This election will be one which is extremely important for deciding the direction of our country and the decision to endorse candidates should not be taken lightly. I have thought long and hard about which candidates will truly make a good public servant. With the primary less than a week away, I am proud to be joining several of my fellow bloggers from Northern Virginia (Raising Kaine, Leesburg Tomorrow, Not Larry Sabato, and Anonymous is a Woman) in making the following endorsements.
Jim Moran – 8th
While the corporate media only seems to focus on Jim Moran when he makes a misstatement or a mistake, the truth is that Jim is working hard for Northern Virginia and the nation on a wide variety of issues everyday. Jim was an early vote against the war in Iraq and has continued to oppose the war, even moving away from his former DLC allies over this and other issues (e.g., “free trade” vs. “fair trade”). Jim has been a strong voice for Northern Virginia on the House Appropriations Committee, has done great work on the BRAC issue, and is a strong environmentalist. In addition, Jim and his office have been great friends of the netroots and the Virginia progressive blogosphere. In contrast, Jim’s opponent is an unknown who has made no case for replacing the 9-term incumbent. Elections are not about achieving the perfect, they are a choice between the candidates on the ballot. In this match up, it’s Moran by a mile.
Judy Feder – 10th
The 10th CD primary offers Democrats an easy choice. In 2006, Judy Feder gave Frank Wolf the toughest race he’s seen in more than a decade. This year, Judy is building on what she accomplished the last time around. For 2008, she has started earlier, is raising more money, and has built a highly capable campaign team — all in a district that is trending blue and in a year which has seen record Democratic turnout across the country. Needless to say, the Republicans are worried, and justifiably so; perhaps that’s why they’ve already begun attacking Judy.
Electability is essential, but Judy offers much more. First and foremost, she is one of the leading experts in this country on health care. This could prove to be a tremendous asset to President Obama as he works to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable, universal health care coverage. In addition, as a veteran of the health care battles of the 1990s, Judy will help President Obama and the Democratic Congress avoid past pitfalls in getting this done.
In addition to health care, Judy believes in balancing the federal budget, paying as you go, getting out of Iraq responsibly, ending our oil addiction, and protecting our environment. As a member of Congress, she will bring her tremendous work ethic and intellectual rigor to these and other issues. We strongly and enthusiastically endorse Judy Feder for Congress!
Leslie Byrne – 11th
We join Jim Webb, Chap Petersen, Donald McEachin and many others in enthusiastically endorsing Leslie Byrne for Congress. Leslie is a proven winner, having carried the 11th district in 2005, with 55% of the vote. Leslie is a strong progressive, something she has proven her entire career. Leslie is effective, having introduced and passed more legislation than any other freshman representative while in Congress. Leslie has principles; in 1993, she voted against NAFTA out of concern for labor rights and the environment. Leslie has guts; she did the politically risky thing and voted for President Clinton’s tax package. Several Democrats lost their seats because of this vote, but it was the right thing to do, leading to balanced budgets and contributing to the years of prosperity in the 1990s. Finally, Leslie has her priorities straight, fighting for working people as opposed the powerful special interests and the super-rich. We strongly urge all Democrats in the 11th CD to vote for Leslie Byrne on June 10.
Filed under: Virginia Politics
WASHINGTON POST ENDORSES CONNOLLY
In Virginia, a Key Primary
Our choice on the Democratic congressional ballot: Gerald Connolly
Saturday, June 7, 2008; A14
WITH THE DECISION by Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R) not to seek reelection from Northern Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, Democrats are eyeing the vacancy as one of their more promising prospects for picking up a seat this fall. The 11th District, comprising a chunk of Fairfax County and part of Prince William County, has been increasingly friendly territory for Democrats during this decade. Mr. Davis, with the advantage of long years in local government before moving to Congress, is one of a vanishing breed of moderate Republicans who have been able to keep winning there.
His departure set the stage for a spirited, at times venomous, primary campaign among four Democratic candidates, two of whom are experienced public figures: Gerald E. Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and Leslie L. Byrne, whose political résumé includes stints in Virginia’s House of Delegates and Senate, a post in the Clinton administration and, from 1993 to 1995, a term in the U.S. House representing the 11th District (she was defeated by Mr. Davis).
On the primary ballot on Tuesday, the clear choice is Mr. Connolly, who, as the senior elected official in Virginia’s most populous jurisdiction, has been a nimble, energetic advocate for Fairfax County. A member of the county board for 13 years and a formidable civic activist before that, he has been a force in shaping policy in Northern Virginia and regionally.
Mr. Connolly is not universally beloved; he can be thin-skinned and hardheaded. But there is no denying his dedication and effectiveness on a range of issues affecting the region, including climate change, transportation and affordable housing. Ms. Byrne has backing from unions and other progressive groups. But her sharp-elbow tactics have injected a toxic note into most of the campaigns she has run, raising doubt about her ability to work cooperatively on regional issues in Congress. The Washington area’s congressional delegation has a tradition of bipartisanship; Mr. Connolly is a better bet to fit that mold.