I'll have photos of the Mark Warner for Senate kickoff in Abingdon Tuesday evening, most likely. For now, here are my notes on the event.
There were about 300 people in attendance at the EB Stanley Middle School. Mary Lynn Tate, Washington County Democratic Committee chair, was the emcee. She talked about how Mark Warner had made life better for the people of SWVA than any other leader had done. She asked, rhetorically, "Who made Virginia the best managed state in the nation?" The crowd responded, enthusiastically, "Mark Warner!" "Who's going to the US Senate?" "Mark Warner!"
Del. Dan Bowling said that Mark Warner had governed the whole state, not just the populated areas. He pointed to the Coalfieds Expressway and called Warner innovative in his approach to bringing totally different types of jobs to southwestern Virginia. He said that Mark Warner is concerned about workers, is a leader not just for southwestern Virginia but for the entire state.
Del. Bud Phillips said he had seen governors come and go, but that the best governor is sitting right here - "bar NONE!" Phillips called Warner a "man of compassion" who came up with solutions to the problems of Virginia citizens. He said that Warner was a consensus builder, a "true statesman," and predicted that Warner would be the best Senator in Congress. Phillips said that Democrats are united behind Mark Warner, even some Republican colleagues he's talked to believe that Mark Warner will be Virginia's next Senator (he added that they may even vote for Warner). Phillips slammed Gilmore for having "left wreckage everywhere," including a $6 billion deficit which Warner was forced to fix. He accused Gilmore of being willing to "step on anyone to get where he wants to go," of having "no compassion for the people of Virginia," and of being just like George W. Bush.
Del. Joe Johnson said that he hopes some day to introduce Mark Warner as next president of the United States. He said that "good things happened on his watch," and that "Mark is a great persuader" who does the best for Virginia.
Sen. Phil Puckett said he had met Warner in the early 1990s when he was chairman of DPVA. At the time, Democrats were at the bottom, so he was amazed that Warner wanted to do it. According to Puckett, Warner is a guy who said "we can do it." He has a heart for the people of Virginia -- a good heart, a true friend. Puckett also wishes that Warner was on the presidential ticket right now. He predicted that time would come, hopefully not too long. He endorsed Warner's candidacy and declared that Warner would have great support from southwestern Virginia.
Rep. Rick Boucher said that Americans have had enough and are ready for dramatic change. He predicted that, in November, Democrats will gain seats in both the House and the Senate, plus will win the White House. He said that one of the most special opportunities Democrats have is to elect Mark Warner, who he called a special friend of the 9th CD. Boucher said that Warner was the best governor Virginia's had since Thomas Jefferson. Warner saw the potential in southwestern Virginia, helped bring 700 jobs to Russell County and open the door to a broad new economic future. He said he's enthusiastic about Warner's candidacy.
Before Mark Warner spoke, the bluegrass band played the famous "Mark Warner public education" song that was written by Mudcat Saunders.
Warner said that one of his best days as governor was when he announced new tech jobs for Russell County. He said in America, everybody should get a fair shot and that anything is possible. He pointed out that his first two businesses failed and that he lost to John Warner 12 years ago. He praised John Warner's "bipartisan leadership" and called him a great "partner" and "friend."
Warner recalled how 7 years ago, he was a "job applicant." At that time, just like now, he started his campaign in Abingdon, a part of the state that doesn't always get a fair shot. He talked about "fresh thinking," about setting aside "petty partisanship," focusing on "results," putting "country and commonwealth first," getting things done, breaking "partisan gridlock." He said that he would declare his candidacy for US Senate "tomorrow morning."
Warner talked about bringing jobs to southwestern Virginia, as well as internet broadband. He noted that Virginia had earned national recognition under his leadership, making "record investments in education." On health care, Warner said that Washington's been talking about doing something for 16 years but "we got things done in Virginia," including "140,000 more kids [getting] health insurance during my tenure as governor."
Warner said that while Washington writes IOU's - trade deficit, declining value of the dollar - here in Virginia we took a different approach, paid our debts, didn't pass them on to next generation. He declared, "that's true fiscal conservatism" and contrasted it with his predecessor, who left a $6 billion deficit.
In the end, Warner said, Republicans and Democrats stopped being Republicans and Democrats and put the Commonwealth first. That led to Virginia being recognized as the best managed state in the country. He said that Washington could use some of that same approach.
Today, Warner believes, the country is at a crossroads. We must keep the military strong but also reengage diplomatically around the world. We must provide world class health care to wounded veterans. The Iraqis are sitting on $70 billion in oil revenues but are still asking American taxpayer to foot the bill. It's time to change that. We need to bring U.S. troops home in a safe and responsible way, definitely no open-ended commitment.
Warner said that we're spending $500 billion to buy oil from people who don't like us, and that it's time to end our dependence on foreign oil. He talked about the need to create clean energy jobs, including next generation clean coal and renewables. We need to take on climate change. We also need a national competitiveness plan, as India and China are certainly not playing for second place. We need to fix health care, invest in the country's neglected infrastructure. We truly have challenges but this is America. If we work together, we can meet these challenges.
Warner said that if the people of Virginia hire him to be their next US Senator, he will bring a "Virginia independence" attitude. Although he's proud to be a Democrat, the American public doesn't trust either party enough to give it a blank check. Warner added that good ideas don't come with a "D" or an "R" after them, and talked about creating a coalition of 10-12 "radical centrist" senators. He said that it's really about future vs. past, not left vs. right, and he concluded, "Let's meet this challenge."