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Amos Thomas honored by Republicans in Lincoln Day event
Photo gallery of the event can be found here: http://www.thebraziltimes.com/gallery/26971
CENTER POINT -- The event that delighted Clay County Republicans Monday night -- more than having the father of Presidential candidate Ted Cruz in attendance and Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma deliver the keynote address -- may have been the announcement that the third Republican Legacy Award was going to Amos Paul Thomas.
In making the presentation, Paul Sinders described Thomas as a "honest and hard-working," man in whom Sinders has "great faith and confidence in, a straight shooter" and a 58-year member of the Brazil Rotary Club.
In response, Thomas sat for a few moments, shaking his head.
Governor Mike Pence and Congressmen Marlin Stutzman and Larry Bucshon all appeared in video recordings, bringing messages personalized for Clay County Republicans and Stutzman added his own congratulations to Thomas for receiving the Legacy Award.
But Thomas' recognition wasn't over yet.
During his speech, Bosma praised the work of all three Thomases who served as state representatives: Amos, Amos' son, Andy Thomas, and Amos' elder brother, John Thomas.
Bosma added that Amos and Andy made history in the Statehouse by being the only father and son team that the son served before the father.
During the program, Rafael Cruz, father of Ted Cruz, spoke about his son's zeal for conservative values.
"Indiana may well decide who the next President of the United States will be," Cruz said.
Then he explained Ted's devotion to conservatism.
Rafael said he, himself, was born during Cuba's regime of oppression and he was able to escape to the United States. Rafael said he became involved in political causes in response to Jimmy Carter, whom he called "a socialist."
When Ted was 13, he became one of a small group of boys called "Constitutional Corroborators" who memorized the entire Constitution of the United States.
Rafael said, "My son, Ted Cruz will not compromise his values in the White House" and said Jimmy Carter said he would support Donald Trump because Trump is "malleable, meaning he can be formed into whatever they want him to be." He added that if Trump becomes the nominee, Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will win the Presidency.
Rafael said, "If Hillary Clinton becomes the next President, this country will be destroyed." Rafael also threatened that if another "liberal" justice is named to the U.S. Supreme Court, "We will lose our individual right to bear arms" and religious rights as well.
He said if his son is elected, Ted Cruz will eliminate the current tax code and replace it with a 10 percent flat tax for individuals and 16 percent flat tax for businesses.
Bosma, meanwhile, praised the three Thomases and talked about the accomplishments Republicans made in the years following 2004 when that party "had the first opportunity to lead in more than a decade."
He talked about balancing the State Budget without a tax increase over the objection of Governor Mitch Daniels who wanted "a small tax increase." He pointed out the state passed 12 tax cuts in 10 years and "cut and capped forever property taxes."
"Your state, the State of Indiana, has become the envy of the country," Bosma said. "It is the best place for entrepreneurs in the nation."
Following his speech, Clay County Republican Chair Jodi Lohrman presented Bosma with a paving brick taken from excavation during the U.S. 40 project in Brazil.
