He lost to someone that is more right? Did I hear that correctly? He was a chosen son.
Some are saying he lost because he continuously ignored his constituency and was acting more like someone who wanted to campaign more for the Speaker's position instead of a Congressman. This may not have been a Tea Party win as much as it may have been an anti-establishment, anti-RINO win.
Some are saying he lost because he continuously ignored his constituency and was acting more like someone who wanted to campaign more for the Speaker's position instead of a Congressman. This may not have been a Tea Party win as much as it may have been an anti-establishment, anti-RINO win.
True.
In addition, a couple of comments allude to the fact that Mr. Cantor is Jewish and may have lost because of antisemitism.
Please stop ( if you can).
He didn't just become Jewish. His district voted for him up until he stopped representing them. Period.
Awsome, another of the Bankers pawns, err establishment fellas goes down... Now if we can get a tea party equivalent group on the left side of the political spectrum to take down the pawns on that side of the isle we might get somewhere...
I see all the headlines have Cantor's name in them, not Dave Brat, the guy who won. The media seems more concerned with how Cantor lost than how Brat won.
I like how the Democratic spin doctors are in full spin mode right now over this. They're saying that, because it was an open primary, more Democrats came out and wanted to vote Cantor out and Brat in because he was the weaker candidate and would make for an easy November win. I think the truth for them would be closer to "Oh my God! What just happened!?"
I like how the Democratic spin doctors are in full spin mode right now over this. They're saying that, because it was an open primary, more Democrats came out and wanted to vote Cantor out and Brat in because he was the weaker candidate and would make for an easy November win. I think the truth for them would be closer to "Oh my God! What just happened!?"
In Va, Cantor's home state , can registered dems or even independents vote in a GOP primary?
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-11-2014).]
In Va, Cantor's home state , can registered dems or even independents vote in a GOP primary?
I heard that, because it was an open primary, both parties can vote in each other's primaries. Can someone check on this? In SC, because I'm a registered Independent, I can't vote in either primary. So I know it varies from state to state.
I guess immigration and religion is the issues Republicans care about this year.
Immigration, probably. Religion? Not so much. The Tea Party isn't about religion. It's about smaller government, less taxes, more liberty. You know that, don't you?
Virginia has no requirement for voters to register by party.
In addition, Virginia law requires open primaries. Any qualified voter can vote in either party's primary election. The only restriction is when more than one political primary is held on the same day. In that case no voter may vote in more than one political party's primary but it's an honor system thing.
Crazy, right? The system is ripe for opposing parties to affect outcomes.
Of course, we also have the only radar detector ban in the country.
Immigration, probably. Religion? Not so much. The Tea Party isn't about religion. It's about smaller government, less taxes, more liberty. You know that, don't you?
Brat is a big Christian theology pushing dude. His books are about Jesus religion economics and etc. Cantor was the one and only Jewish Republican in the entire House. After his term ends, every Republican in the house will be Christian.
To be honest, until just now, I had never heard one person comment on his being Jewish. I didn't even know. To me, it doesn't matter nor does that change a thing. If you constantly go against what the people you represent are asking for, it's time for you to go. I think people are really starting to get sick of our elected officials doing what is not good for the people, but good for themselves, their political careers, and their wallets. As much bad information that is on the Internet and social media, I think it also keeps the politicians from hiding behind closed doors and presents the public with a LOT of information that some politicians would rather you not see.
Awsome, another of the Bankers pawns, err establishment fellas goes down... Now if we can get a tea party equivalent group on the left side of the political spectrum to take down the pawns on that side of the isle we might get somewhere...
Some are saying he lost because he continuously ignored his constituency and was acting more like someone who wanted to campaign more for the Speaker's position instead of a Congressman. This may not have been a Tea Party win as much as it may have been an anti-establishment, anti-RINO win.
David Brat’s surprise victory Tuesday over House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was quickly embraced by the tea party movement – especially national tea party groups that have been looking to score a big win in their battle against GOP incumbents this cycle.
Leaders of the Tea Party Patriots quickly chimed in on Twitter:
@EricCantor lost his election - is the establishment dead? Way to go #teaparty activists in VA. You the grassroots won. #noamnesty won.
— Jenny Beth Martin (@jennybethm) June 11, 2014
The U.S. Chamber declared war on tea party candidates. We just declared war on their candidates. Bye bye Cantor. @RobEngstrom
— Debbie Dooley (@Crimsontider) June 11, 2014
In a post on the FreedomWorks for America blog, President Matt Kibbe wrote, “If you stop representing your voters, they will hold you accountable at the voting booth. We are proud to stand with Dave Brat in his election and look forward to working with him to reform Washington, D.C.”
And the Madison Project’s Daniel Horowitz crowed in a statement that “just a few short weeks ago, the Establishment was working the media over trying to shut the coffin on conservatives and the Tea Party.
“But first Mississippi, and now Virginia’s 7th show that the people, and not the political class will not accept a growing government dead-set on expanding their power, and passing policies that do nothing but line the pockets of special interests,” he added.
So how much did their groups spend to help Brat win?
Zero.
Of the measly $4,805 in political expenditures against Cantor reported to the Federal Election Commission, none came from the big national tea party groups, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation. The bulk was spent by a newly formed super PAC called We Deserve Better PAC on an online ad that attacked Cantor as pro-amnesty.
Meanwhile, several outside groups together spent $366,000 on independent ads, phone banks and mailers backing Cantor – including the American Chemistry Council, which put $308,000 into a TV ad, and the National Rifle Association, which spent less than $2,000 on postcards.
Heading into Tuesday's election, Brat was massively outspent. Cantor's campaign raced through more than $5 million on the reelection effort, while his challenger's campaign mustered less than $123,000.
The lack of financial firepower on Brat’s behalf may have been in part his fault – the largely unknown candidate, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., failed to show up to two gatherings of national conservative operatives and activists last month, citing finals.
But it’s worth noting that many of the national tea party groups that have been the most pugilistic about this year’s intra-party fights have not invested much money into helping the candidates on the ground. As we reported earlier this year, organizations such as Tea Party Patriots and the Madison Project are spending huge sums on fundraising, salaries and consultants, while just putting a tiny fraction of the millions of dollars they have raised into political expenditures.
The fact that Brat took off without the help of those organizations now makes it harder for them to claim his victory as their own.
Brat is a big Christian theology pushing dude. His books are about Jesus religion economics and etc. Cantor was the one and only Jewish Republican in the entire House. After his term ends, every Republican in the house will be Christian.
Just saying!
Let's look at 'Jesus religion economics' for a moment. Let's suppose that's true. So what? The Bible speaks a great deal on the topic of money, and being a good steward of resources, not being in debt, etc. Don't these sound like 'good' things for the government? And we'll move away from the 'tithing' issue, since government doesn't tithe, and is separate, Biblically speaking. (render unto Caesar that which is Caesars, render unto God that which is God's == separate issues).
What is your viewpoint on the Biblical view of economics? (Yes, I'm actually interested.)
Cantor was out of touch with his constituents and more interested in moving up the ladder of Republican hierarchy. As with many long tern elected politicians he was making big bucks from "supporters" with" fund" raising as an additional income stream. Politicians need to return to their districts periodically to see just what is happening outside of the DC environment and be out of elected office for a term or two.
Awsome, another of the Bankers pawns, err establishment fellas goes down... Now if we can get a tea party equivalent group on the left side of the political spectrum to take down the pawns on that side of the isle we might get somewhere...
I think the truth for them would be closer to "Oh my God! What just happened!?" 
