Color Code: Green = Biker Friendly, Black = Neutral or Unknown, Red = Not Biker Friendly
Democratic Candidates	Republican Candidates
Hillary Clinton Barack Obama John Edwards Dennis Kucinich Bill Richardson Joe Biden Chris Dodd	John McCain Sam D. Brownback Tommy Thompson. Mike Huckabee Ron Paul Rudolph Giuliani Mitt Romney
Hillary Clinton voted Nay to NOT support the Lautenberg amendment Barack Obama voted Nay to NOT support the Lautenberg amendment John Edwards was not in the Senate during the Lautenberg amendment vote and has no records indicating his positions on biker issues. Dennis Kucinich as a House of Representatives member has no votes indicating his position on biker issues. Bill Richardson as a governor signed the Children's Helmet Safety Act indicating he favors taking safety decisions away from parents and giving them to the state. Joe Biden voted Yea to SUPPORT the Lautenberg amendment Chris Dodd voted Yea to SUPPORT the Lautenberg amendment	John McCain voted Nay to NOT support the Lautenberg amendment Sam Brownback noted Nay to NOT support the Lautenberg amendment Tommy Thompson - admitted that he’s ridden his motorcycle without a helmet and says that he would not support any type of national helmet legislation. Tommy Thompson is a strong supporter of motorcycle rights. Mike Huckabee, as governor signed a bill to repeal the mandatory hemet law Ron Paul is a Libertarian and firmly believes that the government has no right to meddle in individual choices such as helmet laws, and seat belt laws. Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani as a mayor has no votes indicating his positions on biker issues Mitt Romney, is the former governor of mandatory helmet state

Will you have a say in your future?

While choosing who to vote for in a presidential election generally is not determined by a single issue, it is important to be aware of whether the candidates support or oppose motorcycle rights. On the federal level, there will be a presidential election in November 2008, however there will also be primaries held in New Jersey in  February 2008. It is in this primary election, that voters have an excellent opportunity to have a say in which candidate represents each party in the presidential election.

So why is it important to elect a president who is motorcycle friendly?

To understand this, it is necessary to take a brief look into history. In the late 1960’s the federal government enacted laws that required all states to have mandatory universal helmet laws for all motorcyclists regardless of their driving experience or driving record. The law mandated a helmet law or the feds would withhold highway funding from the state. This blackmail of the states caused an enormous change in the makeup of country’s helmet laws. We went from a few states with mandatory helmet laws to almost all states having them. Most states were strapped for cash since they could not run budget deficits as the federal government can (and does). State legislators found it difficult to turn away badly needed highway funding and so they caved in to the blackmail and passed the helmet laws. These were the dark ages of the motorcycle rights movement. This blackmail took away the freedom of a state to make its own laws and also those of an individual to make their own informed decision and gave it to the government.

Then in 1994, a new congress was elected that promised to change the country by getting the government off the backs of the people. There were many changes implemented and one of them was the repeal of the mandatory helmet law requirement. This was one of the most significant victories for the motorcycle rights movement ever. This legislation not only removed the blackmail of the states, it also forbade the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to lobby the states for mandatory helmet laws. This was important because it removed an unfriendly government agency from using its very significant federal resources to advance its own agenda. Once the blackmail was removed, states across the country chose to let their citizens make their own informed choice on whether to wear a helmet or not. As of this writing there are now 30 states without universal mandatory helmet laws. This is significant progress. While I still wear my helmet about ½ of the time when I visit a “free state”, it is my choice to do so.

In  May 2005, New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg tried to sneak in an amendment to a transportation bill that would have reinstated the blackmail of the states by the federal government. A quick vote for this amendment was called for hoping that no one would notice the obscure amendment or have time to organize and lobby against it. This Lautenberg Amendment represented a mortal threat to the motorcycle rights community and a nationwide alert was called out. The nation’s motorcyclists responded and contacted their senators in very large numbers. We were made aware that their phones were ringing “off the hook”. In the end, the United States Senate soundly defeated the amendment offered by Senator Frank Lautenberg by a 69 to 28 vote.

The good news of this vote is that it forced members of the Senate to go on record as supporting or opposing motorcycle rights. The vote crossed party lines with members from both the Democratic and Republican parties voting Nay to reject the amendment.

By viewing the list above, you can look at the candidates within the party whose general philosophy you support, and be aware of those who support motorcycle rights. Whether you think helmets are a good idea or not, in the name of ‘safety” do you really want the government taking away your ability to make your own choices? If this logic were taken to its logical conclusion:

• Since the vast majority of fatal auto accidents are head injuries, mandatory helmets for all auto drivers and passengers would save even more lives than limiting the protections of a helmet to a small minority of vehicles
• Tobacco would be illegal. The number of lives lost to tobacco far exceeds those caused by all motorcycle and auto accidents combined.
• Liquor would be illegal. The number of deaths directly caused by driving under the influence or by health related issues due to alcohol far outnumbers the lives lost to motorcycle accidents. (Oh yes, our government did try this once, and freedom loving people rose up against it. Sound familiar to the helmet law fight? )
• How about fatty foods? The state would take that decision from you and make the decision for you. The annual number of lives lost to health issues related to fatty foods far outnumbers all motorcycle fatalities for the last decade. In the end, you know that fatty foods are not good for you, but sometimes it is just nice to make an informed choice and indulge once in a while without the government taking that decision away from you.

If you are not registered to vote, now is the time to do so. Remember, if you are not registered, you have no say!
Take the time to register, become aware of the issues, and then vote in the primary election. You will like the final choices for the presidential election a lot better if you and others get involved!