Americans for Prosperity bills itself as an organization that wants Washington to put the brakes on any additional budget busting legislation. “We need to tell these big-spending liberals in Washington like [local Democratic Congressmen] Rick Boucher and Tom Perriello that ‘November is coming!’” The slogan was also found on the advance notices for the AFP tour bus, before it rolled into downtown Roanoke last week. That’s a tip-off as to which candidates are most in line with Americans for Prosperity – conservative Republicans — although it does not officially endorse candidates.
State AFP director Ben Marchi got off the tour bus in front of the Roanoke City district courthouse, where a crowd of about 30 people was waiting. Included were 6th District Congressman Bob Goodlatte, along with fellow Republicans State Senator Ralph Smith and Delegate Bill Cleaveland. “We’re here to preserve and advance every individual’s right to economic freedom,” said Marchi before a short rally got under way. “One of the ways to do that is to educate all voters as to the voting records of their congressmen.”
The health care bill and stimulus package passed by Congress were in the crosshairs; they were even called out as wasteful spending via graphics on the bus. Marchi said it was important for Roanoke voters to know that Goodlatte has pushed for a balanced budget, opposed the health care bill and stimulus spending, and has spoken out against the proposed cap-and-trade legislation. “The opposite is true for Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher,” added Marchi.
“Health care needs reform,” Marchi acknowledged, but ideas proposed by conservatives “have just been thrown under the bus. Nancy Pelosi won’t let stuff like [tort reform] be part of the package.” AFP is funded by 80,000 donors, according to Marchi. “Many are here in Virginia.” He also noted that “transparency issues at the state government level draw more bipartisan support.”
When he spoke, 22nd District State Senator Ralph Smith derided the $51 million in stimulus money to be spent on renovating the federal Poff building as a symbol of Washington waste.
Smith also asked those present to do something “green” – and that “doesn’t mean buying a fuel-efficient vehicle with an erector set motor.” According to Smith, it really means “voting right come November, so we have some green left in our pocket.”
Smith also promoted Morgan Griffith as the best candidate in the 9th Congressional District, which extends into western Roanoke County and Salem. Referring to Democrat incumbent Rick Boucher, Smith said, “He always votes with [House majority leader] Nancy Pelosi.” “I think things will be a lot better for us [if Griffith wins].”
Cleaveland, just finishing up his freshman year in Richmond, talked about the “extra money printed” in Washington these days to address debt from legislation passed in Washington since Barack Obama was elected president.
“Please stay strong at the local level,” said Cleaveland, referring to the push for reduced spending. “[And] please stay strong in November.” He asked those present to speak to others about getting to the polls if they were worried about the debt accumulating in Washington.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We need a government that believes in fiscal responsibility,” said Goodlatte, who espoused many of the same themes he touched on at a town hall meeting a week earlier. “We need a government that reflects the values of the people [and] a Congress that votes to cut spending.”
“That means focusing on individual responsibility,” added Goodlatte. “Forty percent of what the federal government will spend this year will be borrowed,” said the long-term incumbent, who has no Democrat challenger this fall.
“November is coming,” the AFP tour bus proclaimed in big, bold graphics. “There’s an electric current in the air,” said Marchi, predicting big gains by the Republicans in November. “People are charged up like never before.”
By Gene Marrano [email protected]