ABOUT TOWN: Rising Republican Star Coming to Stoughton

COLONEL WEST COMING TO STOUGHTON, WILL PRESENT CITIZEN PATRIOT AWARD TO POLITO: Colonel Allen West will be coming to Stoughton on August 15, 2013 to Ahavath Torah Congregation.

West is one of the Republican Party's rising stars. He was the first black Republican from Florida to serve in the United States House of Representatives since Reconstruction.

A VIP briefing with Col. West, also a Fox News and PJ Media contributor, will be from 6:15 until 7:30 p.m. and includes dinner and a short talk from Col. West. Cost is $250. General admission will be from 7:30-9 p.m. and will be $35 in advance, and $45 at the door.

Colonel West, the inaugural winner of the "Citizen Patriot Award", will present it to former Massachusetts State Representative Karyn Polito.  The "Citizen Patriot" Award was created in 2012 to honor great American's who truly represent the principles that this country was founded on - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Karyn Polito began her career in public service as a member of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen. She later served as Massachusetts State Lottery Commissioner from 1999-2000 and went on to serve 10 years representing the 11th Worcester District in the Massachusetts House. She most recently ran for State Treasurer against Steve Grossman, and gave him a run for his money!

Among Karyn's many accomplishments, she helped pass special Red Sox and Jimmy Fund license plates that have raised almost $2,000,000 for the Jimmy Fund of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She also helped establish tougher sentencing legislation for sex offenders, and was a staunch advocate of state aid to support public and special education. 

Karyn is a graduate of Boston College's School of Management and Juris Doctor from New England School of Law.

The event will be hosted by radio personality Helen Glover, who was chosen from over 65,000 applicants to participate in the hit CBS series "Survivor: Thailand". As a cast member, Helen survived to the Final Four and emerged as one of the most popular and respected members of the cast. She can be heard on 920 am, WHJJ, Rhode Island's Station for Stimulating Talk, weekday mornings from 6 a.m.-10 a.m.

As the demographics of the U.S. population shift, Republicans realize it becomes ever more critical to increase representation by not only black, but Hispanic and Asian American leaders, as well. The leadership PAC Colonel West established during the 2012 election cycle with the same mission helped seven military veteran candidates win their seats in the House of Representatives.

Allen West first took an oath to support and defend our Constitution as a young Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. During his 22 years of service, he was distinguished by numerous commendations and honors for valor, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel.

In 2010, Colonel West once again reaffirmed that oath when he became the first black Republican from Florida to serve in the United House Representatives since Reconstruction. After winning a seat in the 2010 election, he was sworn-in in January of 2011 and served until January 2013, narrowly losing a bid for reelection. 

Colonel West was one of only four black Republicans to serve in the United States House of Representatives in nearly a century. In the Senate, there have been only two. 

Allen's current mission is to ensure conservative leaders are elected who will stand as guardians of our constitutional republic, to restore our nation's fiscal responsibility and strong national defense, limit the growth of government, unleash the free market and preserve the liberty and sovereignty of its citizens.

The Allen West Guardian Fund was created by Colonel Allen West as a Leadership PAC to support conservative military veterans and minorities running for office.  The goal is to raise enough funds to help 14 critical races around the country in 2014; thus fulfilling Colonel West's commitment to help elect the next generation of conservative leaders. 

This event is part of The Hausman Memorial Free Speech Speakers' Series, which informally began in December of 1998. For event information, and sponsoring opportunities, contact Rabbi Jonathan Hausman at 781-344-8733 or email HMSpeakersSeries@gmail.com.  

The Ahavath Torah Congregation is located at 1179 Central Street in Stoughton.  The West event is co-sponsored by Victory Assembly of God in Sharon, led by Senior Pastor Dick Ingram; and Rabbis and Ministers for Israel, led by their President, Pastor Joe Green.

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MORE SPEAKING EVENTS: The event advertised for Wednesday, Aug. 7 at Ahavath Torah, featuring Elliot Chodoff, Israel Political and Military Analyst on “Turmoil in Egypt, Bedlam in Syria, Reform from Iran:  The New Middle East and Implications for Israel” has been postponed. 

Rabbi Hausman told About Town, "Elliot Chodoff can't make it due to a conflict with his AIPAC appearance. Unfortunately, it's out of my hands."

But, Hausman told About Town that he's added another name to the Hausman Memorial Free Speakers Series roster. 

On Aug. 29, Diana West, distinguished author and nationally syndicated columnist, will discuss her newly released book, American Betrayal: The Secret Assault on Our Nation's Character in which she takes a deeper look at America's historical record, uncovering a body of lies that Americans have been led to regard as the near-sacred history of World War II and its Cold War aftermath.  

The event begins at 7 p.m., and admission is $15 at the door.

West writes a syndicated column that appears in over 120 newspapers and online sites weekly. She is also an online contributor to Big Peace and her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, The New Criterion, and The Washington Post Magazine. She previously authored "The Death of the Grown-Up" and co-authored, "Shariah: The Threat to America."  

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: (Tuesday) to Bob Barbell, of Specialty Catalog Direct, best known as the man who pulled the papers for the Selectmen Recall Election that removed Gerry Goulston and Bob Mullen, and put John Kowalczyk and Dick Levine in office. And, to Josie Harrison of Good Samaritan Hospital, and a long time board member for Stoughton Friends for Seniors.

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