Excellent kickoff event with Andy Hurst last night. There were about 200-250 people present, which I think is extremely impressive for a Democratic primary event on a Thursday night. Hell, that's probably more people than VOTE in certain elections! Heh. Obviously, there's enthusiasm both for removing Tom Davis from office as well as replacing him with Andy Hurst!First, here are the blogger sightings: my colleagues Josh and Dan; Kenton Ngo (hey, don't you have to STUDY or something? ha); Ben Tribbett (hey, don't you have a babe contest or something? ha); "Virginia Centrist" (hey, don't you have a weather forecast to do or something? ha); "Too Conservative" (hey, don't you have some tax cuts for rich people you need to push? ha); and Tom Joad (didn't meet him but heard he was there...hence the nickname, the GHOST of Tom Joad? ha).
Second, here are the politico sightings (no elected politicians, undoubtedly because this is a contested Democratic primary): Bruce Roemmelt (this guy is EVERYWHERE, he's SUPERMAN! ha); rormer (and future?) House of Delegates candidate Earnie Porta; U.S. Senate candidate Harris Miller (I'll tell ya, if 90 percent of life is "just showing up," this guy's well on his way there); Fairfax County Democratic Committee Chair Ginny Peters; and Prince William County Democratic Committe Chair Vic Bras.
Finally, the speechifying. Hurst's campaign manager, James Walkinshaw, did most of the introductions. He also put together a great event last night, with lots of great food which I didn't sample because I was too busy meeting people (d'oh! must learn to eat and greet at same time!). Walkinshaw talked about laying a strong foundation to beat Tom Davis, particularly the campaign's "11 Weeks in the 11th District" effort, in which Hurst will "spread his message of reform to all corners of the district." Walkinshaw noted that the campaign already has more than 100 committed volutneers, but is always looking for more (hint hint!). They plan to knock on 20,000 voters' doors. They plan to "change the political dynamic of the district," and send Tom Davis "back to the private sector."
Key issues, according to Walkinshaw, are 1) "increasing access to quality healthcare"; 2) "reducing traffic congestion;" and 3) "bring[ing] the troops home from Iraq as soon as possible." The overarching theme of the campaign is "reform[ing] the way Washington works," as the "only way" to accomplish the things we care about.
A friend of Hurst's, JoLinda Johnson of the FCDC, talked about Hurst's character, "commitment to ethics," drive, energy, enthusiasm, loyalty ("to the individual as opposed to the special interests") and intelligence. She emphasized that it truly is time for "something different, something better," as Hurst's campaign slogan states. She told a joke about a woman wearing her wedding ring on her middle finger. When asked why she wore the ring on the wrong finger, she said, 'because I'm married to the wrong man!" Johnson noted that "Virginians are married to the wrong man" in Tom Davis, and that it's time to replace him with Andy Hurst, ASAP!
Hurst's campaign chair and childhood friend Chris Farella (spelling?) spoke about how Hurst just made partner and certainly doesn't NEED to run for Congress. Which is a good thing, in Farella's opinion.
Finally, Hurst spoke for about 2o minutes or so. Hurst talked about how "Walkinshaw" would want him to "play down" the fact that he's a big-time attorney. However, Hurst said that he's proud of what he does, and regardless, that "being a lawyer doesn't define who I am."
Hurst's first main point was that there's a fundamental conflict in Republican ideology. Essentially, Republicans say "we don't believe in the Federal government," but then they say "elect us to run the Federal government." Hurst pointed out that this is like someone coming to him and saying, "I don't like lawyers, I don't believe the law, I think law firms should all be shut down or ruined, so please hire me to work at your law firm!" Ha. According to Hurst - and I agree with him - attempting to lead something you don't believe in is a recipe for disaster and for failing to take responsibility. Hurst: "And you know what, it shows." Hurst contrasted the Republicans with Democratic leaders like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both of whom believe in being there. And you know what, it shows.
In Hurst's view, incumbent Tom Davis - serving his 6th term despite a professed belief in term limits (from "Contract With America" days) - epitomizes the Republican attitude that nothing's ever their fault, since the government's not theirs anyway - dspite the minor detail that they control all three branches. According to Hurst, Davis thinks it's ALWAYS someone else's fault ("theyism," as he called it). Hurst pointed out, with just a wee bit of sarcasm, "I've never seen a guy who's been let down by other people more than Tom Davis!" In contrast, Hurst promised that it will be all "I, I, I" when he is elected to Congress. As in "I take responsibliity for this." What a concept!
The results of not taking responsibility or ownership, in Hurst's view? The ballooning Federal budget deficit. The Hurricane Katrina debacle. The culture of corruption. Etc., etc. Hurst pointed out that under Bill Clinton, the government was "awash in money" and asked, rhetorically, "what happened to it?!?" Good question, Andy!
Hurst spoke about the need to have "courage," to "look people in the eye and say, 'I gotta go with what I believe.'" On a related note, Hurst pointed out that "courage" for politicians meant being willing to LOSE. For Republcians like Tom Davis, unfortunately, it's apparently all about staying in power at all costs. In contrast, if Hurst is elected to Congress, he promises, "I'm gonna tell you what I believe in and I'm gonna vote it!"
Hurst noted that you'll never fix anything - health care, Iraq, whatever - unless you first fix campaign finance, ethics and accountability in government, the influence of special interests, "earmarking," etc.. Even if those issues make your eyes glaze over, as he says they used to do - before Jack Abramoff, that is.
Hurst had a good line about earmarking and the way Capitol Hill works when he noted that "bridges are being built in Alaska when you can't get to Tysons." How true.
Hurst also repeatedly used the phrase "bags of money" to describe how business is done in Republican-controlled Washington these days. Tom Davis, in Hurst's opinion, merely does what his money masters - people like Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed - tell him to do. In contrast, Hurst believes it should be about the best ideas, not "bags of money." Hurst announced that he will not take any PAC money, declaring, "I answer to you, I don't answer to anyone else!"
Hurst blasted the prevailing attitude among politicians to calculate everything for maximum political impact and "spin." Getting emotional, Hurst declared that people are dying every day in Iraq but that on TV, politicians are more worried about "how to spin it" than about bringing our troops home as soon as possible. Hurst promises to tell people what he really thinks, what's in his heart. And what was in his heart last night was the strong desire to defeat Tom Davis, to go to Congress and clean up the culture of corruption.
To accomplish all that, Hurst asked for everyone's help in his effort. I realize this is a contested primary, but I personally believe that Andy Hurst will be the strongest candidate to take on Tom Davis this fall. Truly, it is time for "something different, something better" - in the 11th Congressional District, in Virginia, and in the United States of America. Go Andy!
P.S. Kudos to "Too Conservative" for getting the first post up about this event. Nice job, although I don't agree with your assessment of Hurst's speech at all. I guess that's why I'm supporting Hurst and you're supporting Davis. Let the best man win!
P.P.S. Photo courtesy of Mary Dotson - blogger, Democrat, and photographer extraordinaire! :)