(Richmond, Virginia, February 28, 2011) – On February 25, 2011, Republican Congressman Eric Cantor reverted to his old habits, voting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, against the $100 billion budget cuts. In his vote, Cantor reneged on a campaign promise. Instead of following the lead of the new freshmen elected by the tea party movement, Cantor sided with establishment Republican officials.
“We are extremely disappointed in Eric Cantor, but not surprised”, says Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation Chairman, Mark K. Lloyd of Lynchburg, VA. “The will of the American people was pretty clear in November- cut, cut, cut spending. Apparently, Eric Cantor’s ‘conversion’ to fiscal restraint was only temporary”.
Susan Lascolette, of the Richmond Tea Party, and a Republican candidate for the Goochland County Supervisor seat, concurs – “The congressional district map shows that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, but his inconceivable vote on the Blackburn amendment does not represent Virginia’s values. His actions show a complete disregard for the tea party belief in fiscal restraint and indicate a lack of transparency, accountability, and any hint of the realism needed to yank America back from the edge of a financial meltdown. We are at a loss for an explanation and give him a failing grade on this vote.”
Says Robert Shannon, Membership Liaison for the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation, “Congressman Eric Cantor exemplifies what is wrong with not just the republican Party, but with politics in general. He is a career politician who puts his personal ambition ahead of the Nation’s well-being”.
Eric Cantor and Congressman Frank Wolf (R- VA -9) were the only 2 of Virginia’s Republican Congressional Delegation that voted against the Blackburn amendment. Anger and dissatisfaction with both representatives is very high in the Virginia Tea Party movement. While no Republican challenger has yet been identified for Cantor’s seat, tea party candidate Ken Vaughn has announced his candidacy to challenge Frank Wolf.
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wake up fellow tea partiers!!!…we need to cleanse the republican party before taking on the democrats…why can’t we see this???…a new party, seperated from the republicans,and build from the bottom…..
Quick Note, Frank Wolf is VA-10 not VA-9
I was a Cantor supporter. Am starting to realize he is not a true conservative. I even gave money to his election. NO MORE. joe Schooff
Apparently, we need to vote out a WHOLE lot more people…
I agree with Joe– I supported Cantor on the basis that he was going to represent our conservative values and principles. I expected him (foolish me) to actually do what he said he would do when he got back to DC. Now it appears that the hundred mile trip up 95 has stricken him with amnesial–seems epidemic among politicians, especiallly lawyer politicians. I anticipate that he will continue to court the cameras, bend toward the opposition, and attempt to double-talk his way through the hard questions from his constituents– and hope that people like us either die soon or just go away. Well… I may die, although I have no immediate plans in that direction, but I and my family, by God, are not going away.
You guys can’t be serious. You’re going against Cantor? You’re cutting off your nose to spite your face. Cantor is a good man, and just because you disagree with him on a few issues does not mean you should publicly disavow him.
Susan Lascolette doesn’t seriously think I’m going to vote for her for Goochland Supervisor now does she? I live in Goochland.
Margaret Kutzenberger
If the Tea Party is expected to carry the water for people who do not really want to save this nation then we’ve already lost it. Cantor needs to get serious about cutting spending. We are spending 1,5 TRILLION dollars more than we have. It’s unsustainable and anyone that isn’t willing to cut more than 500 Billion NOW will not have the support of Americans let alone the Tea Party.
[Kurt Feigel – VTPP Communications Director]
Although I commend Mark Lloyd for being frustrated somewhat with Eric Cantor by not opposing deeper cuts of more than $61 Billion, I am more disappointed and frustrated with both the Virginia Tea Party Federation’s and the Richmond Tea Party’s leadership (present and past) that catered to Cantor’s re-election campaign during the 2010 election cycle. Both Tea Party’s refused to accept and point out Cantor’s voting record which showed his votes to increase government spending and increase the National Debt limit.
The suppose “frustration” from both Virginia Tea Party Federation and the Richmond Tea Party with Cantor’s failure to approve an amendment for deeper cuts is nothing more than “smoke and mirrors” for their members. Failure of both Tea Party’s to openly criticize Cantor before his re-election has allowed Cantor to operate as he has done in the past, and will continue to do without listening and hearing from his constituents.
Both Tea Party’s have stopped all protest of politicians and criticism especially since aligning themselves with the GOP.
Mark Lloyd’s comment; “Anger and dissatisfaction with both representatives is very high in the Virginia Tea Party movement” might be true now. But where was the Tea Pary’s anger and dissatisfaction with Eric Cantor after breaking his promise and the “Pledge to America” that he signed which stated the GOP will cut $100 Billion from the 2011 fiscal budget? Where is the anger and dissatisfaction with Cantor for going back on his word of not voting for earmarks, then voting on March 2, 2011 for the “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark that will cost Taxpayers $233 Million? Silence is what the Tea Party members hear.
Source:
http://nationaljournal.com/daily/dems-decry-continued-funding-for-bridges-to-nowhere–20110302
And the silence will continue unless both Tea Party’s return to the original reasons they were formed, to reign in big government and control spending and to hold all politicians accountable to their actions, we will see very little change in Washington. In my opinion, and I am sure as well as many others, have seen less criticism on spotlighted politicians, such as Eric Cantor. Why?
I am very concern that neither Mark Lloyd or Susan Lascolette bothered to mentioned that Ms. Lascolette is a Republican candidate running for the Goochland County Board of Supervisors in 2011.
Source:
http://www.goochlandgazette.com/index.php/news/article/lascolette_to_challenge_for_district_1_supervisor_seat/
Why this wasn’t disclosed shows the public how both Tea Party’s are irresponsible in not being transparent with full disclosure. Lack of investigative reporting from the RTD reporter, Olympia Meola should also be questioned.
Once again the People are being “played” by the leadership of both Tea Party’s as smoothly as they were played by the past Chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Federation and President of the Richmond Tea Party, Jamie Radtke, who is now running for the U.S. Senate. She used the Tea Party’s as her stepping stone to obtain political power and prestige.
Under Radtke’s leadership in both organizations, she has refused to openly criticize and protest many actions against politicians, especially those in the GOP. As the public can plainly see today, Radtke refuses to name the House Leadership for fear for not gaining support from Eric Cantor if she should win the GOP Primary this August. In the past, the public has seen many Richmond Tea Party protest in the Richmond area, this no longer occurs and should be questioned as to why this was discontinued. No longer do you see masses of People standing outside Rep. Eric Cantor, Sen. Mark Warner or Sen. Jim Webb’s offices.
Yes it’s time for change in the way Washington works, and the People had hoped the Tea Party movement would have done this. Maybe some tea Party groups have, but in my opinion it’s not doing well in Virginia when you have Tea Party leadership that has their own self-interest at heart.
Joe,
Your comments are a contradiction. You state that we are too aligned with the GOP and we are not criticizing them. Yet the post your commenting on is an open criticism of Eric Cantor and his spend happy ways.
If you are unhappy with the direction of the VTPP or RTP then there is a solution. Step up and serve in leadership.
Kurt Feigel – Communications Director VTPP
I will vote cantor out next election cycle. If these folks can’t keep their word, they don’t deserve to represent hard working Americans. Virginians deserve better!
Dear Kurt,
We don’t need to carry water for them, but we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water either. We should be attacking the dems and the rinos. The dems and the rinos are only going to cut so much if anything; then they’ll turn around and blame the republican leader for every hardship the country has ever experienced. It’s an old, old tactic.
I’m also concerned about statement such as Ernest Goins made (above). Capitol hill is a rough, tough place, yet he is automatically not going to vote for Canter(I think that’s what he actually meant) on the basis of one disagreement? There’s too much chance of a demo or rino getting in. Cantor is NOT the ememy, the dems are.
Margaret Kutzenberger
Maidens, VA
I can understand your concern. However, Cantor has done this kind of thing before. Lets look at the issue of Guns. Cantor claims to support the right to keep and bear arms yet continues to have his “republican roundup” in an anti gun location. That seems like no big deal to some…not to me…nor a lot of others.
Cantor needs to be the conservative that he ran as. Then everything will be fine. Else…
Eric Cantor has never voted against The Second Amendment. As far as the
anti gun location goes, look to the owners of the property who do not want guns at
their gatherings.
Cantor is a reasonable man intent on trying to change Washington. Your adversary is the Obama Administration, not Cantor.
The Tea Party of Va. of all people should support the Republicans so we can get
rid of this administration which is bringing our country to its knees. It is no easy matter to get 61,billion down no less 500 billion. Sometimes one has to try for 500 billion in two or three votes or the choice is no billions.
We really don’t need a third party to mess up everything. We need the Tea Party,
Independents and Republicans working together to accomplish a steady reform
in Washington.
Grace Sweeton
61 Billion is a WASTE OF TIME! We are spending over 1.4 TRILLION/YR MORE than we have. The national debt is 14trillion. It’s unsustainable. If Cantor doesn’t see this then he still doesn’t get it. We will not support this.
There are HUNDREDS of other locations he could have held that event. Yet he picked that spot over the objections of gun owners. He is a typical politician.
The Tea Party will no longer carry the water for these guys.
Greetings, from Cantor’s Republican challenger. :)