🚫 Not fit for public office. Fewer than three stars, and a critical Article fails (Open Books & Free & Fair Elections). This isn’t a close call. Expect to hear from us — often.
Editorial opinion — our judgment against the Seven Articles, not a legal disqualification or an allegation of any crime. Ratings terms · Challenge this review
1Open Bookscritical
40%☆ not yet
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
Own campaign is 21.4% PAC, but Runs the BANKS PAC (Building A National Knowledgeable Security PAC) leadership PAC per OpenSecrets. Running a corporate-funded leadership PAC fails Open Books. (FEC/OpenSecrets 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
42%☆ not yet
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
Banks-affiliated groups spent millions attacking Indiana GOP state senators who blocked Trump's 2025 mid-decade redraw (Indiana Capital Chronicle, IBJ). Backing a partisan gerrymander fails Free & Fair Elections.
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
25%☆ not yet
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Told a laid-off HHS worker he 'probably deserved it' and called him a 'clown,' refusing to apologize (WISH-TV, HuffPost, ABC, 2025).
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
35%☆ not yet
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Political brand centers on anti-'woke,' culture-war grievance and threat framing rather than an affirmative governing agenda.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
50%☆ not yet
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Objected to 2020 certification citing debunked fraud claims and joined the rejected Texas v. Pennsylvania suit to discard votes.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
30%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Consistent Trump-aligned party-line voter with no documented costly break from his party.
60
7Morality
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented personal corruption or criminal/civil action on record; combative conduct captured under dignity, not a corruption scandal.
60
Engage Banks
Every public channel, one click. Hold them to it — warmly, in the register of right speech.
This review is offered freely and openly to correction. A challenge is considered only when it states a specific reason and links to sources that substantiate it — an assertion without evidence is not reviewed.
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →