Comments on: Verga: In VA-5, NRCC Must Stop the Hurt and Do Nothing

By: Barbera Franzese

Barbera Franzese — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:10:37 +0000

Good site, I actually found it to be interesting. I am looking forward to visiting once more to find what’s new.

By: Roanoke Conservative

Roanoke Conservative — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:16:41 +0000

Some more to note about Hurt’s record. He has an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, and a 100 percent voting record with the Virginia Society for Human Life, the Commonwealth’s premier pro-life organization. He has also signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge and He voted for the marriage amendment, voted against civil unions. Hurt also received a 91 rating on the Family Foundation 2009 Legislative Report card which mind you is the same score received by Attorney General-Elect Ken Cuccinelli and only five of his forty Senate colleagues earned higher ratings.

By: Clay Ramsay

Clay Ramsay — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:50:53 +0000

Aaron says: “He is a proven conservative, who worked with McDonnell and others to pass solid conservative legislation. Yes, he did vote for the Warner tax increase, but that was one bad vote.”

Proven how? To most people in 5th district the most important issues are over-taxation and arrogant, unconstitutional government. This was not one bad vote, as he also voted for the Kaine tax increase, I believe. Sounds to me more like a serial taxer. Even if it were only one bad vote, it is a HUGE bad vote, in fact, as far as I am concerned, it is a deal breaker. Not only that, what is Hurt’s position on this “bad vote”? Has he issued a huge mea culpa? What are his proven conservative votes? Has he voted to cut state government? Has he been a supporter of Cuccinelli’s efforts to defend the state rights against Federal abuse? Is he supporting efforts to pass legislation that will protect Virginians from Federal intrusions in health care?

By: Britt Howard

Britt Howard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:26:39 +0000

With so many candidates (2nd & 5th)you are almost forced to hold a convention. A tiny plurality needed in a primary of multiple candidates is dangerous.
If your herd of RINOs is so large that you can’t nominate a solid conservative in a convention, then you DESERVE a third party challenge.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:47:54 +0000

It’s not the NY-23 unless a third party candidate pops up….

By: Dodo

Dodo — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:44:11 +0000

Verga is completely misreading what happened in NY-23 and what is now happening in VA-5.

We know nothing about Verga either. He is a Cal-Berkeley/San Fran grad who’s got a ton of money and who only moved to the area a few years ago. I’m not sure the word “carpetbagger” comes to mind, but we’re supposed to automatically agree with him because he calls himself a “constitutionalist” and spouts “business friendly” talking points?

Maybe not.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:19:29 +0000

I think we all need to take a step back and look at Hurt. He is a proven conservative, who worked with McDonnell and others to pass solid conservative legislation. Yes, he did vote for the Warner tax increase, but that was one bad vote. We need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Hurt is no McCain. It is easy for Verga and others to say they are conservative when they have done nothing politically in their lives. That is like me saying i am a great basketball player, when i have never played a day in my life.

Hurt knows his district, knows its needs (i.e. the need for a new jail in the Danville area), he knows the business community in the 5th and how to help them create jobs. Further, he knows how to bring jobs to the area.

By: NotAndySere

NotAndySere — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:20:32 +0000

The most positive arguments I’ve heard about Hurt is that he can win. If this were, say, 2010 and Obama was on the ballot helping base turnout for Perriello, I could see the argument in favor of Hurt. But this is 2010 and the only base turnout will be generated by those who want to come out to vote against Obama and the Democrats (check) and those who want to come out to vote for their candidate. I think that a more consistently conservative candidate would energize the Republican base more and minimize the number of unhappy conservatives who vote Third Party. I think Hurt would reduce the enthusiasm of conservatives and encourage more of them to vote Third Party. So far, the energy of his campaign is lacking. He seems more than willing to sit at home in Chatham and let his underlings campaign for him. That’s not a good strategy when Perriello will be campaigning everywhere all the time.

By: Clay Ramsay

Clay Ramsay — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:56:06 +0000

I notice a lot of pro-Hurt comments, but I could not find one reason to vote for him. I can’t understand supportive statements from politically active people who cannot find anything good to say about their candidate.
How can he possibly stand as alternative to Periello when their attitudes toward government are so similar? Why will anyone get out to work for a Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee candidate? If both are big tax, big government proponents, why go to any effort for Hurt? Someone said he will go to DC to undo the onerous legislation? What is that based on? He is responsible for some of the most onerous Virginia legislation to come down the pike recently.

By: NotAndySere

NotAndySere — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:04:15 +0000

Aaron, I don’t want to under-value Hurt’s elected experience. But I do want to try to put it into context. He has had a very, very, very safe district both as a Delegate and as a State Senator. With Virginia’s part time legislature I don’t think he’s gotten a true taste of what Congress will be like. That’s true of everyone else in this field. That puts Hurt on the same footing as them, not a step above.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:27:09 +0000

Notandysere, i was talking about experience in representing and reacting to the needs of the people in that district. I agree that TP will not be a pushover and that Hurt needs to fight for the nomination. But we are a long way from May (convention), there is plenty of time for the fire to emerge and become directed at the terrible policies of the Democrats.

By: Govgirl

Govgirl — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:19:24 +0000

Willy P – did I say anything about the 23rd? I am well aware of how that was decided. My point (and I think Verga’s larger one) is that the NRCC, RPV, RNC and the like need to stay out of nomination contests. The NY 23rd was not a nomination contest, they had every right to endorse in that race, they were just stupid and went with the title rather then the issues. But this is not the NY 23rd, this is a clean slate nomination race that should run its course WITHOUT party interference. If Hurt can’t win without them, then he doesn’t deserve to and won’t win in November. Also I would like to note as Brian pointed out in another post, that all of the candidates (except Hurt) want a convention. So what does that tell you? The only ones that lose in a convention format are those that stand to gain from Dem meddling in the Rep primary, which at the moment, Hurt is wearing that hat all by himself.

By: Willy P

Willy P — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:52:28 +0000

To Govgirl,
The NRCC did not handpick Dede Scozzafava, but eleven county Republican chairs from the 23rd District made that pick and the NRCC went supported Dede after they made their pick. If you want to place the blame on who messed up, blame the Republican county chair from the 23rd District.

By: NotAndySere

NotAndySere — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:44:44 +0000

OK, so Aaron has thrown out “experience” and knowing the people of the district. But remember what his hometown paper has said:

“While Hurt has done well in every race he has run during his political career, he’s never faced the kind of challenge he’s getting right now. If he’s really the front-runner and he really wants the GOP nomination, he should be able to fight for it.”

http://www2.godanriver.com/gdr/news/opinion/editorials/danville_editorials/article/when_the_going_gets_really_tough/16127/

Hurt has “experience” winning in safe Republican seats with virtually no opposition. Perriello is not going to be a push over. He virtually had to be dragged into the race by the NRCC and so far hasn’t shown the fire in his belly that he wants to win. That’s worrying for a district covering so many counties, newspapers, and media markets. He’s got to work twice as hard as the now incumbent Perriello.

By: Willy P

Willy P — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:43:24 +0000

To Bill,
Roanoke is not in the Fifth District, but in the Sixth District FYI.