The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Several Republican politicians were cheered as they took the stage Saturday before thousands at the Virginia Tea Party Patriots convention, but only one was greeted like a rock star: Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
His participation in a panel discussion on federalism - the concept of how national and state governments should share power - prompted standing ovations and the loudest applause.
Cuccinelli criticized Democrats and Republicans in Congress, saying they caused the national economic crisis. While Democrats have had a majority since 2006 and held the White House since 2008, he said, "I don't think we would be filling a hall with over 3,000 Constitution-loving Virginians outside of either political party if the first half of this decade hadn't seen an utter failure by the Republican Party in Washington when it controlled both houses."
"Yeah!" shouted several men, while others rose to their feet.
Leaders of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots, a loose federation of community groups, said Cuccinelli is popular because he was the first attorney general to announce he was filing suit to challenge the constitutionality of the federal health care law passed last year.
"That case is not about health care. That case is about liberty," Cuccinelli told the crowd. "If we lose that case, state sovereignty has been whittled to nothing and federalism is dead."
Cuccinelli's popularity with conventioneers was apparent long before his speech. His supporters were handing out brochures that featured Cuccinelli thanking them for attending the convention.
Others were providing yellow stickers that read, "Ken Cuccinelli for President," calling him "our voice."
Jamie Radke, leader of the state tea party, said Cuccinelli's lead role in challenging the new health care bill gives him a special status.
Tea party members are conservatives who share a view that government should be smaller and less intrusive, taxes should be lower and people should have to take more personal responsibility for their lives.
The health care law, for example, which requires everyone to have insurance, is strongly opposed by the group.
"He's trying to restore federalism," Radke said. "That's why he's filing all these suits. He's saying 'You know what? You've overstepped your bounds, federal government.' "
O n the panel with Cuccinelli were former U.S. Sens. George Allen of Virginia and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and U.S. Rep. Steve King of Iowa. All supported pushing against the health care bill and for cutting federal spending.
Just before they spoke, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, a two-time presidential candidate who agrees with many of the tea party's views, told the crowd that the convention shows the mood is changing.
"For too long we the people have been complacent," he said. "Today I'm convinced people are waking up and they are saying enough is enough."
Tea party activists from around Virginia had gathered in Richmond on Friday and Saturday for a convention that was a mix of political rallies, educational panels and a bazaar of conservative literature, clothing, buttons and videos.
Earlier Saturday, two of the three men seeking election to Virginia's 2nd Congressional District seat in Hampton Roads debated. Republican Scott Rigell and independent Kenny Golden reminded the audience that they shared their conservative values and would push for less government interference.
The two disagreed over who should become the House speaker should Republicans take control of the chamber.
"This is a defining moment in our American journey," said Rigell, repeating part of his stump speech as he criticized what he said was the Democrats' inability to deal with the rapid rise in unemployment.
Golden, a retired Navy officer, told the crowd, "The country is in trouble. That's why I'm running... This is a tough battle for a tough-minded person."
Rigell said that if the GOP gets a majority in the House, Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio would be a "good speaker" and House Whip Eric Cantor, of Virginia, would be "an outstanding speaker."
Golden said that regardless of who wins a majority in the House, he will vote for Paul.
The 2nd District's Democratic incumbent, Rep. Glenn Nye, decided on Friday to withdraw from the Saturday debate, saying his time was better served campaigning in the district, which includes Virginia Beach and Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton.
The three candidates also were scheduled to face off Saturday evening in a League of Women Voters forum in Virginia Beach.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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rht457 and "'How can you take [the Tea Party] seriously"...
...I can assure you politicians of all ilks, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green, etc. are taking them quite seriously--despite what they may pretend in the media. The Tea Party poses a threat to their entrenched oligarchy and they've already unseated several of the "annointed" in primaries. It remains to be seen what impact they may have in upcoming general elections and beyond.
oligarchy?
The tea party is owned by the oligarchies. Ignorance of that is no excuse.
Biden Does
He said a couple of weeks ago that anyone who doesn’t take us seriously is risking extreme political peril (probably got scolded for it). This movement is not only affecting the upcoming election but the way the seated ones are voting. I seen people (mostly Democrats) cast votes that lean toward the movement that they would have never considered casting a few months ago.
As an objective fact
I think you are right. Some democrats have cast votes further to the right our of fear. I am not sure that it is JUST the tea party they are afraid of though. It could also be that corporations and foreign interests are channeling hundreds of millions of dollars into negative advertising smearing politicians who they see as threatening their economic interests. China, Russia and Middle Eastern oil states are out to buy the U.S. Government and they are getting plenty of help from the GOP/T who put party ahead of country.
Closing Arguments;
I didn't write this, but I think it pretty much sums up the situation.
'How can you take seriously a movement that sat largely silent while the Bush administration launched two wars and a new entitlement, Medicare prescription drugs — while cutting taxes — but is now, suddenly, mad as hell about the deficit and won’t take it anymore from President Obama? Say what? Where were you folks for eight years?'
The group that is guilty of
The group that is guilty of not doing enough during the Bush administration is much larger than just the TEA Party. The people who elected the current president and Congress are just as guilty of the misjudgments you accuse the TEA Party members of and they had the benefit of seeing the harm Bush did for 8 years. I judge the TEA Party by what they are doing now. I know no one was ever a bigger critic of the Bush administration than Ron Paul, yet when Paul speaks at TEA Party gatherings you see nothing but standing ovations and cheers.
Wow. Big surprise. Ron
Wow. Big surprise. Ron Paul gets standing ovations and cheers at Tea Party rallies. Who'd a thunk.
Where? Same place they've always been
in the Southern backwaters. The Tea Party movement is coming from angry scared white over 50 crowd. The zero-summers who believe that the only way some win is for others to lose. Afraid of change, and afraid of death, they take out their fears on taxes and the defenseless.
"Take Our Country Back..." Backward, that is.
Nancy Naive, you just perfectly described the Democrat Party...
...Democrats are fearful of change that may break up their oligarchy, Democrats fear death and want the best medical care for themselves while denying care to others--particularly the elderly who aren't in one of their approved groups (such as the UAW), and they impose taxes on the hard-working defenseless in order to take their hard-earned money and give it for free to others to "spread the wealth around." Remember this Democrat: "Democrats are unified and ready to TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, 2006."
You Nailed Me
At least the first sentence. I was disappointed that the Democrats had such a large victory but I became horrified and furious for the first time in my life when I saw what they were actually doing. My being white has nothing to do with it. The only thing I liked about the election was that a black person could achieve what many people believe is the ultimate accomplishment and the race pimps could no longer tell the black kids that they were wasting their time trying to accomplish anything because evil whites would just grind them back into the dust anyway.