■ 04 November 2009 | 4:53 PM
A challenger for Bobby Scott?
After running unopposed in the past two elections, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott might have competition in 2010.
Coby Dillard, a paid worker for Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell’s campaign and a Norfolk resident, said Wednesday he’s considering seeking the Republican nomination to run against Scott, a Newport News Democrat, in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Dillard, 29, is active in the Tea Party movement - an anti-tax group that opposes the federal stimulus packages and bailouts of large private institutions.
Finance reports for McDonnell’s successful gubernatorial bid show that between May and Octobe 16, Dillard was paid $13,948 as a campaign worker, according to The Virginia Public Access Project.
On his Web site, Dillard, who grew up in Richmond and served six years in the Navy, cited his personal beliefs on many issues, which he calls “The Dillard Doctrine.”
“I don’t support any system, program or entitlement that gives preference to one over another. People should succeed - and experience failure – on their own,” he wrote.
He opposes forcing gun owners to register their weapons, wants parents to decide which school their children should attend and opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.
“I also believe that our country is a Christian nation,’’ he wrote, adding that while he respects other religious traditions, he cannot “subordinate my beliefs to anyone in the name of political correctness.”
Scott, 62, who was elected to his first two-year term in 1992, has won reelection seven times. His last opponent was Winsome Sears, a Republican, in 2004, whom he defeated by a 2 to 1 margin.
- Bill Bartel
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Bobby Scott =>Term Limits
I don't know if Mr. Dillard is the guy for the job, but I do know that Rep. Scott is far past his expiration date.
Whatever mystical forces accompany President Obama's meaningless credo for "change", I truly hope that they conjure up a new Congressperson for us in 2010.
If change solely for the sake of change is meaningless
then you have severely undercut your own argument about term limits. Rep. Scott won his district by more than 2-1 in 2004, and the demography of his district haven't changed much since then. It's not surprising to me that the same voters who supported Pres. Obama in last year's election also support Rep. Scott, since they have many similarities on the issues that matter to voters. If a better educated or more experienced person, regardless of age, race, gender, or religion, wants to challenge Rep. Scott, I think they would stand a far better chance at the polls. I don't know on what grounds you claim "Rep. Scott is far past his expiration date", but I would suggest that Rep. Boehner (who confuses the Constitution with the Declaration of Ind.), Rep. Bachmann, and Rep. Cantor, who openly rally protesters comparing the victims of the Holocaust with the same sort of health care system that millions of people in the country have and support are past their dates as well. I don't live in their districts, so I can't vote them out, but since the Dems picked up 2 more seats on Tuesday, I don't think it matters much.
Declaration Vs constitution
I saw the same program Thursday night. Last night Rachel Maddow apologized for making that mistake. "We the people---" IS the preamble to the Constitution The declaration starts "When in the course of Human events---".
Just shows to go you how easy it is to accept without thinking what all the talking heads say without thinking.
Why assume I saw it on MSNBC, and not CNN?
Watch this.
http://beltwayblips.dailyradar.com/video/gop-rep-john-boehner-u-s-constitution-quote-fail/
CNN got it right, and I did see Rachel incorrectly claim the Constitution not have a Preamble. From my earlier post, it seems apparent that you think that the only place I get my news from is MSNBC. Well, unfortunately they make mistakes, just like Rep. Boehner, who wasn't quoting the "We the People" Preamble, but the "We hold these truths to be self-evident...." from the Declaration, as did you, for assuming that because Ms. Maddow incorrectly stated that the Constitution doesn't have a Preamble, that my statement about Rep. Boehner confusing the two documents, which he in fact did, was invalid. I fail to see how you jumped to that conclusion, but I invite you to explain at your leisure.
conclusions?
I thought I was making an observation. I did not blame anyone for anything personally, (well, maybe Maddow and Olberman) but was stating that it is easy for some to assume that if it's on TV it must be true.
As for accusing or blaming you for anything, if you feel that I did, then I have to reference the guy at the Dallas-Eagles game, who was sitting in the top row in the end zone, and every time either team went into a huddle, KNEW they were talking about him!
Sorry about the confusion, but just to clarify...
Who exactly were you referring to when you commented, "Just shows to go you how easy it is to accept without thinking what all the talking heads say without thinking."? As to your Dallas-Eagles reference, I don't think that's quite applicable. Posting a reply to a comment generally implies you are responding directly to me, though if you posted a new thread I could see how it might be relevant. As I am replying to your comment now, I am actually responding directly to you, so please don't assume that you are a guy up in the bleachers. You're in the huddle.
Delay
I apologize for the delay, but due to the storm the library (my computer access) was closed from Wed thru Sunday, and Monday the system wouldn't let me access PilotOnLine. Anyway:
As I said, I was not referring to anyone specifically with my statement about TV acceptance. I was referring to the population in general, including myself (yes, I had to check to make sure I remembered my civics classes correctly).
As for you taking a generality personally, I had forgotten that just because a person is paranoid doesn't mean that someone isn't out to get him.
Campaign officials
Perhaps if the great tea party trumpeters 9Sarah, Glen, and Rush) were to come here and extoll his virtues, he might have a chance!
Dillard Doctrine
While Mr. (Succeed or fail on your own) Dillard is deciding which school to send his kids, why not let him pay for it too. Wouldn't it be great if we all got to choose which government services and benefits we wanted our tax dollars to support. Some may prefer no money for public education, others may want more golf courses with low fees, while still others would prefer roads over airports. It doesn't quite work that way. Good luck creating Dillard's World!
This should be interesting to watch
Given that the Tea-Party backed Conservative Party candidate failed to win a very conservative NY 23rd District to a centrist Democrat, I'm having difficulty imagining a conservative candidate gaining traction in a very liberal district. Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Newport News all backed Deeds over McDonnell, and voted overwhelmingly for Pres.Obama last year. I would think a better idea would be for Mr. Dillard to challenge freshman Rep. Nye, who is in a much more conservative district, and who isn't as well established as Rep. Scott.