Its Official: Hummel (VA-01) to Suspend Campaign
By: James Martin
Published On: 7/3/2008 12:43:42 PM
Press Release Below the Fold.
Hummel to Suspend Campaign
Candidate for Congress in VA-01 makes tough decision to prevent warping of the issues.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3rd, 2008
Fredericksburg, VA - Dr. Keith Hummel announced today the immediate suspension of his campaign as the Democratic candidate for the 1stCongressional District of Virginia. "Although I have always been open about my past financial difficulties, it is clear to me that they will become a distraction from the real issues at stake in this election," he said.
"At this epic time in our nation's history, the stakes are bigger than any one person, state, orparty," explained Stephen Pierce, Hummel's campaign manager. "I think Dr. Hummel is makinga very unselfish decision," he said.
As a practicing Emergency Room doctor, Hummel campaigned on the platform of putting people first and his focused message on health care and the economy resonated with voters throughout the district.
"I have always said that I am an imperfect candidate. Unfortunately, our elections today revolv earound narrow and simplistic assessments of viability. Under such circumstances, it is little wonder that the politics of personal attack and destruction turn the mistakes of the past into harbingers of the future with little understanding that the brutal lessons learned through our life's struggles are valuable ingredients for successful leaders," said Hummel.
"This was not an easy decision, but I cannot stand by and watch as those who seek to sabotage the promise of a new kind of politics use my financial history as a lever to fracture the hope for a better America," he said.
Hummel, an emergency room doctor and small business owner is a long time resident of Westmoreland County. He has been married to his wife Penny for 35 years. Together they have raised five children. He entered politics for the first time this past February against a Republican incumbent who gained the house seat in a special election in December 2007.
Comments
I really don't understand. He was at the Gwynn's Island Festival Saturday. (mikuleck - 7/3/2008 10:42:35 PM)
We introduced him to people got his bumper stickers and had the Republicans drooling. There is something about this that stinks!
Hummel (ChipperJ - 7/5/2008 8:02:22 PM)
Those of us in Westmoreland county have known of Dr. Hummels financial problems for years. He started a practice here only to open and shut it several times over the past ten years. People who put their faith in him and his winery venture were left without repayment when he filed bankruptcy the last time. He even owes his own mother money, forcing her to sell her house and live in with him. His vineyards are a farce, since when you drive by there, they are all overgrown with weeds. And last week, he was calling people to support his campaign and hinting, but not verbally saying, that they would receive free health care it they did so. Dr. Hummel has shown himself not just financially irresponisble, but ethically irresponsible as well. The democratic party would be better off to write him off and be done with him. The unfortunate part is that the 1st Congressional Democratic Committee was bamboozled to put their faith in him.
A matter of sabotage (westpointdem - 7/4/2008 4:20:20 PM)
Our candidate has suspended his campaign due to an intentional sabotage campaign led by some of our fellow 1st CD Democrats. I got the feeling at the 1st CD Convention that we wanted a candidate when only 4 people voted against having Dr. Hummel as our candidate. Unfortunately, those people have gotten their wish and we now have nobody running. I hope they are happy with Rob Whitman because he's going to be in office for two more years. What a great message to send to the rest of Virginia and the nation that, as Democrats, we would rather have a Republican in office than a Democrat who has had financial difficulties in the past. Thank you..you loud, obnoxious few. We know who you are.
Welcome to the 1st CD (Chris Guy - 7/4/2008 4:35:56 PM)
Remember the attitude of Hontz supporters after Forgit won the nomination in last year's special election?
If you know who these people are I'd like to act on this. (mikuleck - 7/4/2008 6:24:30 PM)
As a member of the Mathews Democratic Committee I'd like to see full disclosure on this. I think it needs some action taken. I fought hard to overcome opposition from certain members of our Committee and then was publicly slandered by the husband of the Committee Chair. Our Committee needs to know what is going on!
Committee woes (BlueKW - 7/5/2008 1:31:35 PM)
If thats the kind of treatment you get from your committee chair then I'd very much like to speak with you. You may be interested to know what I know.
Why don't you reply? (mikuleck - 7/6/2008 7:12:19 PM)
Your phone is busy every time I try to call. I am interested. Please speak to me.
My Chairperson told me she got to you first. (mikuleck - 7/8/2008 1:06:05 AM)
Evidently you no longer have anything to say to me. That's just fine! Today her husband posted another attack on me on the Mathews County Dems blog. When I answered she censored me. If that is democracy, you can have it. I resigned from the Mathews County Democratic Committee today.
Thanks, I e-mailed you. (mikuleck - 7/5/2008 2:44:50 PM)
I really want to get to the bottom of this.
Don
My Apologies (westpointdem - 7/6/2008 12:53:53 AM)
I hereby retract my previous comment and apologize to anybody who was offended or insulted by my words. If the details had been revealed to me as they have been now, I would not have said those things. I hope we can work to get past this as a party and as a district.