News from the Trail
I Condemn Ken Cuccinelli's Homophobic Bigotry
03/05/10, 16:23
This morning, the Washington Post reported on the latest outrage by Virginia Republicans. One day it’s global warming denial, another day it’s tearing up the social safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, and another day it’s rejecting federal money for unemployment benefits for Virginia citizens. Well, today, it’s Republicans attempting to turn Virginia into Uganda on anti-gay discrimination. According to the Washington Post:
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has asked the state's public colleges and universities to rescind policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, arguing in a letter sent to each school Thursday that their boards of visitors have no legal authority to adopt such statements.
That’s right, Virginia’s Attorney General is actually trying to make it easier for people to discriminate against gays and lesbians in Virginia. This, despite the fact that the entire country is moving towards granting our GLBT fellow citizens equal rights with everyone else in all areas. Unfortunately, here in Virginia, we appear to be moving in the opposite direction, after years of progress under Democratic governors like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Not surprisingly, the reaction to Ken Cuccinelli’s move has not been positive, with former Republican Delegate Vincent Callahan calling it “reprehensible.” State Senator Donald McEachin (D-Richmond) added, "It certainly appears as though the Governor and his attorney general may be living [Bob McDonnell’s Regent University] thesis."
Today, I add my voice to the growing chorus of disapproval and outrage at Ken Cuccinelli’s reprehensible position. Although I am running for federal office, I am first and foremost a proud Virginian, and discrimination at the highest levels of my state’s government is not something I can or will tolerate. I strongly condemn the ever increasing message of intolerance coming from the Republican leadership in Richmond. I encourage them to reconsider their recent actions that have not only harmed our fellow Virginians but also tarnished our beloved Commonwealth’s image.
Thank You and Good Luck to Dennis Findley
02/26/10, 08:15
Last night, Dennis Findley announced that he is "ending [his] campaign for Congress in the 10th District of Virginia" because of a "family matter" that "requires [his] undivided time and attention."
I just wanted to take a moment and thank Dennis Findley for getting into the race and for being a worthy competitor. I also want to praise Dennis for his his decency and professionalism in running his race. Over the past few months, it has been a pleasure and an honor sharing the stage with Dennis and debating the issues with him. I am happy to report that Dennis and I share the strong desire to see Frank Wolf replaced with a Democrat this November. Along those lines, Dennis has pledged to "[help] the Democratic nominee for this race defeat the incumbent, Frank Wolf." I appreciate that very much and plan to take him up on his kind offer! In the meantime, I wish Dennis all the best.
Thoughts on Today's Health Care Summit
02/25/10, 13:43
Today, President Obama is meeting with Congressional leaders for a bipartisan discussion of health care reform. As someone who cares deeply about health care in this country, and as a progressive Democrat running for office in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, I have many thoughts on this subject. Here are just a few.
From the beginning, I would have liked to see Congress pass Universal Health Care preferably through a single payer system. Unfortunately, given the fiscal and political environment in which we find ourselves, there is no chance of passage for that kind of legislation. As a compromise, I strongly support health care reform with a robust public option. The main thing is not to stall or delay real reform at a time when health insurance companies are jacking up rates on Americans who are already struggling with high unemployment and a lousy economy.
To highlight this point, I just read a news story this morning that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is raising rates in Virginia – in some cases by more than a third! As the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reports, these increases “are similar to the ones that President Obama and others criticized when WellPoint, Anthem's parent company, imposed them this month in California.”
Bob Marshall Should Resign
02/23/10, 07:52
On Thursday February 18, at a press conference calling for the de-funding of Planned Parenthood, Virginia State Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) said disabled children are god’s punishment to women who have previously had abortions. Marshall is trying to avoid responsibility by saying his words were taken out of context, though he continues to claim birth defects and disabilities are the result of prior abortions.
Bob Marshall has a long history of outrageous and offensive comments, but this time he has stepped over the line and should resign.
Sign the petition below in support of disabled children and their families, and tell Delegate Bob Marshall to resign.
Where can I see Rich?
02/18/10, 15:31
February 13th: Warren County Democratic Committee Meeting at 2:00 p.m. in the Warren County Gov't Bldg. ( 220 North Commerce Ave. Front Royal, VA in Community Meeting Room)
February 16th: The Brigades Monthly Meeting at 6:30 in Neighbors (262 Cedar Lane SE, Vienna, VA)
February 20th: The Blue Ridge Democratic Women Committee Breakfast Meeting at 9:00 a.m. at Jimmy's Steak and Seafood Restaurant in the Quality Inn (1019 Millwood Pike, Winchester, VA.)
February 20th: Lansdowne Area Democrats "Meet and Greet" with Rich and Former Delegate David Poisson at 4:00 p.m. in Stonewall's Tavern in Lansdowne Resort.
February 24th: FCDC Outreach Committee and Young Democrats Happy Hour at 5:00 p.m. in Velocity Five - Bar and Grill (8111 Lee Highway Falls Church, VA)
February 24th: The Broad Run District Democrats Meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Potomac Club, in the Lansdowne on the Potomac subdivision east of Leesburg (43459 Riverpoint Drive, Leesburg 20176.)
February 25th: The Dranesville District Democratic Committee Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA)
March 2nd: The Sully District Democratic Committee at 7:30 p.m. in the Sully Government Center (4900 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA.)
A Little Love from Left of the Hill
02/18/10, 14:44
Rich Anthony, Candidate in Democratic Primary in the 10th, Provides Context for His Congressional Bid
The Brigades is a group of progressive activists based in Northern Virginia who frequently have Democratic candidates speak at their events. At this month’s meeting, which also featured a screening of Liberty 9500, Rich Anthony spoke to the group as we gathered in Vienna on Tuesday evening. Rich is one of three candidates running in the Democratic primary in the 10th Congressional District and I’ve heard him speak several times and have been able to talk with him at several events we’ve both attended throughout the Commonwealth. Although I’m still undecided about who I’ll support in the primary (if anyone), I have to admit that I really like what I’ve heard so far from Rich.
At the Brigades meeting on Tuesday Rich diverted from the usual stump speech that activists have become so accustomed to hearing at events. Instead, Rich spent a little more time giving us some background information about his life and what motivated him to run for office. Using his self described “dry sense of humor,” he spoke about how growing up in Ohio his family grew out of the house they were living in but his parents couldn’t afford to buy a new house in the area. They therefore decided to expand upon the house and did most of the work themselves. Rich says that it was through this process that he learned a lot about the value of hard work and making the best out of what you have.
He then went on to talk about how he became interested in workforce development issues when he was in graduate school and did an internship with a program at a local community college that helped to make sure that there was an educated workforce in the community that had the skill sets that would be attractive to businesses. This not only helped workers obtain well paying jobs, but also helped the local economy in general by attracting good companies to the area. Highlighting the need for community college funding, there have been a number of similar programs popping up throughout the country in recent years. Right here in Virginia, for instance, I toured the building used for a workforce development program in Danville that was helping to provide skills to workers in the Danville area (an area which has been severely impacted by the economic downturn).
It was the talk about workforce development that really seemed to resonate with members of the Brigade, which could be a very good thing for Rich because he has made a career of working in the field. Since the economy is one of the major issues facing Congress – especially the need to create more jobs – his background not only resonates with people like those gathered in Vienna on Tuesday, but it also gives him the skill set to hit the ground running if he were to be elected. In a time when there are also so many people who try to spin their careers in big business as meaning they know about jobs when that isn’t really true in many cases, there were several people at the meeting who highlighted how it was good to see that there are some people running for office who truly have the experience necessary to help build policies that will spur job creation.
There’s no way of denying the fact that it will be very difficult to beat incumbent Republican Frank Wolf in November, but many people walked away from the Brigades meeting thinking that Rich might be able to give Wolf a run for his money. Above all else, however, it was simply good to hear from a candidate who wasn’t afraid to stand up for Democratic values and fight for the working class residents of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.
Bryan
Wolf Loses Key Support on SAFE Commission
01/25/10, 11:51
Wolf Loses Key Support on SAFE Commission
Original Co-sponsor Jim Cooper and Long-time Ally Peter G Petersen Foundation Back Obama Over Wolf
Fair Oaks, VA – Last week, Congressman Wolf continued his frequent attacks on the Obama Administration, but this time it may have cost him support for one of his most prominent pieces of legislation—the SAFE Act.
Frank Wolf: For it, before he was against it.
01/22/10, 07:52
Last week, we pointed out that Frank Wolf has taken to repeated attacks on President Obama and his administration over the last year, causing many to speculate that Congressman Wolf may be concerned about his primary against self-described “tea party candidate” Jim Trautz. As Rich Anthony pointed out, “The radical far right members of [Wolf’s] party must be pleased with his round the clock attacks on President Obama and his administration.”
Well, Wolf is at it again, only this time he is attacking Obama for supporting a concept that Wolf himself has asked President Obama to support on more than one occasion. Here's Wolf.
I saw the article in this morning’s Washington Post about the Obama administration cutting a backroom deal with the Democratic leadership to create by executive order a commission to deal with our nation’s [excessive?] spending. I’m opposed to creating this panel by executive order and the American people will be opposed. Congress should be voting to create this commission and requiring that it act on the panel’s recommendation. What the president and the Democratic leadership, which has only come around to addressing the issue because they need political cover to increase the debt limit, have agreed to is a fig leaf. This is the same group that has pushed our deficit to record levels and continues to write check after check from an account that has a negative balance. The American people will not be cut out of the process…it is a backroom deal…this is wrong. Any action should be taken by a newly elected Congress, not one on the way out the door. Creating this commission by executive order is the wrong way to go. We have to get this right, too much is at stake.
As evidenced by the video and transcript of Wolf speaking this morning, this is a man who only thinks an idea is a good one if he thought of it. The fact is, Wolf has supported an independent budget commission to tackle the nation’s long-term fiscal problems, and that’s exactly what President Obama has proposed. As the Washington Post reports, “Under the agreement, President Obama would issue an executive order to create an 18-member panel that would be granted broad authority to propose changes in the tax code and in the massive federal entitlement programs -- including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- that threaten to drive the nation's debt to levels not seen since World War II.”
Frank Wolf has always supported the idea of a bipartisan commission on the budget, but now he opposes it simply because a Democratic president is in favor of it? Is this the kind of hyperpartisanship, pettiness and petulance we want from our representatives in the 10th Congressional District? No, we didn’t think so.
Is Wolf Running to the Right to Ward off Dreaded Tea Party Primary?
01/15/10, 15:15
January 15, 2010
Congressman Wolf Goes on the Attack…Again
Is Wolf Running to the Right to Ward off Dreaded Tea Party Primary?
Fair Oaks, VA – Yesterday Congressman Wolf continued his frequent attacks on the Obama Administration. In a drastic departure from his years of silence during a Republican Administration, Wolf has taken to repeated attacks on President Obama and his administration over the last year. The notable change in behavior is causing many to speculate that Congressman Wolf may be concerned about his primary against self-described “tea party candidate” Jim Trautz.
The latest attack came at a press conference yesterday, in which Frank Wolf criticized the Obama Administration for not “standing with Google”:
“…the Obama administration needs to be standing up and supporting Google. Instead, unfortunately, we have seen a muted response at best…If this administration doesn’t act soon to stand with Google, to stand with the Chinese people, to stand with the American workers who have lost their jobs because of what China has done, they will quickly find themselves -- the Obama administration will find themselves - on the wrong side of history.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIjdSNjmlpk]
A review of press release archives from Wolf’s congressional website reveals zero criticism of President Bush during his eight years in office. In the first year of the Obama Administration, Congressman Wolf went on the attack 14 times, the first of which came just 20 days after the swearing in of the new president:
In remarks on the House floor today, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) criticized the Obama Administration for failing to actively participate in a United Nations review of the human rights records of some of the world’s worst abusers. [Press Release, February 9, 2009]
Wolf Dismayed by New Administration’s Actions on Human Rights; Questions Commitment [Press Release, February 23, 2009]
“I worry that the department’s commitment to protecting the "fundamental right to vote" is wavering under your leadership…Your inexplicable dismissal of the civil case and the failure to file a criminal prosecution flies in the face of the president’s stand on voting rights and sullies the good name of your department. It calls into question your commitment to protecting all voters and guaranteeing that they can exercise their franchise freely without fear.”[Letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, June 8, 2009]
Wolf Criticizes Holder for Lack of Responsiveness: “Your failure to respond is a disservice to this president and this country.” [Press Release, July 7, 2009]
Wolf Questions Administration’s Commitment to Human Rights [Press Release, July 9, 2009]
Wolf: U.S. Attorney General Continues to Stonewall: “response is an insult to the American people” [Press Release, July 10, 2009]
“The young Obama Administration appears to be in status quo mode…Ignoring or downplaying the human rights situation for one more day is unconscionable." [Statement on North Korea, July 22, 2009]
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) today again chastised the Obama Administration for its failure to champion human rights as a central part of American foreign policy. [Press Release, July 29, 2009]
Obama Administration Continues to ‘Sideline’ Human Rights Issues: “Today’s statement is the fourth time since early July that Wolf has publicly criticized the administration for failing to champion human rights as a central part of American foreign policy.” [Press Release, September 23, 2009]
“What is this Obama administration thinking? What is Eric Holder thinking? I urge Members of Congress to have hearings and for Eric Holder to cease and desist any returnees back to Yemen.” [Statement on the House floor, October 1, 2009]
“If the administration does not halt these pending releases immediately, it could be responsible for creating a new revolving door of terrorism that will cost American lives…The security of the American people could be at risk because of the administration’s relentless pursuit of a campaign promise…” [Letter to President Obama, November 12, 2009]
DOJ’s Silence an Admission of Guilt in New Black Panther Party Dismissal [Press Release, December 2, 2009]
“I am deeply disappointed that Judiciary Committee defeated my resolution of inquiry on a party-line vote. There has been no oversight, no accountability and certainly no transparency with regard to this attorney general and this Department of Justice…Where is the ‘unprecedented transparency’ that this administration promised? Where is the honesty and openness that the majority party pledged? The American people deserve better…I sincerely question the judgment of the Civil Rights Division leadership - both in its dismissal of this case and its stonewalling of this Congress and the Commission on Civil Rights.” [Press Release, January 13, 2010]
“It’s pretty obvious that Wolf no longer sees the benefit of portraying himself as a moderate. The radical far right members of his party must be pleased with his round the clock attacks on President Obama and his administration,” said Richard Anthony, a democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia’s’ 10th District. “The moderate, independent voters in the 10th who turn out in November prefer ideas to finger pointing and partisan attacks.”
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Haiti Earthquake Relief
01/14/10, 01:00
On Tuesday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 hit the nation of Haiti. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti in the wake of what has been a terrible disaster for one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. The Haitian people need the help of the United States and the world, as they continue to search for survivors and begin the processes of putting the pieces back together. I encourage you to give generously to the relief efforts now underway. Below is a list of just a few of the organizations responding to this crisis. Please take a moment to consider how best you can help.
The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake. They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund.
UNICEF has issued a statement that "Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them." UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.
As a UN Special Envoy to Haiti, Bill Clinton appeared on CNN on Wednesday to ask for further assistance in bringing relief to populations on the ground. You can donate through the Clinton Foundation or text HAITI to 20222 to donate $10.
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is working to provide immediate relief and long-term support to earthquake survivors. They are channeling the collective goodwill around the globe to help the people of Haiti rebuild their cities, their neighborhoods, and their families.
Paid for by Richard Anthony for Congress