Tomorrow: The Beginning of the End for Frank Wolf's Career

Tomorrow, primary day in the 10th CD, marks the beginning of the end of Frank Wolf's overly-long-yet-extremely-unproductive career in Congress. If for whatever reason you've forgotten how bad Frank Wolf's been, I'll let "Americans United for Change" remind refresh your memory:

In the face of four consecutive months of negative job growth under the Bush economy totaling 260,000 lost jobs since the beginning of the year, Americans United for Change, the non-profit progressive issue advocacy group which recently launched its Bush Legacy Project, sharply rebuked U.S. Reps. Thelma Drake and Frank Wolf for voting against meaningful legislation to extend unemployment benefits to thousands of Virginia families in need. The goal of the Bush Legacy Project is to cement into history how two terms of failed conservative policies – supported by Bush and his allies in Congress including Sen. John McCain and Reps. Drake and Wolf - have weakened America’s security abroad while neglecting and undermining important priorities here at home.

With no help from Reps. Drake, Wolf -- the U.S. House passed an amendment to an Iraq/Afghanistan/Domestic priories supplemental appropriations bill last week that would provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits – legislation that would extend benefits for 55,036 Virginia workers, according to the National Employment Law Project. In states with higher levels of unemployment, an additional 13 weeks would be available, for a total of 26 weeks of extended benefits.

“Voting to extend unemployment benefits to over 55,000 Virginia workers is the very least Reps. Drake and Wolf could have done after voting time and again to enable President Bush’s failed policies that have contributed to and even exasperated the economic downturn,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United for Change. “Ignoring these workers’ struggle, as Reps. Drake and Wolf clearly want to do, won’t make it go away. For four consecutive months, the U.S. economy has lost jobs. In total, 260,000 jobs have disappeared. Furthermore, there are 800,000 additional Americans looking for work than a year ago. The number of long-term unemployed – 1.35 million workers – is higher now than when Congress last extended unemployment benefits in 2002.”

“But Rep. Drake and Wolf think that more Bush tax cuts for millionaires is the only prescription for the ailing economy – tax cuts that never manage to ‘trickle-down’ to the people who really need it,” added Funk. “But, in fact, extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fastest-acting ways to help stimulate an economic recovery because the money is spent quickly; every $1 spent generates $1.73 in new economic demand, according to the Congressional Budget Office. How many more Virginia workers have to lose their jobs before Rep. Drake and Wolf realize that their ‘trickle-down,’ ‘Voo-doo’ economic policies never fail to fail? It’s time they get their priorities straight, stop contributing to Bush’s failed economic legacy, and instead focus on serious solutions for stimulating this worsening economy.”

OK, so those are all the reasons it's time to say "Farewell Frank." How about some reasons to vote FOR Judy Feder? Here's Bruce Roemmelt:

Judy Feder is my choice in the 10th for two huge reasons. Her health care background is stellar and the administration's (and Frank Wolf's) lack of addressing this issue is a very critical failure to me. Not only is it important to figure out how to insure 48 MILLION Americans with out health care, but it's also important to deal with the outrageous costs associated with health care that are added, for example, to every product produced in the USA. Judy is the clear choice to deal with this issue.

Then there is the war. Judy has been right on Bush's misguided policies from the beginning just like our next president Senator Obama. Speaking out and opposing the war in Iraq was not popular, nor respected three and four years ago, but Judy was there with a firm understanding of what is really needed to protect America. As a Vietnam veteran I fully support her.

A vote for Judy in the primary will be my initial support for her, prior to her election and taking a well deserved seat in the 111th Congress.

Is there anything more to say? Oh yeah, don't forget to vote tomorrow, and also to remind all your friends to vote, for Judy Feder and a new direction for our country. Thank you.

Another Excellent Point on "Too Conservative"

I'll tell you, if this keeps up, I might just let the people at "Too Conservative" start posting on here directly. I mean, this stuff is just too good!

Congressman Wolf has spent more than $zero on this campaign because he is running scared, afraid his supporters will not show up on Tuesday. Now your story is that we do not want to waste resources. If Wolf was secure and everyone thought he was upholding Republican values he could run on his record alone. Your whining about having to waste resources contrasts with Feder whose supporters have not been whining about Turner’s challenge. She has been willing to debate Turner head-on unlike Wolf being MIA on debates.

Finally you are holding McKinley to a higher standard than Wolf that he has to be perfect out of the block. Wolf struggled in his early campaigns, first losing a primary and then losing a general before finally winning his first race.

On the first point, it's true, Wolf's skipped pretty much every joint forum this campaign season, while the other three candidates have shown up and debated the issues. Why hasn't Wolf showed up? Is it arrogance after decades in Washington? Or, is it simply that he knows he's got an impossibly awful record of rubberstamping Bush to defend?

On the second point, that's exactly the argument Judy Feder's been making, that Frank Wolf himself didn't win the first time he ran. In this case, Judy's going to win on try #2, sending Wolf to a pleasant, much-needed retirement. :)

Too Conservative: Frank Wolf's view "to the right of his district's"

Gotta love this comment from Nova Conservative at the blog "Too Conservative":

As I said, I think Frank Wolf will have a tough race this November. That’s not a revelation–but the idea that somebody with no name ID whose views are not in line with the districts (understanding that truthfully Frank Wolf’s views are probably to the right of his district’s at this point) could beat a well funded Democrat is absurd.

Then, another commenter ("Loudoun Insider")responds:

I agree with you wholeheartedly that Frank Wolf is absolutely pretty far to the right of the majority of constituents in his district. However, he keeps getting elected because of his excellent record and reputation. He also comes off as a likable guy. The new brand of wingnuts cares not one iota for general election viability and thinks you have to be an arrogant in your face prostelitizer in order to receive their blessing (and many of them look at this as some kind of “divine” quest that they’re on).

Frank Wolf is as conservative a politician as is going to be elected in this district. Period. All else is pie in the sky zealotry.

That's right, Frank Wolf is NOT the "moderate" he claims to be. But don't take our word for it; these comments are from one of the leading conservative blogs in Virginia. In other words, we rest our case.

With that in mind, please vote for Judy Feder on Tuesday and we'll spend June, July, August, September and October letting everyone in the 10th CD know who the real Frank Wolf is. Thanks.

Feder Pre-Primary Newsletter; Come Help GOTV!

Campaign News Update 6/6/08

Get Out the Vote

Election Day is almost here! Judy is running strong, but we need your help to Get Out the Vote on June 10th. Click here to join our GOTV team, or call Sean at 703-388-2813 to find out how you can help.

The Experience

From the halls of Congress to the oval office, Judy has been a public servant at the highest levels of government. For the last decade she’s been training the next generation of civilian and military leaders on how to make change and solve real problems. Her experience and her commitment to change will make her an invaluable leader in transforming how Washington does business.

The Issues

As a nationally recognized health care expert, Judy is exactly what we need in Washington, and in Congress she’ll make the changes we need too:

Iraq – Judy is committed to ending the war and bringing the troops and the $12 billion dollars we’re spending each month in Iraq home.

Health Care – Judy knows we need quality, affordable health care for every American, and no one is better qualified to get to work and make it happen.

The Housing Crisis – Judy will fight to protect home ownership by cracking down on fraudulent lending and closing the bankruptcy loophole.

Support for Veterans – As someone who has taught military students, Judy is committed to honoring their service. That’s why she supports Senator Webb’s 21st Century GI Bill of Rights.

Transportation – Judy will put her policy know-how to work to improve our infrastructure, support smart growth, and extend rail to Dulles.

Winning in November

Democrats in our district have a choice on June 10th. We can start back at square one – as we have every two years against Wolf; or, we can choose to build on our success in 2006 and run a campaign with the name id, resources, and organization necessary to win in November.

Judy is the candidate with the resources necessary to go toe-to-toe with Wolf. On June 11th, our opponent would face a deficit of nearly $800,000 or more if he were our nominee.

In 2006, with the help of Democrats across the 10th we gave Frank Wolf his closest race in a quarter century. He knows that coming back at him is the way to win – that’s how he did it. If we elect Judy as our nominee she will be the strongest, best funded, best known challenger Frank Wolf has ever had, and with your help we’re going to win in November.

The Support

Our friends and allies know Judy’s the candidate to beat Wolf too. That’s why we’re proud to be able to claim the support of every U.S. Senator, Congressman, Virginia Delegate, and labor union that has chosen to support a candidate in this race. Here are a few of those that we’ve been fortunate to have had the support of during this campaign:

Delegate Chuck Caputo
Delegate Margi Vanderhye
Fairfax Co. Supervisor John Foust
HoD Candidate Jay Donahue
HoD Candidate Bruce Roemmelt
Supervisor Candidate Jeanne West
LCDC Leesburg Chair, Dave Kirsten
LCDC Sterling Chair, Tony Barney
The American Federation of Teachers
The Intl. Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Service Employees Intl. Union
AFSCME
Intl. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
The United Auto Workers
U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator Tom Daschle
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Congressman Jim Moran
Democratic Caucus Chair, Congressman Rahm Emanuel
Congressman Henry Waxman
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro

Election Watch Party

You’re invited! Be sure to vote, then join us after the polls close on June 10th for a celebration and primary night watch party at our McLean office – 6818 Tennyson Drive, McLean VA 22101.

Drop by anytime or call 703-388-2813 for more details.

If you’re free earlier in the day be sure to help us Get Out the Vote! Click here to join Judy’s GOTV team.

Obama, Daschle and Feder Bring us Universal Health Care in '09?

Now here's some food for thought: Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services in an Obama administration? Congressman Judy Feder, one of the leading experts in America on health care helping Daschle and Obama guide universal health care legislation through Congress? How does that sound for you? Or, we could have John McSame, his soulmate Frank Wolf, and four more years of no universal health care coverage in this country.

Tough choice, huh?

P.S. By the way, Feder has a quote on the jacket of Daschle’s new book on health care reform. Interesting.

Northern Virginia Progressive Blogs Endorse Judy Feder

The following endorsement is being issued by Anonymous is a Woman, Blueweeds, Bryan Scrafford, Leesburg Tomorrow, Not Larry Sabato, and RK (by unanimous vote of the RK executive committee - Eric, Brian, Josh, Rob, Dave, me). Combined, these blogs account for over 90% of the traffic in the Northern Virginia progressive blogosphere.

Judy Feder - 10th
The 10th CD primary offers Democrats an easy choice. In 2006, Judy Feder gave Frank Wolf the toughest race he's seen in more than a decade. This year, Judy is building on what she accomplished the last time around. For 2008, she has started earlier, is raising more money, and has built a highly capable campaign team -- all in a district that is trending blue and in a year which has seen record Democratic turnout across the country. Needless to say, the Republicans are worried, and justifiably so; perhaps that's why they've already begun attacking Judy.

Electability is essential, but Judy offers much more. First and foremost, she is one of the leading experts in this country on health care. This could prove to be a tremendous asset to President Obama as he works to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable, universal health care coverage. In addition, as a veteran of the health care battles of the 1990s, Judy will help President Obama and the Democratic Congress avoid past pitfalls in getting this done.

In addition to health care, Judy believes in balancing the federal budget, paying as you go, getting out of Iraq responsibly, ending our oil addiction, and protecting our environment. As a member of Congress, she will bring her tremendous work ethic and intellectual rigor to these and other issues. We strongly and enthusiastically endorse Judy Feder for Congress!

"An Argument for Judy Feder"

With less than a week until primary election day, Leesburg Tomorrow has an excellent post on why everyone should vote for Judy Feder. I just wanted to reprint the email from "great local Democrat" Dave Kirsten here as well:

From: David Kirsten
Sent: Jun 3, 2008 7:22 AM
Subject: Why Judy Feder

Hi all,

Primaries can be both exciting and dividing as they go and such is definitely the case with the race for the 10th. It can be doubly difficult when the choice is between two people who I consider friends, but we all must rally behind the nominee, whoever that nominee is. Many of you already know I am supporting Judy Feder, but you may not know why.

I am supporting Judy Feder because of her policies and because she stands the best chance for defeating Frank Wolf this November. Judy who already had my support in her 2006 campaign won my support for her 2008 campaign the night she lost in 2006, when I asked her one question: "will you fade from the fight to change the 10th or will you fight again?" Her answer then was as strong as it is today as she told me she would not fade away but fight for all those in the 10th and the LCDC!

In 2002, John Stevens garnered 28% of the vote, in 2004 James Socas got 36%, but in 2006 Judy cracked 41% against Frank Wolf. She has the name recognition necessary to win in 2008.

She also has the experience necessary to finally get all Americans universal health care. She has worked hard for us all in this area by serving first on the Pepper Commission investigating health care issues in 1988 and working as a senior official in the Clinton Administration in 1993 fighting to expand health care insurance for all. She is a former chair and board member of the Academy of Health and currently is an elected member of the Institute of Health.

When a friend and member of our own Leesburg Dems fell on hard times with no job and no health care, but real pre-existing illnesses, it was Judy I called for advice and who volunteered to help and followed through with that person finding a solution. Judy is forever more than a politician to me and that friend.

Judy has the name recognition needed to win; she has the policy background necessary to assist the next Democratic President of the United States to finally provide all American health care. I ask you to vote for Judy Feder as our candidate to finally defeat Frank Wolf on June 10th.

Sincerely Yours,

David Kirsten

Barack Obama and Judy Feder, teaming up to provide every American with high-quality, affordable health care? Sounds like a plan to me!

Ice Cream Social and Vote Raiser for Judy

Please Join Us For A Pre-Primary

Ice Cream Social and Vote Raiser

for

Judy Feder
Candidate for US House of Representatives
From Virginia's Tenth District

Join us for a few scoops of Locally made Moorenko's Ice Cream and to learn how you can help with our upcoming Primary on June 10th!!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 5:30 pm to 8 pm
at our McLean Office
6818 Tennyson Dr. McLean VA 22101


Click Here to RSVP!!!

Contributions appreciated but not required

call Julia for more information at 703-388-2813

Too Conservative Part Two: Democrats Winners, NOVA Republicans Losers

The latest from Republican blog Too Conservative lists "RPV Convention Winners and Losers." I particularly liked these:

Winners:

Democrats

Particularly Mark Warner. It’s not like Warner really needed a split GOP in order to cruise to victory, but his opponent winning with only 50.2% of the vote is the best he could have hoped for.

However, more than just Warner gains here. Everything from yesterday has a mountain of potential gains for Democrats, ranging everywhere from an easy Senate victory to a pickup in HD-52 to battling against a novice GOP Chair to strengthening their grip on the middle. And though the full repercussion of it won’t be felt until Election Day, the folly of choosing a convention reverberated throughout the entire day’s course.

"More than just Warner gains here" - like Judy Feder, for instance. :)

And on the "Losers" side:

Keith Fimian & Northern Virginia Republicans

Ken Cuccinelli is an anomaly, and his 101-vote margin proves it rather well. Successful Northern Virginia Republicans need a strong pragmatist streak, one that’s evident in Congressmen Wolf and Davis as well as several local members of the General Assembly and other candidates. Newcomers Keith Fimian and Pat Herrity fit perfectly into that mold which emphasizes good governance and solution-based results rather than adherence to an ideology and cultural issues like abortion and immigration.

With the advent of Jeff Frederick, I fear for Fimian’s candidacy, whether the state party gets involved and mucks it up, or whether they withhold resources because of a perceived ideological difference between Fimian and the party’s establishment. And that fear extends beyond Fimian to future candidates in 2009 and beyond.

That's right, with the new, far-right slant to the RPV, how will (supposed) "moderates" like Tom Davis (retiring) and Frank Wolf (in danger of losing) survive? It's not gonna be easy, that's for sure.

"Too Conservative": Election Night 2008 Forecast

According to the Republican blog Too Conservative, the following scenario is very possible come November 2008:

It’s Election Night, 2008.

The outcome of the election came down to the former-red State of Virginia. Senator Barack Obama managed to carry NOVA by more than a 10% margin which lead him to a slim win in the state.

Virginia’s Senators are Mark Warner and Jim Webb.

Obama and Warner’s coat tails cost the election of Frank Wolf in VA-10, and Keith Fimian in VA-11.

Thelma Drake in VA-2 is in a recount and has only managed to hang on because of John McCain’s strong presence in the region.

Democrats now control the state Senate, Governor’s mansion, a majority of CD’s, both Senate Seats, and are looking for ’09 to take over the House.

I particularly like the part about Judy Feder beating Frank Wolf. Nice.