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Beat the Brat
……A Congressional District that runs from near Richmond, Virginia to near Washington, DC could make you think about the Civil War.
……Winning a Congressional Race in Virginia 07 could make you think about how the political wars have changed. Four years ago in a Republican primary, David Brat upset the Majority Leader in win an earthshaking primary, as astonishing as Democrat Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’ primary victory this year. Abigail Spanberger https://abigailspanberger.com/ could surprise Brat.
……David Brat is not so hot at staying in touch with his constituents. When Virginia high school students organized a rally after the Parkland shootings, Brat declined his invitation to speak. He has not held a town hall meeting for constituents in over a year. He has made himself vulnerable.
……While Ocasio-Cortez’ victory has generated a lot of attention, the Democrats, in VA 07 and elsewhere, are developing a new persona. In the past, since the Vietnam War and the unrest during that war, Democrats have been subject to criticisms for being weak with enemies, foreign and domestic, with criminals and dangerous nations.
……Democrats running for Congress in 2018, both men and women, are former military, former members of the CIA, former members of law enforcement, former prosecutors. Through a grotesque approach to law enforcement and civil rights, an immigration policy that includes separating children from their parents, and a foreign policy focused on war, trade war, and subservience to Russia, Trump and the Republicans make the common sense of these Democrats particularly welcome.
……Abigail Spanberger is one of the new ones. She investigated money laundering and narcotics distribution for the US Postal Inspection Service. Her constituents have been intrigued by her subsequent work with the CIA. She was an operations officer. She collected intelligence while living overseas. She recruited and managed assets. She was an American spy.
……Abigail Spanberger has domestic interests, as well. Her most recent work is a clue. She consulted with colleges and universities about diversity, graduation rates, and the barriers students face in beginning and completing their college education.
……Abigail Spanberger is grounded in Virginia. She grew up there, graduated from high school there, and earned her BA from the University of Virginia. Her vision is international. Her schooling did it. She participated in her high school’s Spanish immersion program. She earned her MBA in a German-American program in Germany –– a joint venture by a German business school and Purdue.
……When Abigail Spanberger discusses issues, she begins with domestic issues.:
- Support for a strengthened ACA, for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, and women’s reproductive health.
- Support for common sense gun safety policies such as funding research, laws that provide help to and remove guns from people in crisis, and background checks for all firearms purchases.
- Support meeting social security and Medicare obligations to seniors.
- Support for public schools and for skills and career training for those not going to colleges and universities.
- Support for a tax reform that is not a giveaway to the wealthy.
- Support for marriage equality, an Equal Rights Amendment, a criminal justice system unaffected by racism, help for the disabled, and help for prisoners and those released from prison.
- Support for campaign finance reform and an end to gerrymandering
Like virtually every Democratic candidate, Abigail Spanberger expresses support for veterans and for addressing the opioid crisis. Unlike many candidates, she sees national security, the economy, the climate, and technology in an international context.
……Abigail Spanberger https://abigailspanberger.com/ is running in a district pundits describe as Lean Republican. Help her make the district lean the other way. It can. She can. Brat will raise a lot of money. Help her combat that with a little money.
……Don’t forget the special election on August 7. Franklin County (Columbus, Ohio) Recorder Danny O’Connor https://dannyoconnorforcongress.com/ is running in a special election for the open 12th Congressional seat. The most recent poll shows him behind by a few points. He has come up with a distinctive appeal for the resources he needs to close out this race and get to 50% plus 1. He suggests that a Democratic victory would make Democratic defections in the battle over confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court less likely. Whether that reasoning is persuasive or not, O’Connor’s race is very close. Money sent directly to his campaign can make a difference in getting out the vote and other late efforts. Consider providing some support.
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