VIRGINIA BEACH
Del. Bob Tata proudly hangs a poster labeled "Virginia's Least Wanted" in his corner of the Republican Party headquarters on Virginia Beach Boulevard. His mugshot is among the 17 Republicans who voted for former Gov. Mark Warner's tax bill in 2005.
Tata has outlasted many critics. A moderate Republican who has represented the 85th House District in southeastern Virginia Beach since 1984, Tata said he wants one last term. But like the creators of the poster, his opponent in the November election says Tata isn't conservative enough.
Constitution Party candidate French Mackes, a Republican until last year, said he offers a more fiscally and socially conservative option.
Mackes greeted voters last week with party literature at a small-government rally in Chesapeake called the Hampton Roads Tea Party. To one side of his table was a tent sheltering a collection for the food bank, and beyond that stood a dollar egg toss with government, media and big business symbols as targets.
Mackes, a 46-year-old systems analyst at Norfolk State University who previously has run for City Council and the School Board, said he most starkly disagrees with Tata on abortion. He said that, unlike Tata, he would have voted for a bill that defined life as beginning at conception.
Tata said he opposes abortion but voted against the bill because he believed it was unconstitutional.
Tata called Mackes a one-issue candidate for his focus on abortion. Mackes said that he is still forming opinions on many issues but said he would vote based on the platform of the Constitution Party.
"The Republican Party has become a very liberal party," Mackes said. "The Constitution Party is the most conservative party today."
A member of the party's state executive committee, Mackes hopes that he and two other Constitution Party candidates for the House of Delegates raise the group's profile.
Tata, who heads the House Education Committee and sits on the appropriations and transportation committees, said he's particularly proud of his first bill setting up city-run after-school care in schools, a 1993 bill requiring gun show exhibitors to register and a recent effort that increased health insurance payments for retired teachers.
Four years ago, Tata said he'd retire in 2009. But he's running one last time to support Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, he said. He'd quit after another two-year term, said Tata, 79, because "I'll be older than dirt."
Lately, he's pushed for light rail in Virginia Beach and sponsored a failed bill to study establishing a four-year college in the city. He said that effort would be his main goal if he wins another term.
Mackes said he supports alternative energy sources as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil. His campaign has earned the endorsement of the fiscally conservative Independent Green Party of Virginia. Both candidates are running low-key campaigns.
One of Mackes' expenditures so far has been on a few ball caps that read "French Mackes/House of Delegates." And Tata has canceled his regular golf tournament. Instead, he sends contributors a copy of "Sudden Threat," a military thriller written by his son, retired Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Tata.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133 or lauren.roth@pilotonline.com.
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French Mackes
I had a chance to meet French at the June 26th Tea Party. He is a true Conservative, Patriot and statesman. He is a family man, who honestly believes in Limited government and personal Liberties. I am not a voter in the 85th, but I support him as a candidate and think you should as well. The Constitution Party is the real Conservative party, the opposite of the Democrats, something that cannot be said about the Republican Party any longer. Some of the comments posted here prior to mine are quite scary, they have made negative comments about the Constitution Party Platform, solely because of their acknowledgement of Christian values and principals. I am truly disgusted by these comments, I cannot find anywhere in the info on the party or in their platform where it says that the party is going to impose their ideaology or their religion on anyone. Please do some research on the Party and on French Mackes yourself before passing judgement. And, if you love Freedom, Liberty, and the Constitution; you should support French.
Anf finally...finally.
quote- The Constitution Party gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of these United States. We hereby appeal to Him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and the protection of His Providence as we work to restore and preserve these United States.
This great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been and are afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.
The goal of the Constitution Party is to restore American jurisprudence to its Biblical foundations and to limit the federal government to its Constitutional boundaries. -unquote
That's their preamble. WHOA! if anything would turn someone off of this party....this would be it.
And finally
I encourage you to read their platform. If you want a second Civil War or an American Taliban government, then by all means vote for this guy.
My prediction is that he doesn't break 20%.
Response to kenaydlott
Things that should scare people about the constitution party (taken from their website):
1. We oppose imposition of the draft, the registration law, compulsory military training or any other form of compulsory government service. (Gee, hope we don't have to fight a third world war)
2. We call for the abolition of the Civil Service system, which is perceived to confer on government employees a "property right" regarding their jobs. (You might not like the government, but we do need to have government employees, or is this the anarchy party?)
3. We are opposed to "hate crime" legislation and to enhanced penalties for so called hate crimes. (So, back to Jim Crow America, right?)
4. We reject the policies and practices that permit women to train for or participate in combat. (So we should not have females in the volunteer military, or we should just not train them in case they have to fight. Talk to the Israelis about this one)
5. NATO, for instance, serves no defensive purpose for these United States, and this country should withdraw from it. (I guess they didn't notice that Article 5 of NATO was invoked after 9-11 for the first time in history to benefit us).
Not quite so obvious, Obviously
In introductory Biology, it is taught that life begins with conception. 100% of everyone's genetic potential becomes reality at that point. There is no other point in the life cycle where it is so OBVIOUS that life begins!
Wrong.
In intro biology a single cell is ALIVE. Life, in context of the abortion debate, is NEVER defined in any biology curriculum at any level of education.
The Constitution Party and French Mackes
I was born in Norfolk, lived there for 30 years, then spent 25 years in Va. Beach. Now, I care for an elderly Dad in Courtland, VA. Until about four years ago, I was a Republican. Because the Republican Party leaned much too far to the left, I had to leave in order to retain my conscience. The ONLY conservative option available then was to join the Constitution Party!
When Bob Tata first ran for office, I lived in his district in Va. Beach and was happy to vote for him. Since then, however, much water has run under Bob's bridge and I'm surprised to see him in this race again. Regarding the parties, however, the ONLY conservative option available is still to support the Constitution Party, and it's candidate, French Mackes!
Bring back the Constitution
Greetings from the western part of the state where constitutionalism is a thing of beauty! I am proud to post a plug for Mr. Mackes and the Constitution Party. With the obvious blur these days between the Democrats and Republicans (progressives, neo-conservatives, moderates and liberals), the only clear choice is to vote for someone who would truly uphold the Constitution, promote state sovereignty and, thereby, preserve your rapidly vanishing individual liberty. I hope my friends in the eastern part of the state will hold dear the brilliance of the founding fathers and realize the threat to our freedoms at the hands of the status quo and start to reverse the trend by voting for French Mackes.
French
I support what French is doing, and I am a proud member of the CP. He is a true conservative who represents more than just one position. He will represent Virginia with integrity and honesty. Something missing in today's political arena. Go ahead and check out the CP platform. www.constitutionparty.com you will see it is more than a one issue party. Let's tell Tata HE doesn't choose to serve two more years like it is a given, the people must elect him, and there is competition. Politicians need to realize that office is a public service and is not about them. Let's put a new face in office.
The New Conservative Party
The Republican party has left most of the conservative views it once held. The Constituion party is the new conservative party and has a great desire to return American to the constitution. I wish Mr. French the best and he would have my vote if I was in his district.
Serious about the joke
Be specific, hwatkins. List two things about the Constitution Party that you would not want in any elected office. Thanks.
Obviously
Mackes doesn't understand or know science very well. By the definition of life he'd know that conception isn't the beginning.
Everyone should understand the Constitution Party platform
French Mackes may be a newcomer to the Constitution Party, but by making the switch he has gained a platform worth running on. No other party believes in 1) returning to limited Constitutional government, 2) protecting the Right to Life for all, 3) securing our borders and enforcing immigration laws, 4) protecting the right of the individual to keep and bear arms, 5) restoring our national sovereignty, 6) ending Federal subsidies for and control over education and welfare, 7) protection of property rights, and 8) restoring control over elections to state and local authorities.
Virginians in particular should hold these principles dear. Forty of these United States have already begun to join the battle for states' 10th Amendment rights so that we the people of this great country may take it back from our massive, overreaching federal government.
Total joke
French runs and loses and changes his image each time. In his city council race, it was a non-stop religious sermon. In his school board race, he was the most secular guy out there.
The Constitution Party? Read their platform and then decide if you want anyone from that group in elected office at any level.
This is the honest truth, he
This is the honest truth, he changes from one thing to the next. TOO wishy washy for me! Do you people REALLY know him, I don't think so, I have had my run ins with him and lets say this, he does not like women!!!
A Choice
It is refreshing to know that we in Virginia now have a choice of candidates. Though the rhetoric of the Democrats and Republicans is often different the end results is more often the same than not. Tata and the Republicans in Virginia are perfect examples. If the Republicans are against higher taxes, then why do they raise taxes when they have the control of the legislature. French Mackes and the Constitution Party do in fact offer a difference, less government therefore less spending; less government therefore more freedom. Republicans and Democrats are loyal to their party and not to Virginia. They are loyal to their agenda and not to the constitutions of which they swear to uphold, defend and preserve. If they take an oath to do so and do not, what then are they rightfully called?
Tata
If Tata always votes with the Democrats, maybe that is why the Democrats don't bother to run a candidate against him.