INDEPENDENT2026

The Full Read · Article by Article

Tom McClintock

Rep · R–CA-5
6/7
📚 Summer School
📚 Summer school. Tom McClintock holds 6 of seven stars — but fails a critical Article (Open Books). Assignment: summer school for Civics, watch every Schoolhouse Rock episode five times, and submit a one-page report — due before the end of the year. Report to summer school →

Rhetorical, not literal — an opinion on conduct measured against our civics standard. Ratings terms · Challenge this review

1Open Bookscritical
40%☆ not yet
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
Own campaign is 16.9% PAC, but Affiliated with Taking Our Majority PAC, a leadership PAC accepting PAC money (OpenSecrets). Running a corporate-funded leadership PAC fails Open Books. (FEC/OpenSecrets 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
82%★ earned
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
No 2020 election denial, no fake-elector role, and no documented support for partisan gerrymandering. (Jan 6 roll call; OpenSecrets; redistricting record)
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
68%★ earned
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Sharp constitutional debater who argues issues rather than personally dehumanizing opponents in the documented record.
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
65%★ earned
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Runs on a consistent limited-government philosophy more than on threat or alarm messaging.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
72%★ earned
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Voted to certify 2020 and joined a pre-Jan 6 statement affirming states' authority; consistent stated principles.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
62%★ earned
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Frequent maverick who certified 2020 against his party and regularly breaks on spending and civil-liberties votes.
60
7Morality
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented ethics, criminal or civil matter; known for personal frugality and disclosure compliance.
60

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2256 Rayburn House Office Building
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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 →

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