratorium on increases in the national debt limit.The budget document read, and process understood by, every sitting member of congress.Ballance budget by reducing duplication and fragmentation of programs Eliminating wasteful spending, the Dept. of Education has had little measurable impact on student performance or dropout rate since it's inceptionCutting needless programs and reducing spending The Dept. of energy and it's "gasoline powered alarm clock" serve no useful purpose.Sharply curtailing or eliminating the activities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the bailed out mortgage giants that have cost taxpayers $125 Billion and climbing.The elimination of "special friends" tax breaks.

Anthony Mele delivers speech during April 15th Tax Day Protest in New City

Job Creation JOB CREATIONJob creation is not the job of government.Government must reduce taxes on business Eliminate stifling fees and regulations to energize the American people to use their ingenuity to expand and create businesses.

Healthcare HEALTHCARE The status quo was never acceptable. A better and simpler solution involves: Permitting insurance policy sales across state lines.Removing costly and in many instances useless and unnecessary mandates on insurance companies.Tort reform. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor bill must be looked at afresh and reformed.Medicare and Medicaid are significantly under funded and they must be stabilized (perhaps another extension of Retirement age is a first step).

Candidate meet and greet with Anthony Mele 4/7/2010

National Security NATIONAL SECURITYThis is Tony Mele's passion and strength along with the proper care and respect for veterans. No more PC word games. No more political cronyism in the DOD. No nonsense. Just real national security on all fronts and proper care and treatment of our wonderful veterans.The president is on record as suggesting the formation of a Civil Defense Corps. Perhaps he has not heard of the National Guard (of course the Guard is a State militia and the other would be Federal).If we seriously intend to reduce our missile stockpile than we should certainly be upgrading what remains (as the Russians are now doing). FOREIGN AFFAIRSWe must stand by our friends. Israel is not the cause of the significant tensions in the Middle East radical Islam, particularly Iran is keeping the area unsettled.We must stop funding our enemies. Foreign Aid can be a powerful lever and is never used to promote changed behavior;We must talk to develop those who will make this planet earth a more peaceful place.

Energy ENERGY POLICYEnergy Policy is a field where cliché, wishful thinking and ignorance dominate the discussion. One remarkable fact is that American oil consumption has remained virtually flat over the last 30 years. Today we use only slightly more oil than we did in 1978, even though the economy has more than doubled in real terms. This is largely a result of the steady improvement in energy efficiency over the last generation, including our cars, trucks and appliances.The trend towards growing dependence on foreign oil is entirely the result of declining domestic production and not on any soaring demand for oil. In fact, according to Stephen Hayward of The American Enterprise Institute, domestic oil production has fallen by more than 1 Million barrels a day over the last 10 years and we now produce less oil than we did in 1947.This is pathetic and unnecessary. Increased domestic oil production and expanded drilling will largely liberate us from dependency on Persian Gulf oil (currently 10% of our supply) and Venezuelan oil (13% of our supply).The bureaucratic shackles that are inhibiting the growth of nuclear energy must be made rational, not based on scary fairytales.There can be no more subsidies for energy production no matter how envirofriendly it is alleged to be. Once again let the American genius and the free marketplace work their wonders.Cap and Trade is not an energy Policy, it is a tax on energy and should be discussed as such.

The Environment THE ENVIRONMENT The environment is important but THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. Environmentally based cafe standards have killed more citizens than the Vietnam War. Because of the lie based ban on DDT, tens of millions of people, most of them poor and most of them black, have died from insect borne diseases. This sort of nonsense must stop. No more rushes to judgment caused by phony scare tactics. The ability of radical, left-wing, anti-American environmental groups to bring suit on behalf of the people must be stopped.Much of Global Warming is currently in dispute, either because of faulty manufactured data or unsupported measurements by so-called offset groups.Tony supports sensible environmental policies, not draconian and completely misguided Govt. edicts.

Education EDUCATIONEducation is THE great equalizer that enables anyone to improve and grow to the maximum of their abilities: Vouchers must be made both legal and available.Charter schools must be increased. Teacher excellence based on performance standards must be rewarded. Teacher failure base on performance standards must be stopped. In truth. Education is too important to be left to the federal government. It should be returned to the states.

Immigration IMMIGRATION Our borders must be secured. Judicial Watch, a non-partisan Washington oversight group, states that the cost of providing social, medical, law enforcement and educational services to illegal aliens from every level of government is estimated at $53 Billion per year. That's taxpayer dollars.The laws currently on the books must be enforced. Note that Arizona ran out of patience with the Federal Govt. and has strengthened and re-emphasized its own laws.The birthright citizenship policy that automatically makes citizens of children born to illegal immigrants on U.S. soil must be ended. This policy acts as a magnet for border crossers and according to some sources may account for 10% of all U.S. births in recent years.

Veterans Testimony:The combat casualties of the Fort Hood attacks meet the criteria for the award of the Purple Heart. It is a national disgrace if they should be denied the long military traditions that award this decoration to any soldier who give their life or limbs in the service of their country. The Chain of Command are honor bound to take a stand and here is why: The criteria for this award is unique; although it is an individual award the soldier is not recommended for it because the soldier is entitled to it in accordance with specific criteria on a case by case basis not precedence: a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded (1) In any action against an enemy of the United States. (4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces. (5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force. (6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed Services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack. [AR 600-8] Major Nidal Hasan, is an American Military Officer that committed an act of overt treason on behalf of belligerent forces engaged in hostilities against the USA. He committed an act of terrorism as defined by military scholars and professionals in the arena; most especially for the media effect it would generate as a form of psychological warfare. Major Hasan performed a tactic known as the lone wolf terrorist, who operates outside of a central command structure employing stealth and opportunity. This is a well known Jihadist tactic of using deception and lies to fool the infidel and infiltrate their lines. As such, Major Hasan conducted himself as a Jihadist, on behalf of foreign enemy forces attacking uniformed US Soldiers on a US military facility. These facts qualify those soldiers as combat casualties and meet the criteria for award of the Purple Heart. Not to mention they were killed preparing for deployment to a forward combat zone. General Benedict Arnold conspired to surrender his command to the British. Had he done so, his staff officers would have been summarily executed by the British. In this case, an American Officer by way of a treasonous act on behalf of a foreign belligerent would have murdered his officers. Under the current criteria they would have been immediately eligible for the award of the Purple Heart. I am inclined to believe the Secretary of the Army and Defense would gladly sign off on this forthwith because they knew the facts and criteria before we did. However, they were precluded from doing so by the only higher authority who can prevent them from doing it. It is evident from the immediate stance to declare Major Hasan a mentally unstable person who committed a crime and not an act of terrorism was a misguided attempt to deflect political criticism. The award of the Purple Heart is made in the name of the President. This President hasn't awarded it, despite the fact that he is the highest authority who can authorize the award. The rationale of undue command influence as a reason to with-hold the decoration is unreasonable. The overwhelming evidence that Major Hasan pulled the trigger will be presented at his trial by the survivors of the attack. How he did it is of little consequence to the award criteria, so much as to whom he did it. "Undue Command Influence" is an after thought because the first official commentary from the government was Major Hasans well known political and religious opposition as the reason for declaring him mentally unstable. What is undeniable is Major Hasan committed treason and attacked he fellow soldiers on behalf of the enemy those soldiers were being deployed to fight. As such, these soldiers are now victimized a second time by their own leaders. First by a field grade officer committed to treason and terrorism. Secondly by their chain of command subordinate to a politically driven policy of cultural sensitivity. The political rationale is too obvious to be ignored as if it did not play a misplaced role somewhere in this decision process. It now falls to us; to demand those soldiers receive the military honor they are entitled to. Do not bury their honor alongside their memory. It is a shame that it may take an act of congress in the form of a Bill proposed by Representative John Carter of Texas to honor them. Do not betray these fallen soldiers a third time. If there is one ounce of American blood in your body; demand these soldiers receive the military honors due them. It is about honor not politics. Our troops were killed by Major Hasan precisely because they wore the uniform of the American soldier that he considered to be enemy combatants. It is a national disgrace every minute delayed motivated by anything less than honoring our fallen because it was earned by their priceless blood. Thus choosing to die resisting, rather than live submitting, they fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face.. (Pericles, Athenian Statesman)

Mosque A Congressional Candidate's Proposed Solution to the Ground Zero ControversyAnthony Melé, 17th Congressional District 2010Cordoba Project: How a Security Analysis Is DoneWhy is the Cordoba Project proposal an unreasonable security risk for the United States of America in general and the people of New York specifically? In my professional capacity as a Global Security consultant, I have been tasked with performing vulnerability assessments and risk mitigation analysis for a multitude of clients around the world; ranging from Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, and Latin America. I earned a Master of Arts degree in Diplomacy: International Conflict Resolution, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations and Counter-terrorism, Graduated the Defense Intelligence College, served with the United States Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia and assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff for Intelligence at the Pentagon. I get it done by a dispassionate review of the facts and analysis of the projected outcomes that would be both intended and unintended. We have heard many of the politicians, pundits, protesters and supporters with deep emotional conviction for and against it but none have crafted a method for resolving it.Risk and Reward Security Analysis Formula The risk factor range high based on empirical data we can analyze over the course of a decade. Islamic centers in London, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Bulgaria, Pakistan and New York became infiltrated by terrorist who used them for cover to exchange money, arms, plans, and recruitment for terrorist attacks. Western societies have laws that preclude religious institutions from state security surveillance to any effective degree. Terrorist organizers use these laws to their advantage and intentionally utilize these institutions for their nefarious purposes. The risk that the Cordoba Project will be a magnet for these sophisticated terrorist cells for infiltration, recruitment and attacking the US is substantially higher due to one major factor that is the cause of every crime: Opportunity. It will give terrorist planners, among other factors, the compelling opportunity to perpetrate their crime on an irresistible high value target, yet again. The risk and reward formula simply dictate that the risk to loss of life and destruction of property, among other economic and political considerations far outweigh any reward proposed by the builders of the Cordoba Project. They cannot offer any assurance, guarantee, methodology or security plan that would mitigate that risk by one iota. The Laws of Unintended Consequences First let us agree that the stated goal of the project as a source of healing and unity has already failed because of the manner in which it was presented. That initiative has been forever lost because the unintended outcome made it a source of pain and division. If it was to promote trust and understanding; it has now inseminated mistrust and misunderstanding. If you can imagine your most delectable, mouth watering, irresistible meal that you would never turn down; presented to you on top of a revolting garbage can lid; would you eat it willingly, short of near death starvation? The same answer applies to the Cordoba Project. An edifice intended to symbolize the virtues of Islam adjoining the edifice that symbolizes a memorial to those slaughtered in the name of perverted Islam is unpalatable no matter if it were offered on a platinum diamond studded platter. The Cordoba Project may have begun with the best of intentions but the unintended consequences are they have been completely wiped away because of the ill-conceived manner in which it was presented. No one can un-ring that bell. The deal is dead. The intended reward is completely outweighed by the unintended risk.Conflict Resolution: An Example in Islam Islamic scholars relate a story of their Prophet Mohamed [pbuh]; how he was a respected man and asked to help settle a quarrel over which of the most important men of the city should place the sacred black stone in the corner of the Kabbah in Mecca. Each stated their case as to why they should be the one to place the Sacred Stone there and asked him to arbitrate the matter. They spoke of how much money and material they donated to refurbish and rebuilt the ancient edifice that was first constructed according to tradition by Adam and his sons and how each could identify their lineage to Adam. They debated how each of their practiced faith was the one religion and thereby earned them the sole right to the Sacred Stone at this sacred place on this sacred ground. Prophet Mohamed [pbuh] removed the cloak he wore from his shoulders and laid it on the ground. He then ordered the Black Sacred Stone placed on top of his cloak. He then directed each of the parties to lift up an end of his cloak simultaneously. They did and they walked together to the Kabbah and each with a hand on the Black Sacred Stone placed it into the corner of the edifice where it sits to this day. A consensus was reached and solution was arbitrated by a common platform: they all wanted the same outcome and decided to cooperate in order to achieve it.Outcome Based Solutions: One Approach The intention of the location was a symbolic gesture designed to foster good will toward Islam by non- Muslims. A pragmatic and empirical assessment concludes for any fair minded observer that approach has failed completely. It can further be argued that it has worked to foster ill will toward the Project Cordoba organizers and rejection of any discourse espousing the virtues of Islam. The approach and the outcome are bi-polar. If the goals remain the same then the approach requires a completely different track. The contention laid in the location not the recited purpose. The resolution will be found in another location. The other location can be found exactly at 1711 3rd Ave. in Manhattan where there already is an Islamic Cultural Center that is in dire need of refurbishment much like the Kabbah in the story I related earlier. The symbolism here can be found in all of the interested parties cooperating to improve this particular Islamic Center instead of the redundancy of building a new one anywhere else. All parties should follow the example of the Prophet Mohamed [pbuh] who has in this day and time presented us with a solution to the same argument he resolved in his own day and time. The outcome would be a new appreciation for Islam by non-Muslims as was the original intent. The Diplomatic Solution Aligns With the Pragmatic Reality Finally; what was more important; a new building to pray in or building a new relationship to pray for? Over 100 Mosques exist throughout New York City. One more Mosque at Ground Zero that will not foster one iota of good will and understanding for Islam but instead achieves the opposite is unworthy of the effort. One gesture that engenders good will in alignment with the intent of the mission statement released by Project Cordoba organizers will be of greater intrinsic value than the estimated price tag attached to this construction project. To force feed the Cordoba Project to New Yorker's will only result in several problematic reoccurrences; resentment, distrust, conflict, and an unacceptable security risk to every one in proximity to this building should it proceed to its completion. The diplomatic solution aligns with the pragmatic reality when the platform of consensus is the Muslim organizer's who state they want to receive tolerance, understanding, and compassion for Islam from non-Muslims should be the first to lead by the example of rendering the very same courtesy to non-Muslims in this particular case study. I leave the decision to the decision makers and offer this position paper for their thoughtful consideration as my contribution to resolve what seems to be an implacable stance by all parties. I place the cloak on the ground and the sacred stone upon it. The decision to cooperate remain up to all concerned.

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"It is a national disgrace; if we should break our national promise to honor they who bore the battle, or care for their widow and orphan." Tony Melé

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Tony Mele invites you to join him in his mission to take back America and set it on the right path by serving in the U.S. Congress. All are welcome and every effort contributes to winning this important race.There are many traditional grassroots activities to help with, from promotional hand outs to making phone calls to joining the campaign trail.Please take a minute to fill out the form below so that Tony's campaign can contact you. Thank you for your support for Tony Mele in this very important race.Below is a list of way you can help. Please use the form at the right to let us know in which areas you can help.Become a Facebook fanPlace a sign in my yardVolunteer at headquartersPlace calls for TonyCanvas door to doorWrite letters to editorBlog and Tweet for TonyHand outs or Shout outHelp with fundraisingHost a coffee/meet and greetAssist with an event or meet and greetCall/write friends on behalf of TonyAttend local events

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