Posted on 06/10/2014 7:43:13 PM PDT by HokieMom
In a stunning turn of events, conservative upstart Dave Brat has defeated House Leader Eric Cantor in the Republican primary for Virginia’s seventh congressional district. Immigration played a decisive role in this primary. The apparent willingness of some House Republicans to work with the White House to pass an immigration package that includes a mass legalization and expanded guest-worker programs has infuriated many moderates and conservatives, especially those who want to reinvigorate the electoral fortunes of the Republican party with a renewed focus on economic opportunity and middle-class uplift. Claiming that the House Republican leadership’s immigration “principles” constituted “amnesty,” Brat accused Cantor of supporting the White House’s immigration agenda, and it appears that Cantor was unable to fend off these charges.
From the start, Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, had an uphill climb, with some experts claiming that there was “no real precedent” for defeating a majority leader in a political primary. With a broad network and large campaign war chest, Cantor usually cruised to victory in the seventh district. In 2012, for example, he crushed his primary opponent, Floyd C. Bayne, by 79 to 21 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Graham won because there were 7 candidates on the ballot, none a Dem iirc.
In defeating Cantor, Brat made a case for an approach to immigration that reflects respect for the rule of law, support for legal immigration, and a defense of economic opportunity.Cantor’s loss tonight might cause some House Republicans to reconsider any plans to advance an immigration-reform measure that could harm wages, increase economic divisions, and lead to further illegal immigration.
Given the choice, as defined above, why would any House Republican choose the second route? Why isn't Brat's choice a no-brainer?
When he first came on the scene he had the rep. of young tough conservative. After years in DC and on the Beltway circuit he lost his way and became a RINO, voila he loses.
I’m sure all the RINOs at NRO are crying in NY and DC.
Paging Tom Foley...
Except for Mark Krikorian.
Was that Foley defeat in the primary or the General? I thought Nethercutt took Foley out in the General.
They missed the obvious...Cantor is an arrogant ass who thought he knew better than the electorate
Yes, in DC too long and lost touch with his district. Fatal.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. I hope he enjoyed his “Crush the Tea Party” retreat a couple months back.
Think again. I was on my way to Gettysburg in 2002 and stopped overnight in a small town in Virginia. Went for a walk and thought I had wandered into Mexico. THATS. When the light went off in my head about how big the invasion had become. A small rural community in Virginia was full of illegals.
When was the last time you were in VA?
You defeatists are too much!
“One of the posters made an interesting comment, saying this could be voter backlash against the GOP for abandoning Cuccinelli, thereby getting McAuliffe elected.”
That was my first thought.
Ed Gillespie's Immigration Reform Support, Lobbying Past May Hurt Senate Bid
Former Republican National Committee Chair Removes Immigration Reform Support From Website
hashtags
#edamigo #edsombrero #edjalapeño #edsnotarino
I wondered how the Gillespie campaign would react. He better carefully consider his position.
Graham? Do you mean the third senator of Arizona?
Cantor lost in no small part because he was Majority Leader Eric Cantor and not 7th Congressional District Representative Eric Cantor. Ignore your district at your peril.
I've been visiting family in NoVA over the past twelve years, although both my son and B-I-L have moved back to New England recently.
However, in the twelve years 2002-2014. there has been a very noticeable increase - you might even say surge - in surly and unemployable-looking Hispanic men hanging out at stores, malls, and transportation hubs.
Also a big increase in local government communications (Arlington, Alexandria, and DC) in Spanish.
Maybe means nothing - who knows?
Just a report from ground level.
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