Judy Feder: building on "all the work we did last time"

Democrat Judy Feder, the dean of Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute who made a strong challenge to U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) in last year's election, said yesterday that she will run again in 2008.

Wolf represents the sprawling 10th Congressional district, which includes Clarke, Frederick, Loudoun and Warren counties; parts of Fairfax, Fauquier and Prince William counties; and the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park and Winchester.  Last time around, Feder ran a strong campaign, raised a lot of money, but came up short (although slicing Wolf's margin of victory from from 64% in 2004 to 57% in 2006.  Another 7 points, and guess what, Frank?  Hmmm. :)

So, you ask, how is Judy Feder going to pick up those extra 7 points?  Well, I've got a few answers for you.  First, there's Iraq, where Wolf has marched in lockstep with the "Decider," President Bush, and against the expressed will of the voters last November.  Apparently, Wolf doesn't care what voters want, even though the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll indicates extreme levels of dissastisfaction with the Bush "surge," which Wolf has appeared to support wholeheartedly.  Well, it's time to call Wolf to account for his complete disregard for what his constituents want on Iraq, and Judy Feder will do that, I'm sure.

Second, Frank Wolf opposes crucial embryonic stem cell research, placing him way outside the mainstream of American public opinion (not to mention science) on this issue.  It's time for the media to stop giving Wolf a free ride as a "moderate."  Sorry, but there's nothing "moderate" about opposing research that could cure diabetes, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, paralysis, and many other maladies afflicting real human beings (as opposed to the 5-day old conglomeration of cells known as a "blastocyst").

Third, Frank Wolf has apparently lost it.  Don't believe me, watch this, in which Wolf expresses his belief that "our situation is akin to the once faced by America in 1937 and 1938 with Nazi Germany on the rise."  Also, something about if we don't vote a particular way on the Iraq Study Group report then, "well, it's just Nazi Germany all over again."  Huh?  Is this guy off his rocker?  Could he use some of the treatments that embryonic stem cell research might provide?  Sure seems like it; maybe he should reconsider his vote on that issue, before it's too late!

Finally, Wolf has a long record of far-right NON moderation on a whole host of issues that will undoubtedly be exposed by Judy Feder.  For instance, according to Project Vote Smart, Wolf gets a ZERO from Planned Parenthood, a ZERO from NARAL Pro-Choice America,  a ZERO from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a ZERO from the National Parent-Teacher Association, a ZERO from the Campaign for America's Future (which challenges the "big money corporate agenda" and raises the question of "falling wages and rising insecurity"), a ZERO from the American Wilderness Coalition, a miserable 12% rating from the American Public Health Association, and a pathetic 10% from the Alliance for Retired Americans.

The point is, there's tons of material there against Frank Wolf, and we haven't even touched on the Tysons Tunnel fiasco, in large part thanks to the LACK of leadership by Frank Wolf on the issue.  In sum, the next 1 1/2 years are going to be fun for Judy Feder, not much fun for Frank Wolf as he attempts to defend his indefensible record of lockstep with Bush on the war, as well as his overall phony image of "moderation."  After 1 1/2 years of being pounded by Judy Feder and the progressive Virginia blogosphere, Frank Wolf may wish that Feder had put him out of his misery the last time around!

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