Learn how to speak 'Democrat' -- with Thaddeus McCotter

With the announcement that Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter will enter the 2012 Republican presidential field today, you may be asking yourself: Who?

As a native of Michigan, I'm familiar with the conservative congressman. But if you're like 95% of Americans and have never heard of him, let's take a moment to get acquainted with McCotter's infamously wry sense of humor:

On his shiny new campaign website, McCotter encourages voters to "seize freedom!" and lays out five "core principles" which he says drive his decision-making:

1. Our liberty is from God not the government

2. Our sovereignty is in our souls not the soil

3. Our security is from strength not surrender

4. Our prosperity is from the private sector not the public sector

5. Our truths are self-evident not relative