Bearing Drift Endorsement: 8th District
By JR Hoeft | Monday, May 17th, 2010 | PoliticsWith the passing of former Rep. Stan Parris recently, we’ve given the 8th District a lot more thought. Here was a district that was once represented by a commonsense, down-to-earth, practical man two decades ago to now being a district that is absolutely the laughingstock of the commonwealth, if not the United States, being represented by someone who has long lost touch with the American people.
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In the words of Dorthy Boyd (Renee Zellweger in “Jerry Maguire”), GOP candidate Matthew Berry “had us at ‘Hello’”.
From his announcement this past January, Berry came out swinging:
“Congressman Jim Moran has abused the public trust. He has consistently secured earmarks that benefit his campaign contributors. He has taken a personal loan from a drug company lobbyist, and shortly thereafter sponsored legislation to benefit that drug company. And he has not behaved in a manner worthy of the office he holds. Whether he is blaming American Jews for the war in Iraq or accusing American troops of engaging in ethnic cleansing, he has embarrassed the residents of the 8th District too many times. We can do far better.”
It is that kind of spirit and clear conviction that has separated Berry from the pack during this nomination contest.
When you review Matthew Berry’s “issues” section on his campaign website, there is little that you will find that is disagreeable, if you are a conservative, especially in the areas of the economy and healthcare. And, when you combine that with his ability to form an organization, raise money, and stand up to Jim Moran, what’s not to like?
Berry also managed to soften our own proverbial Bearing Drift pessimist, Amit Singh, former candidate in the district.
Singh wrote in his endorsement:
“I firmly believe that Matthew is the strongest candidate that we can put up against Jim Moran in 2010.
“Matthew is an intelligent candidate who has demonstrated he is knowledgeable about the wide range of issues facing the country, and he is the candidate who is offering specific proposals for addressing our nation’s serious problems.
” Matthew has demonstrated the capacity to put together the type of campaign that will give Jim Moran the most serious challenge of his career….I will proudly cast my ballot for him on June 8th and urge all who supported my campaign in 2008 to do the same.”
In addition to gaining the favor of the former GOP nominee, Berry has also managed to get some attention inside the beltway and make it onto the National Republican Campaign Committee’s “Young Guns” watch-list.
The bottom-line: only one candidate has demonstrated that he has the passion and fortitude to do what’s right in the face of adversity; only one candidate has been able to clearly articulate a conservative message, yet still have broad-based appeal; only one candidate has completely run a near flawless nomination campaign, demonstrating that he has the capacity and wherewithal to give Jim Moran a run for his money: Matthew Berry.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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Comments
20 Responses to "Bearing Drift Endorsement: 8th District"
“pessimist”? I thought I was the token libertarian.
regardless, from the first time I met Berry I could tell he was an intelligent yet humble, hardworking and practical man. He would serve the district and the country very well as a congressman.
Agree with Amit 100% here. I think the wording endorsement sums up why people all over the conservative spectrum can support Berry. I may not agree with Berry on foreign policy issues but the rest of his policy is way too good to pass up. It Doesn’t matter how you voted in the 08 primary, everyone needs to support Berry.
No shot. And looks like the kind of guy who’d want to run in a district where he has no shot.
The only thing funnier than a blog post endorsing a Republican in the 8th District is Matthew Berry. Just the fact that this guy is even considering a run in this district proves he lacks judgment.
[...] for Berry, Murray — Conservative Virginia politics website Bearing Drift has endorsed Matthew Berry as the only GOP candidate who “has the capacity and wherewithal to give Jim Moran a [...]
Kristin, I know it would be easier for you all if no Republicans ever ran against Democrats, even in Democratic districts, but we’re obliged to provide a candidate. I’ve met both candidates and I like both of them. I am confident that both Berry or Murray would be better than Moran.
Unfortunately, I don’t think either have a chance of unseating him, even in what looks to be a great anti-incumbent year.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think either have a chance of unseating him, even in what looks to be a great anti-incumbent year.”
Right. So why waste resources? Democrats shouldn’t bother contesting the 1st or the 6th, either. It’s just not happen as those districts are currenlty configured. GOP should probably write off the 3rd as well;-)
Because no one is entitled to a seat, that’s why. Trust me, not many resources are being wasted, with the exception of Berry with the Young Guns program, the national party has never given a damn about the 8th district nominee.
Heh. Goodluckwiththat.
I’ve met both Matthew and Patrick and recently (last Saturday) made a commitment to Matthew’s campaign. I worked two years ago for Elmore (sp?) who was REALLY a tilt-at-windmills candidate. After a long discussion of issues and positions with Matthew and others in attendance on Saturday, there was no longer any doubt in my mind as to who to support – both with money and time. Check his thermometer on his site – he’s about to hit 100% of what he needs to satisfy the three conditions laid on him by the nat’l Repubs. I am energized. I am a 30-year resident of VA-8th. Those of you who have written that Matthew should be ignored: go away, we don’t need your negativity. I knew Stan Parris when he was my Congressman. Matthew Berry will be as good.
So, is the point of these candidacies to indulge a vanity on behalf of the candidates, a practice run for later on (in a district they could actually win?), or to actually win? Everyone, including the author, knows that there is no chance in hell that anyone but Moran is going to win this race (despite the fact that Moran is a flawed candidate). So what’s the point of the kabuki theater here?
Hey Dan , how about you and I work real hard and show the negative twins MB and Steve that our efforts are NOT a waste of resources – namely US. Getting involved is never a waste.
When liberals try to dissuade conservatives from running for office, I would take it as a compliment. Clearly they’re not commenting for the conservatives “best interest”.
One thing I have learned over the past year-plus it that “dissent as the highest form of patriotism” works only for liberals when they’re not in power – it does not apply to conservatives, ever, in their mind.
People complain about our two-party system. If Democrats had their way, it would be an autocracy.
Joel, absolutely. Steve and Blacknell, anyone, courtesy of our Constitution, has the ability to get involved in politics. Jim Moran does not own the 8th district seat, and those of us who have worked tirelessly to defeat him have every right to do so. Oh and Joel, I was on Ellmore’s staff and I have to say I got a chuckle out of the windmills comment. Spot on haha.
Assuming you’ve direct that at me, Jim, I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from running. It was an honest question. What’s the point of running these guys? They’re not even close to appealing to a majority in the district. They’re not shaping the issues. They’re not providing the sort of pressure any incumbent should feel. So . . . why?
Better off if you leave that sort of silliness to Brian, I think.
@mb, if that is your take, what was the point of Scott Brown running or Chris Christie running in NJ, they both won in heavily democrat states. Jim Moran is a corrupt democrat, and even hardcore dems do not like him, and him having to campaign will not allow him to travel else where to help other candidates and will force him to spend his money instead of giving it to others. Also, Mathew Berry, had a poll weeks ago, with Moran, having a favorable rating of under 50%, which shows he is vulnerable.
@Sean, 2 Things:
1) Vaughn Ward imploded. Check YouTube (or perform a simple Google search). He thought that Puerto Rico was a “country,” among other things…
2) Berry had been saying since — I think — April that he was “enrolled” in the Young Guns Program (if you visit the NRCC’s website, in order to be “enrolled,” you have to meet certain initial benchmarks: approved staff, financial support, etc.). The NRCC set some more benchmarks in order to advance to “On the Radar” status. Once you advance, the NRCC helps you out. Matthew fulfilled the new benchmarks, and now the NRCC will work for and be supportive of his efforts against Jim Moran.
No thanks. Moran needs to be taken down for his treasonous talk over the past decade. And who better to do it than a military man and a veteran of the wars that Moran has attacked and lied about?
Berry? That milquetoast? No thanks, VA GOP. I don’t want your insider candidate.
Ellmore’s endorsement of Berry speaks volumes.
@Pffffffft: Check your facts. Ellmore did not endorse Berry (which is great news for Berry!).
After reading up on our candidates, I am for Berry as well. One consistent hope I have though, is that even if Barry doesn’t make it, that Democrats might have the guts to put up a candidate themselves that doesn’t reek of corruption and cronyism the way Moran does. Being a conservative, I am obliged to go for the best conservative candidate, but given the opportunity, I would place my vote for the one that can take out the abomination that sit representing our region today. If even the dems see Moran as corrupt, then why aren’t they putting up a candidate that’s not a crook?
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