Democrat Jack Trammell speaks out about Virginia congressional race

Virginia Democratic congressional nominee Jack Trammell responded to questions from msnbc’s Krystal Ball about his policy views and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s primary defeat. This Q&A was one of Trammell’s first with the national press.

Q: So, you jumped into this race out of the blue a little over a week ago. You were nominated in a conference call Sunday night. What made you wake up and decide you wanted to run for Congress? 

A: Well truthfully, I’ve been thinking about running for several years but really committed to the idea a few months ago as I watched the dysfunctional politics of Congress continue to hurt Virginians. I’m running to give Virginians a leader who will get Congress focused on the priorities that matter to our community.

Q: We know you’re a history professor at Randolph Macon College. Your opponent Dave Brat is also a professor at Randolph Macon. (I guess faculty meetings are about to get a bit awkward!) Do you know Professor Brat? What else should we know about your background and your beliefs?

A: Professor Brat is a casual friend, meaning we know each other, and talk on occasion. We might have even played a game or two of basketball together! Although we do know each other, my beliefs drastically differ from those of Professor Brat. I think it’s important for people to know that I am a very active member of my community, so I’m very connected to the issues that are important to our community.

Q: Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s loss to David Brat was obviously a stunning upset that next to no one predicted. Did you expect to face Cantor in the Fall? To what do you attribute his loss? 

A: Part of me did; part of me believes in the unpredictability of politics. I believe his loss is just another indication that Virginians believe as I do that it is time for fresh ideas and new leadership in Washington.

Q: Have you spoken with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee? Will they support you?

A: Right now, I am working with my 7th District committee leaders, as well as the state party, to put as many pieces into place as possible in a reasonable amount of time. We’re focused on building our campaign and reaching out to Virginians to share our message.

Q: David Brat’s campaign against Cantor was animated by his opposition to what he calls amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Do you believe that the Dream Act, which would grant citizenship to the children of undocumented workers, or comprehensive immigration reform represent amnesty? What would you look to do on immigration?

A: I think immigration reform is a perfect example of how partisanship derails progress. We have to work together in order to enact change and move forward in the right direction.

Q: Virginia’s approach to health care reform has also made a lot of news this week with The Washington Post reporting that Republicans pressured a Democratic state senator to resign in order to prevent Democrats from moving forward with Medicaid expansion. Do you believe Virginia should accept federal government dollars to expand Medicaid to all those under 133% of the poverty line?

A: I am in favor expanding Medicaid. Here in Virginia alone, 400,000 people could benefit from doing so.

Q: What are your views on the president’s health care law more broadly? Would you change it? Repeal it?

A: The status quo wasn’t working for middle class families or our country’s bottom line. The only people who liked the status-quo were the insurance companies and the politicians they fund. The law isn’t perfect and I believe in remaining vigilant over time to monitor and improve any aspects of that law that need strengthening. We should fix what’s not working and keep what is.

Q: Sadly school shootings and gun violence have continued to dominate headlines this week. Would changing our federal gun laws help to prevent these sorts of tragedies?

A: My views on this issue are shaped by my life experience as both a teacher who would not want guns in my classroom, and as a rural resident with many friends and neighbors who are safe and responsible firearm owners. Generally, I would take my cues from law enforcement officials – but gun violence is a problem that has no easy, one size fits all solution – we need a complete approach that addresses mental health, education and a careful look at the legislation.

Q: Finally, Majority Leader Cantor was a very conservative member of Congress and was still ousted by forces even further to the right in the Republican Party. Is that hard right ideology typical of the 7th Congressional District? What does your path to victory look like? 

A: It is certainly not typical, meaning that it doesn’t represent everyone’s views, by any means. In spite of the way the district was drawn, there is a wealth diversity in its demographics. As I meet new people and connect with those I already know, I’m reminded of this. There are so many issues affecting our community that cross party lines. The people of the 7th District deserve a leader who can work across those lines, stand up to the reckless dysfunction in Washington, and get results on the issues that matter to us.

Cantor readies yet another anti-ACA vote

Members of Congress take a few weeks off for the winter holidays, and in the process, party leaders in both chambers use the time off to prioritize. When lawmakers return refreshed, eager to get the new year off to a strong start, what should be at the top of the to-do list?

 

Senate Democrats and the White House are focusing primarily on extending federal unemployment benefits, helping struggling families keep their heads above water while giving the economy a boost. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will bring a temporary extension to the floor early next week and the White House is lobbying in support of the bill.

 

GOP leaders in the lower chamber have a very different priority.

House Republicans will kick off the second session of the 113th Congress next week by voting on another bill to undercut the president’s health care law.

 

In a memo sent to Republican colleagues on Thursday, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., announced that the chamber would take up a measure next week to “strengthen security requirements” on the error-plagued HealthCare.gov website and “require prompt notification in the event of a breach involving personal information.”

The Majority Leader added, “American families have enough to worry about as we enter the new year without having to wonder if they can trust the government to inform them when their personal information – entered into a government mandated website – has been compromised.”

 

That’s nice rhetoric, I suppose, and it certainly dovetails well with the coordinated Republican effort, complete with carefully staged “field hearings,” to raise fears about health care and security. It’s obvious that GOP officials really put a lot of thought into multifaceted public-relations plan.

 

But it’s nevertheless a reminder about Republican lawmakers’ indifference to substance and governing.

 

Listening to Cantor yesterday, one might assume security requirements at healthcare.gov are a legitimate area in need of congressional attention. But those assumptions would be wrong – there have been no security breaches; literally zero Americans’ personal information has been compromised; administrative security testing for healthcare.gov is constant; and when rare vulnerabilities have popped up, the problems have been identified and resolved quickly and safely.

 

House GOP leaders know all of this. It’s not a well-kept secret.

 

So why would Cantor go out of his way to make this the #1 post-holiday priority for the House of Representatives? Especially when there’s so much real work to do? Because GOP officials are eager to scare consumers – if Americans are worried about non-existent security problems, maybe they’ll think twice before enrolling for coverage and participating in the system. And if consumers can be convinced to steer clear of signing up for insurance, it’ll undermine the federal care system overall, which would satisfy the GOP’s unhinged ideological goals.

 

The House Republican health care agenda is, in other words, predicated on ham-fisted demagoguery.

 

It’s a national embarrassment, or at least it would be if GOP lawmakers were still capable of shame.

‘I Can’t Help You’: Eric Cantor Blows Off 9 Year Old Girl

Why does the GOP hate children?

It’s not just that Republicans shut down the government, which made many families on government assistance programs nervous they wouldn’t have food to eat, or that Republicans slashed $40 billion from their food stamps bill, or that they voted 46 times to repeal Obamacare, which, if successful, would allow insurance companies to kick children off their parents’ health care programs.

It’s not just that Speaker of the House John Boehner blew off two young DREAMers a few weeks ago, who approached him and invited him to sit down and have breakfast with them.

Now, Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor was caught pulling a John Boehner.

Today, nine-year old Liz Maquez, a U.S. citizen whose father is in danger of being deported, approached Cantor in the halls of Congress. Maquez tried to talk to Cantor about her dad and immigration reform, but the Virginia Congressman couldn’t give her the time of day.

In a video released by FIRM, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, it took Cantor less than five seconds to blow off the nine-year old girl.

“Please” was all she got to ask.

“I can’t help you. Good to see you,” was Rep. Cantor’s response.

And perhaps he was actually, in a rare moment, being truthful.

John Boehner, despite news of having hired an immigration reform expert today, has made it clear he has no intention of bringing immigration reform to the House floor.

Watch:

As House Republicans decide not to return early to deal with Syria while simultaneously whining about the President playing golf, just thought you might like to know that this year, our elected representatives in Congress have generously granted themselves 239 vacation days.

They need to be well-rested for that 67th attempt at repealing Obamacare.

But what remains most astonishing about our representatives on the Hill is not only the quantity of legislation, but the amount of time spent working. The Congressional calendar for this coming year consists of 126 days, leaving members of Congress 239 days to perhaps tour our great nation, toy with the idea of running for higher office, and maybe visit a natural disaster or two. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s calendar releases rather embarrassing scheduling without a single 5-day work week or weekend. If you are already feeling riled up about this, I would not suggest looking at the month of August.

So, how? How can hard-working Americans, residents of one of the most overworked countries in the world, commute five times a week to and from work while their money is squandered away in one of the two or three weekly meetings Congress manages in squeeze in?

Well, perhaps my take on activities is somewhat cynical (not that you should have expected any less). Apparently, these weeks off are called “District work periods,” also known as free travel at taxpayer expense.

Ryan, Cantor 'secretly spoke' at Koch brothers' event - A.K.A. Ryan, Cantor suck Koch

Charles and David Koch made considerable investments in the 2012 elections, and as the dust settled, they didn't have much to show for their investments.

Several months later, however, the Koch brothers aren't exactly scaling back their political efforts.

Rep. Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez secretly spoke to wealthy donors at the Koch brothers' recently concluded summer gathering on the outskirts of Albuquerque.
The 2012 vice presidential candidate and No. 2 House Republican are return participants to the twice-annual seminar.... A spokesman for Cantor's office declined to comment, while Ryan's office did not immediately respond to questions.

As the Politico report explained, Koch Industries periodically hosts these "invitation-only seminars" under "extremely tight security." The brothers' powerful allies attend so they can hear from "Republican elected officials, conservative dignitaries and leaders of right-leaning groups backed by the Kochs' network," which Republican players attend to connect with donors and make the Kochs happy.

Ryan, Cantor, and Martinez are hardly unique -- previous attendees include governors (Christie, Perry, McDonnell), senators (Cornyn, DeMint), notable Republican media personalities (Limbaugh, Beck), and even sitting Supreme Court justices (Scalia, Thomas).

And while conservatives are certainly free to get together like this, I can't help but wonder why all the secrecy is necessary. Neither Ryan nor Cantor were willing to talk about the appearance, before or after attending, and when a reporter from the NBC affiliate in Albuquerque tried to cover the event where the New Mexico governor was speaking, he was turned away at a checkpoint -- a mile from the resort.

If the Koch brothers want to give the public the impression that something untoward is going behind closed doors with leading Republican policymakers, this is certainly the way to do it.

Poor Eric Cantor! It's sad when even Fox News gives you the smackdown!

It took Chris Wallace a mere four sentences to completely dismantle the TEApublican-controlled House during an interview with Eric Cantor earlier today. Of course, Cantor offered excuse after excuse for why the 113th Congress can’t seem to get anything done.  Finally, it appeared Wallace had enough and interjected these questions:

“Rightly or wrongly, none of the bills you passed is going to become law. You have only passed four of 12 appropriations bills you are supposed to pass. We face a government shut down in the fall. Is this the best time to spend your time, passing bills that won’t become law?”

Wallace later added,

“You don’t have common ground with the president and you don’t have common ground with the Senate Republican leadership.  Aren’t we headed for a train wreck?”