John Washington III Urges Voters to Judge Politicians by Their Actions and to Scrutinize Congressional Wealth

Presidential candidate John Washington III put a series of direct questions to voters in a public statement, asking why people keep supporting politicians whose actions, he argued, do not match their words. "Why do people keep following politicians who don't give a damn about them?" John Washington III wrote. "Why do you continue supporting politicians who talk like they love the people, but their actions tell a completely different story?"

John Washington III argued that candidates promise change on the campaign trail and claim to fight for families, then govern differently once decisions are being made. He asked why some politicians campaign on one position and vote for something completely different, and why voters defend them without checking their voting records. "Stop listening to what they say and start paying attention to what they do," he wrote.

John Washington III then turned to congressional wealth, noting that most members of Congress receive an annual salary of $174,000 and asking where additional money comes from — investments, businesses, inheritance, or financial relationships the public does not know about. Having millions, he wrote, does not automatically mean a crime was committed, but public officials should never be above financial scrutiny, and voters should examine the public financial disclosure records members already file. "Who is paying you? Who are you doing business with? Who benefits financially from your decisions?" he wrote.

John Washington III closed the portion of the statement by saying any politician secretly accepting illegal payments in exchange for political favors should be investigated and, if the evidence proves corruption, held accountable. That, he wrote, is not public service.