In the 6th, Schmookler challenges Goodlatte to debate, and Goodlatte accepts
Bob Goodlatte
Andy Schmookler
6th District Democratic challenger Andy Schmookler scheduled news conferences in Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke on Thursday to challenge incumbent Congressman Bob Goodlatte to debate.
It only took two of those three before Goodlatte agreed.
By the time Schmookler started his news conference in front of half a dozen supporters in the city council chambers at Roanoke’s Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, his campaign staff had already heard back from Goodlatte.
“On my way here from the press conference in Lynchburg, I got word that Congressman Goodlatte has relented and agreed to debate me,” Schmookler said. “My response is I’m very pleased that he has.”
Schmookler went ahead and read a portion of his pre-planned remarks, anyway, including this challenge to Goodlatte and his record:
“I have been declaring that you, Mr. Goodlatte, are betraying the trust of the people who sent you to Washington, the good people of Virginia’s 6th District. I believe strongly, sir, that you have put your own ambition and your partisan interests ahead of serving the interest and values of the people of Virginia. Your policies — however well you sell them to your supporters — are hurting those same people. Further, I declare that the party you so consistently rubber-stamp has been lying to the American people like no major political party in the history of our country.”
In response, Goodlatte campaign manager Chris Leavitt sent along this statement: “Congressman Goodlatte has always debated his Democratic opponents. He is confident that the voters of the Sixth District will embrace his message to repeal Obamacare, cut spending and amend the United States Constitution to require a Balanced Budget. We will work to determine a schedule after Congress adjourns.”
Schmookler said he’d like to participate in at least three debates in different parts of the district including Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke.
– Mason Adams
August 2, 2012 - 7:20 PM
Curious why he never accepts debates from other candidates. He refused to either acknowledge or debate his last three opponents. It doesn’t matter how insignificant he thinks they are, he has crappy campaign tactics.
Oh well, it isn’t like he will have anything different to say. It will be the same talking points and rhetoric we have heard for two decades.
The point of a campaign is to win and he has done a good job of it, so I would say they have been pretty good campaign tactics. On a side note, he ran on term limits in which he is about 3 terms in excess. Not cool.
Mr. Goodlatte is “confident that the voters of the Sixth District will embrace his message to repeal Obamacare, cut spending and amend the United States Constitution to require a Balanced Budget.”
That depends on how many of our voters care about the truth enough to check it out before they vote.
Anyone who thinks that Mr. Goodlatte can be trusted to tell the truth about Obamacare can find out how dishonest he’s been from this piece I wrote: http://blogs.roanoke.com/politics/2012/06/30/schmookler-goodlatte-is-spreading-myths-about-obamacare/
I hope that any voter inclined to “embrace” Mr. Goodlatte as someone who will help our country deal responsibly with its budget problems because of his pet Balanced Budget Amendment, will read my commentary on this “bad idea offered in bad faith.” http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/299978
And before people get misled by the Republican lies that we’ve had a government spending spree under President Obama, they should take a look at these charts: http://blogs.lclark.edu/hart-landsberg/files/2012/06/dolan-relative-to-gdp.png and http://blogs.lclark.edu/hart-landsberg/files/2012/06/fredgraph-percente-change-from-a-year-ago.png In fact, government spending has increased far less in this Great Recession than in any other recession since World War II—including the recession presided over by Ronald Reagan.
The problem with the deficit is primarily a problem of declining revenues—a problem that has only been made worse by the insistence of Bob Goodlatte and his Republican colleagues that the super-rich not pay another penny in taxes, despite their now paying at the lowest rate they’ve paid in the past 80 years.
Will voters embrace Bob Goodlatte’s dishonest message. I don’t know. But I do know that our Founders would have hoped that voters would take the time to find out the truth, so that it is the truth, and not the lie, that prevails in our political arena.
It’s about time that Mr. Goodlatte stepped up to the plate and given the voters of the 6th District a good look at his positions on issues which affect them.
FINALLY!!! How many times did we (democratic constituents) have to ask Goodlatte why he refused to debate Andy Schmookler? It seems our pushing and continuous asking has finally paid off. I can’t wait for these debates to happen. Good luck Andy!!!
@Andy Schmookler It seems from that post you see no need in trying to attract independent voters or non-straight ticket republicans. I’m not sure that there are enough die hard Obama democrats in the 6th to beat a well funded incumbent, but good luck. I wish there were a candidate running against Goodlatte that actually wanted to win as I have no love for Bob Goodlatte.
@John Brown–you don’t have to be an “Obama Democrat” to see the truth in what Andy Schmookler posted. When voters look at the elements of the Affordable Care Act, they overwhelmingly support them. I would encourage you to do the same. Likewise, the fact is that Obama’s spending isn’t “out of control” as Goodlatte claims. Tax revenues have fallen because of the recession that began under Bush, and that’s why we have large deficits–that and the tax cuts that didn’t achieve their purpose of boosting the economy. But repeatedly, Goodlatte has misled the voters of this district, and it’s time that the people demanded the truth.
I am interested in attracting not only independent voters, but also very conservative voters.
The real issue in American politics today is not about liberal vs. conservative. It is about constructive vs. destructive, about honest vs. dishonest. It’s about a willingness to serve the greater good vs. unbridled selfishness.
My main point about Mr. Goodlatte’s politics is that he and his party are being consistently dishonest with the people. Dishonesty is not a conservative value. Hypocrisy is not a conservative value. A willingness to sacrifice the nation’s good for partisan advantage is not a conservative value.
I am not asking conservatives to abandon their conservative principles. I’m asking them to notice that the leaders they have entrusted with the power to represent them in Washington have betrayed their trust.
“When voters look at the elements of the Affordable Care Act, they overwhelmingly support them.”
That is, until they find out just how much it will cost…and how much damage it will do to our healthcare system. And by the time it is fully implemented and the realization of it hits…it will be too late.
How do you react to the poll from the Doctor Patient Medical Association that showed 83% of Doctors considered quitting due to Obamacare? Bogus right wing polling?
http://www.doctorsandpatients.org/images/files/DPMA_SurveyResults.pdf
You keep on keepin’ on there Goodlatte. Spend another few years trying to overcome ACA and reading the Constitution outloud. You have a very easily satisfied constituency.
@The Other Rick — your claims simply are simply not true. Independent studies by the CBO show that the ACA will lower the deficit; enlarging the insured pools should lower premium costs; many are already experiencing the benefits of the law; and it’s designed to improve, not damage, our healthcare system and that’s what it’s doing.
Yawn, JohnBrown. People in my industry suffer from constantly changing and increasing regulation which makes us all think about quitting once in a while. Please tell in which job people DON’T occasionally think about quitting?
Guess what…they won’t.
Goodlatte is accepting this debate for one reason. “Easy pickins”.. “Shmooky” is an out of touch socialist and doesnt have a prayer of even 20% of the vote.
“The problem with the deficit is primarily a problem of declining revenues”
This is where “schmooky” is so out of touch. Too much spending is the problem, look at the deficit for Christs sake. Get real man.Typical leftist.. tax,tax, tax!
There’s an obvious problem with your logic, Mr. McGuire. You seem to think that “look at the deficit for Christs sake” constitutes proof that “too much spending is the problem. But of course, the deficit is a measure of spending minus revenues. So the size of the deficit proves nothing about what’s happened to spending.
As it happens, federal revenues have sunk to below 15% of US GDP (Gross Domestic Product), way below normal, which is usually more like 20%.
As for spending –I’m assuming, Mr. McGuire, that you didn’t bother to consult the charts I linked to above– here’s a quotation I found rather readily on the web, which corresponds to what I’ve seen documented elsewhere in many reputable places: “In the years leading up the the recession, federal expenditures grew at an average annual rate of 6.5%. During the recession, that rate jumped to 9.1% per year, in response to the downturn. However, since the end of the recession in 2009, the average annual growth rate of federal spending has fallen to 4.3%, well below average.”
Have there been big deficits under Obama (and also, incidentally, well over $1 trillion in GW Bush’s last year)? Yes.
Has there been a spending spree under President Obama, whose first budget did not even begin until months after he took office in 2009? No.
What’s happened is that spending has gone up a bit–and almost all of that is for those programs that kick in during hard times, when unemployment is high and people need help putting food on the table. But at the same time, revenues have declined significantly.
And both of those have to do with the deep downturn that began under the previous president, and consisted of the usual business cycle PLUS the first major financial crisis since the Great Depression.
A great deal of the deficit can be closed by getting people back to work, getting the economy moving again. But the Republicans, like Bob Goodlatte, after running on “jobs” in 2010, have done absolutely everything they could to prevent anything constructive from being done.
Why? So they could make the president fail, and then blame him for the failure and get the White House back.
Some patriots! After running on “Country First” in 2008, even before the inauguration they made the president’s failure their top priority, even though that would mean the country itself would fail.
Here’s a quote from Paul Krugman’s latest excellent column in the New York times, which demonstrates the hypocrisy and dishonesty of today’s national Republicans:
“If our economy is still deeply depressed, much — and I would say most — of the blame rests not with Mr. Obama but with the very people seeking to use that depressed economy for political advantage.”
Whatever the issues, and whether one is a liberal or a conservative, we need to recognize that our nation cannot be healthy if that kind of dishonest politics is allowed to succeed.
Bye , Bye Schmookler. By the way, did you guys realize that Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman of GE, and Jobs Commission (job Czar)appointee by Obama, is moving its 115 year-old X-Ray division from Waukesha, Wis., to Beijing, China ? It will spend $2 BILLION for training…GE made $5.1 BILLION in the USA last year, yet paid NO TAXES..One has to assume that the aforementioned cozy relationship with Obama is the reason for that little `mishap`….Sounds to me like Obama forgot to tell Immelt which Country to create jobs IN !
#17 response pretty much debunks anything said in Schmooklers comments…They just continue to back a `president` who is destoying jobs in this Country as fast as he can destroy them.
Oh good grief, you have to spread your lies over here too Doto?
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/ge.asp
Is there such a thing as an honest, informed right winger? Put it next to The Lochness Monster and BigFoot, IMO!\
Andy Schmookler, I appreciate the efforts. Good luck to an honest man. Non one wants to hear the truth.
“the deficit is a measure of spending minus revenues”
The answer is to eliminate the nanny state. It has turned the citizens into non productive leeches who live live off the govt. Time to eliminate these programs. Not increase taxes to support them.
The answer, is to eliminate the US being the “nanny” to the whole world and the wealthy. The money we spend on foreign aid, war, defense for others, subsidies, incentives and tax advantages for the already successful industries and already wealthy people are beyond ridiculous “welfare” but no one mentions them, just cut off the “non-productive leeches”. Cause every nation loves beggars in the streets, slums and workhouses!
Mr. Goodlatte will pull out his well-worn list of Republican talking points and his geriatric base will nod (off) in agreement. Notice how this so-called “fiscal conservative” never discusses cutting Social Security or Medicare, the third rail of the 6th district. You’re a good man, Andy, and you have my vote, but you don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell.
@Sandi Saunders
“Communism and socialism is seductive. It promises us that people will contribute according to ability and receive according to needs. Everybody is equal. Everybody has a right to decent housing, decent food and affordable medical care. History should have taught us that when we hear people talk this stuff–Watchout!” – Walter E. Williams
Andy Schmookler is one of the most IN touch people you will ever meet. I can say this having known Andy for 40 years. You can like his approach or not, but you could not seriously get away with calling him unaware of or uninformed about the complexity of the issues before us. He is not vulnerable to facile ideas about socialism OR conservatism. In congress, he will get to the core of the arguments and represent all of us with integrity. His searching intelligence, care for people, and love of our country will serve us all well.
“John Brown”, there is nothing “seductive” about promising what has never been delivered in the history of mankind. What will never be delivered in the history of mankind and that which is propaganda used as a wedge against progress.
The Constitution of this nation founded us on everybody having rights. No new concept there. The only limit has ever been our courage to decide them. There has been no new precedent, only the usage as propaganda instead of courage. History taught us that when we hear people talk this stuff, they are uniquely American.
Maybe you all should study what happened the last time an entire nation fell for the propaganda of division.
http://www.amazon.com/Even-Worse-Than-Looks-Constitutional/dp/0465031331
Obama is the most Devisive `president` this Country has ever seen.
I truly admire Andy Schmookler for responding so calmly and clearly to Jack McGuire’s idiotic comments above. Schmookler’s got the facts. Whether people like McGuire will listen to the facts is another question.
Regarding John Brown’s post of a survey of physician attitudes toward ACA, here’s an article that tells a different story: http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/99827/no-doctors-dont-hate-obamacare
JackM isn’t Schmookler’s audience.
#26 He’s divisive because the right wingers who hate him are making it that way.
Gosh, that was easy.
Obama’s not divisive. The RWers are sore losers. That’s not President Obama’s fault.
You lost, get over it, especially as you’re staring at another loss this fall.
@ 26 Jeff Doto & @ 30 gdad:
Are you guys arguing that Barack Obama is more divisive as a president than James Buchanan? No states have seceded during Obama’s presidency; seven did so under Buchanan.
– Mason Adams
@Clifford Garstang
Maybe you should read the article yourself before supporting it.
“Pollack and Ross have created an opinion piece here that purports to represent reality, but it plays fast and loose with the facts and the result is a complete piece of fiction. Pollack and Ross do not in any way accurately represent what the large majority of physicians believe.
First – the title “Doctors don’t hate Obamacare”. As evidence the author trots out a list of organizations, beginning with the AMA that support(ed) it. The author must surely know that only about 15% of physicians belong to the AMA, and that it has not represented mainstream thought in the medical profession for years. Case in point is Obamacare. A national survey of physicians conducted by Jackon and Coker (a physician placement firm) found that when presented with the statement “the AMA’s stance and actions represent my views” 13% agreed, and 77% disagreed. Specifically, when presented with the statement “I agree with the AMA’s Position on Health care reform” 13% agreed, and 70% disagreed. (http://www.jacksoncoker.com/news/News.aspx?sc_cid=AMA).”
@Mason Adams…LOL! Good point.
Barack Obama will finish with the same number of states he starts with, assuming the District and Puerto Rico don’t change status.
Oh please Jeff Doto, your posts continue to be without merit. President Obama was sworn in January 2009, the “TEA Party” so called “patriots” went nuts in February 2009 and have yet to let up. The Congress met Obama virtually at the door working on his “Waterloo”. The divisive tactics and ludicrous turnarounds have been completely at the lead of the TP/GOP. There is no denying it. You seriously need to read something besides propaganda. It is really telling on you.
#32 Sorry I wasn’t clear, Mason. I’m suggesting that it’s the right wingers who can’t stand Obama who are causing the division. Things like falsely declaring him a Muslim, a socialist and an enemy of the U.S. leads to rifts.
Folks like John Brown will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The PPACA IS law, it IS constitutional, and it WILL be embraced by the majority of Americans once they see through the right-wing propaganda. Don’t like the health care reform Mitt Romney favored before he didn’t? Come up with your own plan. Oh wait, there isn’t one.
“He’s divisive…” – gdad
So, gdad, you said he is divisive.
That WAS easy!
If Obama is “divisive”…so what? The frothing 10% or whatever can go pound salt. All he needs is a 51-49 “divide” and he wins.
Again, not Obama’s fault the losers are loud-mouthed crybabies.
And today…RCP has Obama up 3.4% and trending upwards.
#38 If you bothered to read the whole thing you might understand, MMM. But then again given your history, probably not.
Was your last comment directed at me or Mason, gdad?
Because apparently neither of us nor anyone else understood your #30.
Get all your comments in now Art because you’re in for a rude awakening after the election. Obama Care is going down.
#41 I’ll just let you guess, MMM. Have fun.
“Obama Care is going down.”
Even the Republicans know repeal without an alternative is political suicide. Codifying the popular provisions and returning to business as usual won’t cut it with the voters. You must have missed the memo…
Good grief, granddad, we have to guess what you really mean by EVERYTHING you mutter. It gets old after a while.
Obama is divisive.. maybe not the most divisive ever but certainly ranking right up there.
I was agreeing with you that he is divisive, gdad. No need to bust a capillary.
#45 Funny how the vast majority of folks on these blogs understand me with no problem — except you. Strange thing, that.
And then when I do clear up a mangled post, you repeatedly insist on “agreeing” with what I didn’t say. Yes, MMM is a troll.
“Obama Care is going down.”
Right. Like it was going to lose in the USSC. Yawn.
Guess what…people like “Obama Care”, and the longer it stays in place the more people will see through the lies of the RW and want it around.
JohnBrown, I have no idea why you think this “ObamaCare is going down” tripe is such a rallying cry. For people who have insurance, who cares. For people who don’t…they want it. Isn’t it clear by now that there’s no genuine political will behind trashing it? Just some theater for the RWers to throw to their flunkies.
Sorry, gdad. I didn’t realize you had mangled your own post. Thanks for clearing that up (rolls eyes…)
#48 Same old MMM.
I’m not THAT old, granddad…
Mr. Goodlatte’s anti-social liberties record speaks for itself: SOPA, CISPA, Patriot Act, warrantless wiretapping, telecom immunity. His position on the deficit-creating war is clear: he voted for the war and voted against a congressional timetable for withdrawal. He’s more concerned about government regulation of so-called “family values” than common sense government spending priorities: Investing domestically rather than wasting funds on things that explode or get blown-up in wars that do not benefit any American with the exception of bloated arms manufacturing corporations.
I’m not usually the type to vote against someone rather than for someone but I’ve met Mr. Schmookler–he’s alright even if we disagree on some things but, more importantly, he’s not Mr. Goodlatte.