The Virginian-Pilot
©
Now that major federal health care legislation has been passed, what needs to be done next is to repeal or weaken it, the seven Republicans and one independent who want to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat say.
Speaking at a debate Thursday night organized by the Hampton Roads Tea Party, the candidates sought to impress that their values are similar to those in the activist organization. Criticism of the health care bill was a common refrain, as the panel grew loud applause from an audience of about 200 in the Wyndham Hotel ballroom.
"For the first time in American history, for just being alive, they're going to tax American citizens," said Scott Rigell, who argued, as did others, that the legislation is unconstitutional.
"There's no fixing this thing," said Doug Hutchison, the lone independent. "It's illegal... Don't fix it. Kill it."
Short of the Supreme Court ruling the legislation unconstitutional, Kenny Golden suggested no major changes could be made even if the GOP gains control of Congress because President Barack Obama's term doesn't end until 2013.
"You're probably not going to be able to repeal it the first time around," he said.
Jammed so closely together at a table on a stage that the moderator's chair tumbled off the platform, the candidates had few disagreements with one another - but many with Obama and the Democrats who control Congress.
The Republicans are competing with one another in a June 8 primary to be their party's nominee to run against U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Democrat, in November.
Several said that if the Republican Party gained control of Congress, their most important concern would be reducing the size of the federal government.
Ben Loyola said he wants an immediate hiring freeze.
Reforms have to be made in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to cut government spending, said Scott Taylor.
Bert Mizusawa said cutting the budget means hard choices.
"There's really no way around it without talking about entitlements," he said.
Ed Maulbeck, who has said he has more in common with the Tea Party than the GOP, disagreed with Golden's proposal that a 2 percent across-the-board cut is needed.
"Two percent is not going to do it," he said. "We have to get rid of large elements of the federal government."
When some candidates were asked what they felt went wrong during the presidency of George W. Bush, some were critical of his failure to deal with the nation's fiscal crisis and rising federal spending.
Jessica Sandlin appeared to blame Bush for Obama.
"I am still waiting for an apology from him and his administration for the current president," she said.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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Sandlin Party Affiliation
Based on her answers, does Sandlin know what party she is in? She is more aligned ideologically with Democrats and should be challenging Nye in the Primary, not Republicans.
Ugly irony
For those who claim the Tea Party is full of hate and vitriol, it is remarkable to read their criticisms so full of hate and vitriol. Friends, have a nice cup of tea - chamomile tea - it warms the heart and soothes the soul. Then, let's talk.
Glenn Nye
It is interesting to talk to democrats that are furious that Nye voted against cap and trade and the health care bill. Yet his campaign had painted his opponent as being in lock step with the republican president. And those that decide elections, independents agreed.
And now the democrats are angry because he does not vote in lock step with the dem president and so the cycle will continue.
One thing that liberals often fail to understand is that they are a minority even with the house and senate controlled by dems. Without the " blue dogs " they could never hold a majority.
Intentional misrepresentation
It would not surprise me that someday, the tea party folks will realize that these candidates are simply grovelling at their beck and call to get their support and vote, but the tea party members should know that the root cause of the decline of middle class is not government, it is the policies these seven support that enable large international corporations to influence government policy that continues to provide tax breaks and supportive legislation so these multi national corporations can continue to make more money for their shareholders. While it is the policy of the republican party to enrage the electorate against big government, the effect of that is to empower the rich to simply keep taking more as the workers and employees see their income decline. Most tea party folks I have met are working people, mad as heck that their income and status has declined, but clueless as to reason that has occured. You won't find the answer from this seven.
Well Mike the democrats are
Well Mike the democrats are in charge of everything now. Where is that change we can believe in? In the first place the country is screwed up because democrats AND republicans in congress and the executive branch want it that way. Democrats tax and spend and Republicans borrow and spend. If both parties would concentrate on the true functions f government instead of trying to be our nannies, then our country would be more prosperous and more competetive. I suggest electing the board of directors of Walmart. Government (feberal, state, and local) should be run more like a business rather than a day care center.
It is the government fault
that income has declined, not corporations. Most tea partiers I've met (and I'm sure I've met alot more that you) are actually have college degrees and work in some sort of management or professional career. You are making your observations on what you see on the Democratic lapdog media. In Europe 9% unemployment is considered normal, and that is what the tax and spend politicians want here. Therefore, the people will become dependant on them. Massive government projects like Light rail only further to tie them to the state. Healthcare, employment, education are all tied to the state. Time and time again, history has shown that the less government, the most people prosper.
sealing their own fate
Well Jamal, I guess we will just have to disagree. Fact is, the broad section of the middle class, from well paid executives and functional experts on salary, to many working men and women in technical and production jobs, have actually suffered loss of income because of the misguided policies that have encouraged income disparity. The tax cuts that have so benefitted the wealthy have not had the trickle down effect that vodoo economics promised. In fact, as middle class jobs pay less and provide fewer benefits, and as many of these jobs have been exported, the need for both partners to work has effected family life as well. The conservatives who are the bastions of support for corporate control have empowered this decline in middle class standards of living. At some point, tea party members with a brain will realize that if they support these guys, they are sealing their own fate.
reply to barrett
So, as our country's Middle Class declines, and it has, we are suppose to agree to government programs that require/mandate/make us pay for the well-being of those who are either less inclined to get educated in preps for a better job, or others who just don't feel like putting forth hard work to earn a decent living? People can cut it any way they like. This is where the government is taking us.
A path to disaster
No, but as a nation, we need to adopt fiscal policies that are in the interest of the broad citizenry, not just the rich and wealthy. Regretfully, the tax cuts of the last remuneration has gone down. Globalization has its up side, but it must be managed and steered to ensure it benefits all of our society, not just the priviledged few. Our fiscal policies need to support education, infrastructure, and research so that as a nation we can compete effectively on an international scale. Regretfully, that used to be an unquestioned priority in the USA, but a few decades of supply side economics sacrificed that on the throne of trickle down economics. Both government and private enterprise are necessary, and the demonization of government by the tea party and the republican party is simply a smoke screen for their ideology of corporate dominance which to me is a path to disaster.