RK ARCHIVE - Hurst: Tom Davis should resign from Government Reform Committee

Just went over to Andy Hurst's (Democratic Nominee for VA-11) press conferance that Lowell had informed us about Now THIS Should be Interesting! in front of the headquarters of the ICG building. Andy Called this press conferance together to call for Tom Davis to resign as Chairman of the Government Reform Committee.

Turn out was fantastic, there were about 75 people in the middle of a work day, with 100 degree weather. There were some bloggers, some WaPo reporters and a bunch of volunteers and supporters.

I had orginally predicted that Andy would call for a criminal investigation into Tom Davis, instead he called for Davis to step down as chair of the Government Reform Committee. I didn't take notes so don't have any quotes, but basically Andy went through and listed off all of Davis's corruption and said that the Chair of the Government Reform Committee should be investigating these acts, not perpetrating them.

I liked how Andy pointed out that the Government Reform Committee's Christmas party was paid for by lobbyist, DOH!

[update]forgot to mention that Audrey Moore, former member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, was there and spoke to the crowd after Andy Spoke. keep the comments coming and letting us know what your thoughts are

[UPDATE by Lowell: Ben Tribbett has a great writeup. I wish I could have been there.]

[UPDATE #2 by Lowell: JC Wilmore makes a very interesting point about the "mainstream media" apparently covering for Tom Davis. What's the deal with THAT?!?]

Comments

I did not (phriendlyjaime - 8/1/2006 7:58:23 PM)

but I am so glad you did and came back to tell us about it.

That photo of the line of people and the photo with the children are both inspiring and beautiful. Disries like these have become my favorite diaries as of late; diaries which contain the stories of fellow advocates for Democracy getting out there, figthing the good fight, making a difference, and having a good time.

Right on. :)

Audrey Moore's comment was something (Andrea Chamblee - 8/1/2006 6:09:29 PM)

I'll paraphrase:

I know Tom Davis. I worked with Tom Davis. Tom Davis used to be a friend of mine. You, Mr. Hurst, are no Tom Davis! Because Tom Davis had the makings of a crook, and you don't!

Hurst, Hurst, Hurst, Hurst (seveneasypeaces - 8/1/2006 6:33:46 PM)

Audrey was pumped. She said that she is working very hard for Andy. In her 40 years in politics he is the first she has found to be real. She was addressing both sides of the group so I didn't always hear her. But she is very excited about Andy and his work ethic.

I was standing behind the gentleman in the salmon shirt but for some reason I'm invisible. I was holding a Hurst sign up high too. There is a space where I am or thought I was!

The rest of the pictures (pitin - 8/1/2006 6:40:13 PM)

Can be found at The Andy Hurst Flickr account website they have about 10 from today's event, maybe you are in one of them.

Hot Hot (seveneasypeaces - 8/1/2006 11:25:38 PM)

I don't know which one is you but

thanks for not melting!!

ADORABLE... (phriendlyjaime - 8/1/2006 8:03:03 PM)

Are you kidding me? I mean, I know I am a softy when it comes to toddlers, but let's be honest; you can't lose with that. Absolutlely adorable-thanks for the pics. :)

That's the cutest picture yet.. (pitin - 8/1/2006 8:33:10 PM)

I love how you can see his little velcro shoes

Picture is bigger if you follow Jaime's link, just making it smaller for the thread.

wow what an event... (bladerunner - 8/1/2006 9:14:16 PM)

The press conference was an awesome first conference for Andy. It's great the he's going on the offensive--and not sitting around waiting for the fall. August is the time for him to make news while Davis sits around wondering where he's going on vacation.

The media will come as more of these type of events come about..so don't worry about the lack of TV reporters. And THANKS TO Audrey Moore for your wisdom and wise comments...you hit it right on the button. Great crowd showed up showing that we mean business about retiring arrogant, corporate owned politicians. See you guys around.

Throw the bum out (seveneasypeaces - 8/1/2006 10:58:14 PM)

Andy said that Davis should be INVESTIGATING himself. Since he will refuse to INVESTIGATE himself, he should resign. We hollored good.

Throw the bum out (seveneasypeaces - 8/1/2006 10:58:27 PM)

Andy said that Davis should be INVESTIGATING himself. Since he will refuse to INVESTIGATE himself, he should resign. We hollored good.

What a time to be the reform candidate..... (Ambivalent Mumblings - 8/2/2006 8:50:46 AM)

...is what I heard one person say at Andy's canvass on Saturday morning. I think Andy made the right call by calling for Davis to step down as Chairman of the Government Reform Committee. Davis's position of power means that he should take the steps to ensure that there is absolutely no chance his actions could be perceived as unethical.

A good move to call (Eric - 8/2/2006 9:23:26 AM)

for the resignation, but I hope Davis doesn't even consider it. I doubt he would anyway, but I hope not.

If he steps down he could put a lot of nice spin on it: while I've never done anything wrong I understand the concern of the people after reading the Post article and I've decide that I would be proactive in cleaning up Washington. blah, blah, blah.

Which would make Hurst's reform platform less effective because Davis could claim to be a reformer as well. Not true, but it could be spun nicely to a NOVA audience who incorrectly thinks Davis is a moderate.

DNC.org links to RaisingKaine!! (pitin - 8/2/2006 11:01:55 AM)

Hey guys, sorry about being slightly off-topic here, but I just noticed this.

but the DNC over at www.dnc.org/blog, linked to Lowell's announcement about this press conferance check it out.