A response to Brian Moran and the Democratic Party of Virginia

By JR Hoeft | Thursday, November 10th, 2011 | Politics, Virginia

I very much enjoy being on the mailing list of the Demcoratic Party of Virginia. It is a good opportunity to check my conservative enthusiasm from time to time and think with an open-mind about how my fellow Virginians feel about certain policies and politics.

That’s why, today, when I received the latest DPVA missive with the subject line, “Working Together”, I was genuinely intrigued. Here is the entirety of that letter:

Dear friend,

As the dust settles from the 2011 campaigns I want to offer you my gratitude for your unwavering support of our Democratic candidates and the causes that bring us together as a party. Having driven about every inch of this Commonwealth over the last several weeks I had a chance to witness first hand just how hard you were working right up to when the polls closed on Tuesday.

As we speak, the fate of the Senate is still undecided. The race between a respected public servant Senator Edd Houck and his opponent Bryce Reeves remains too close to call as officials continue to work on a canvass of the vote.

While we wait for the final conclusion of that race there are many reasons for Democrats to be proud. Prior to Tuesday’s elections prominent Republicans were going on the record stating that Democrats would lose between 5 and 9 seats in the State Senate. Despite facing down millions of dollars at least 20 of our 22 Democratic Senators earned another term. That is a remarkable achievement considering the difficult environment of the past two years and the enormous effort the Republicans made to discredit and tear down effective Democratic leaders like Phil Puckett, Dave Marsden, George Barker, John Miller, Toddy Puller and others who stood tall and persevered.

In addition to our Senate victories, Democrats from around the Commonwealth won local offices that will empower them to make a real difference in the lives of the families in their communities. Each of our candidates for local office deserves our thanks and congratulations, but there is one I would like to mention. Shannon Taylor joined the race for Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney very late and she was up against the full might of Eric Cantor’s political machine. Few people gave her much of a chance against such long odds but despite all that she prevailed and will be a phenomenal chief prosecutor for Henrico. Shannon’s victory is a testament to the Democratic Party of Virginia’s commitment to doing more for local candidates and we will continue that commitment in 2012 and beyond.

There were also reasons to be disappointed. As a former House member I am distressed at the composition of the House. We need to rebuild just as we did last decade when we held as few as 34 seats but worked over three election cycles to be within striking distance of the majority. We start today recruiting and developing candidates to run in 2013. On a personal note, my good friend Ward Armstrong fought valiantly after being redistricted into a heavily Republican area but was ultimately unsuccessful in his bid to return to the House.

If indeed we end up with a tied Senate it will be more important than ever for us to work together. We must fight for an agenda that creates opportunity for every person. I hope you will take a moment and reflect on the enormity of the challenges we faced together this year and the many reasons for Democrats to be energized and optimistic heading into the future.

Many people have asked me what this election means for 2012. I sincerely believe that we will prevail next year. Despite Governor McDonnell pouring millions of dollars to attack our Democratic incumbents our grassroots community of Democrats stepped up and answered the call to mobilize Democratic voters. Next year we can increase voter turnout by more than two fold giving Barack Obama and Tim Kaine the support they need to once again win in Virginia.

Let’s resolve to take the energy created during this election cycle to power on to 2012 and make Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Sincerely,

Brian Moran

Needless to say, I am disappointed.

To this, I offer this response to Chairman Moran and the DPVA from a conservative –

Chairman Moran,

Why is it impossible for the DPVA never be magnimous in defeat?

For three straight years, the Democratic Party has overwhelmingly been repudiated – losing all three statewide seats in 2009, going from a U.S. House delegation majority of 6-5 to a minority of 8-3 – and now, this year, losing the Senate (which, sir, after a canvass, you should readily concede) and further falling into the minority in the House of Delegates to the lowest total for the Democratic party in modern history.

Your response to these circumstances is really disappointing. With the subject line, it seemed like there might be an approach to actually “working together” with the new majority to advance ideas for all Virginians. That’s why I decided to read it.

I thought the days of “let them eat cake” from Janet Howell and partisan attacks from Richard Saslaw might be behind us.

After being repudiated overwhelmingly with 57% of the vote for the GOP in the Senate and 61% for the GOP in the House, I would have thought you would have done some reflection about how your policies are playing with the average Virginian voter. I, apparently, was wrong. Instead, you use hyperbolic words like “attack”, “discredit”, “tear down”, “Cantor machine”, etc.

How does that elevate any discussion?

You speak of House Republican redistricting? I should also say, Senate Democrats did a remarkable job in drawing districts where they only gain 43% of the overall vote, yet only lose two seats. Clearly those districts were drawn fairly, eh?

Well, I understand that you’re writing to your base, so I shouldn’t be surprised. But if you don’t demonstrate leadership to your base, then this kind of rhetoric between the parties will never cease and we will never be one Virginia or one USA, united in our will to truly improve economic conditions and remain the greatest commonwealth and country in the world.

If anything this looks like a Brian Moran self-preservation email – unable to see the endemic problems within the DPVA on message, policy, candidate recruitment, and fundraising. Instead of a partisan salvo, sir, it’s time to recognize reality and understand how the voters truly view your party.

With Respect,

J.R. Hoeft
Publisher, Bearing Drift Magazine

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