Richard Anthony for Congress

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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