The latest news from the 5th CD has Tom Perriello gaining a Republican challenger and losing another one. Beginning with the one that won't be running...Cordel Faulk -- a former spokesman for the UVA Center for Politics -- says he will NOT run against Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello.Waldo Jaquith writes that this is a "good move," as Faulk's "candidacy would have been awkward for Larry Sabato’s Center for Politics, for whom he’s spokesman."
Faulk was considering a run as a Republican. He tells us that he's decided against a bid for office in order to pursue another opportunity, which he will detail sometime in the near future.
Now, here's the Republican addition to the field:
Entering the fray will be Albemarle County Supervisor Ken Boyd, who e-mailed supporters Monday that he will run for Perriello’s seat.Three other Republican candidates - Laurence Verga, an Albemarle County businessman; Bradley Rees, a Lynchburg factory worker; and Feda Kidd Morton, a Fluvanna County teacher - have already announced that they will seek the Republican nomination to
Boyd told NBC29 that he plans to file paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission and will make a public announcement soon. Boyd said it’s still unclear whether the GOP will opt for a primary or a convention to pick a nominee from the field of candidates.
So far, what I'm hearing is that Boyd - unlike Rees, Verga, and Morton - has already held elective office, and might be able to self finance. Also, Boyd is from Charlottesville and theoretically could eat into Perriello's base there. We'll see, but I'm skeptical. Meanwhile, Boyd wrote a letter to his supporters saying that his "will kick off November 5 and 6," but that he would be filing "in the days ahead." Boyd talked about what's motivating him, and tops on the agenda appears to be what he calls "the unbelievable deficits being run up in Washington." Of course, Boyd ignores the fact that Republican Ronald Reagan added $1.94 trillion to the national debt, Republican George HW Bush added $1.16 trillion to the national debt, and Republican George W. Bush added more thatn $4 trillion to the national debt. Boyd also ignores the fact that relative to GDP, Democrat Bill Clinton reduced the debt by 8.8%, while Republican Reagan increased it over 20%, Republican George HW Bush over 13%, and Republican George W. Bush over 18%.
Sensing a pattern here? That's right; Republican Presidents since 1981 have been huge "borrow and spenders," while Democrats have been fiscally responsible, even running budget surpluses in the last few Clinton years (until George W. Bush squandered them with an enormous giveaway to the super rich plus the war in Iraq). As far as the Obama administration is concerned, remember that it inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit from George W. Bush just 9 months ago. Obama also inherited an economy in crisis, what many economists believe is the worst since the Great Depression. In response, Obama and the Democratic Congress were forced to pass a large economic recovery package to get us back on our feet, but everyone knows that once this crisis passes, it's time to get our fiscal house in order after 8 years of Republican profligacy.
Look, Republicans like Ken Boyd can try to rewrite history all they want, but all you have to do is use "teh Google" and you'll find reams of information contradicting their fallacious claims. I'd suggest that Boyd try it himself, but I realize that he probably doesn't want facts to get in the way of his good - but 180-degrees-opposite-from-reality story.
