Live Blog with Wayne Powell

Hi Wayne... (0.00 / 0)

Thanks for reaching out to the blogosphere for the next hour.

When you are elected in November, it's possible you will inherit the results of the impending sequestration in January, significant cuts to both defense and social programs as a result of Washington failing to finding a fiscal solution to our deficits. This will have a significant negative impact on Virginia.

If you were in Congress now, how would you propose meeting the benchmarks to avoid sequestration? As a future member of Congress, how will sequestration impact your service?  

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by: Joel McDonald @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:15:17 PM UTC

Sequestration and the consequences in VA (0.00 / 0)

First and foremost, VA as you know depends on DOD investment in particular, and Federal dollars and many federal employees in general. Obviously we need to protect our Federal investment and the government jobs that are here.  Cantor was first in favor of sequestration, now he and other GOP leaders are complaining about the very cuts they formulated and agreed to.  It seems to me that instead of simply "cutting" every part of the Federal budget needs scrutiny, at the same time, the GOP has arranged it so that DOD will suffer as much as other parts of the budget.  Instead of taking an ax, there needs to be a scalpel taken to the cuts which at this writing are inevitable.  I think as a general rule this kind of mindless sequestration is wrong since there are too many opportunities to cut important programs and jobs without regard to the National  SEcurity of the country.  I believe that my son in Afghanistan and his comrades in arms deserve the most important support and this should remain.  At the same time, there are out sourced projects throughout DOD which  should be cut since they are the pets of politicians, including CAntor, who know nothing about security, but are paid by political contributions to keep alive projects that are not helping to defend the country.  IN other words, we need to audit, and really look at what needs to be done to comply with the law, and  remember, that we're in this shape because the GOP refused to consider revenues in addition to cuts..

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:25:37 PM UTC

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Thank you! (0.00 / 0)

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by: Joel McDonald @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:28:58 PM UTC

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Corporate Money in Elections (0.00 / 0)

Mr Powell,
What is your stance on the money being put into campaigns by the corporations?

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by: mediawins @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:15:30 PM UTC

$ to campaigns (0.00 / 0)

I'm against it.  There should be a required disclosure of all $ put into campaigns, and I would legislate or amend the const to overrule Citizens United.  This decision does more to hurt the political system than any I can recall.  It must be overturned...For example, Cantor's former staffers controlling super pacs subsidized by Sheldon Adelson, and Adelson contributing to CAntor's campaign.  Talk about "bought and  paid for."  This is destroying the integrity of our polical system.

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:29:05 PM UTC

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Thanks for running, and thanks for live blogging here. (0.00 / 0)

It's great to see Democratic candidates reaching out to netroots activists, social media, etc. Much appreciated. So, I'll cut to the chase: how are you going to do what several Democratic candidates haven't managed to do before you, which is defeat Eric Cantor in a tough, solid "red" (unfortunately) district? Clearly, it requires money, but I'd also argue an energized grassroots movement - energized because of both the personal and policy/political narrative of the candidate - is absolutely essential. Any thoughts on that?  Thanks again.

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

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by: lowkell @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:30:37 PM UTC

Answer to Lowell (0.00 / 0)

Great questions.  First I don't think it's so solidly red this time.  Cantor has been the leader, and by all accounts (even from my Rep friends) he's done an awful job.  He's clearly no leader, and proves it over and over again...My own narrative, if known, is quite different.  There is a reason that we have earned more than twice what any other prior candidate has earned to date (I've been told), but just energy ( I have a lot of that) doesn't make it.  I have observed that many in the district seem to be used to losing, so they don't think there is a chance.  The stories are numerous and serious about the corruption Cantor is aiding and abetting and I don't think that any citizen, regardless of political stripe would support it. Money is crucial as you point out, and I have no hesitation to say that if I had a million to go along with the almost $350k I'v made, he's gone.  He is an atrocious representative, arrogant, power hungry, and negligent of his own constituents (ie Louisa 2011).  I don't see how voters from the mother of Presidents could stand to keep him in office.  Madison said, be wary of those who want power from themselves...I think CAntor used to brag about being in his district.  I'm sure Madison was turning in his grave (until redistricting, and maybe still)...It's about the money and how much we can make and how fast.

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:40:29 PM UTC

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Thanks, that's very helpful. (0.00 / 0)

Just to follow up, I also was curious about whether you feel like you're building a fired-up grassroots following, which I believe - from personal experience in 2006, for instance - can defeat big money (we did it with Webb against Harris Miller AND George Allen).  

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

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by: lowkell @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:51:36 PM UTC

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War on Women (0.00 / 0)

What is your position on a women's right to choose? And what about Cantor latest attempt to take away reproductive health options in DC?

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by: huachick @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:38:20 PM UTC

CAntor the Misogynist (0.00 / 0)

Does that answer your question?  How any woman could support his continuing intolerance and his wanting big government to tell women how to control their bodies is beyond me.  Social justice, women have the same rights to control their bodies as I do.  I represented 15 of the 30 people arrested on March 3 2012, in the excessive show of force, only for sitting on the steps of their capitol...In Virginia? CAntor was all for it.

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:43:45 PM UTC

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$$ Answer. (0.00 / 0)

That is refreshing to hear.  Will there be any Town Halls in the district?

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by: mediawins @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:48:15 PM UTC

Re Town Halls (0.00 / 0)

Yes. Thanks for your question.

We will have a town hall meeting in every locality in the 7th District. We are working to schedule now so look to our website PowellforVA.com for complete details. But, here is what what we have confirmed so far!

We are excited to get out in the district and talk to voters, something Eric Cantor seems to do everything possible to avoid.

08/07 Spotsylvania County- Chancellor Community Center 7pm
08/14 Chesterfield County-  Bon Air Library 7:30 (to be firmed up today)
08/15 Orange County- Town Hall Meeting Room, Orange 6pm
08/16 Culpeper County- Ravens Nest Coffee House 7pm
08/20 New Kent County- Brickshire Association Clubhouse, Providence Forge 7pm
08/21 White Hawk Music Cafe (tentative)
08/22 Louisa Co. Public Library
881 Davis Highway-Mineral, VA 23117
08/28 Henrico, Tuckahoe Library (tentative)

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:53:28 PM UTC

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Wayne Powell (0.00 / 0)

Good Luck I hope you can get more media publicity  

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by: southernvadem @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 18:55:58 PM UTC

to southernvadem (4.00 / 1)

Try to help us get people and the media out to cover the events.  Remember that Cantor has announced "town halls" but he will "Not" be in attendance...There's a difference.  YOu have be be pre-screened at his...anyone is welcome at ours.  We call it democracy.  It's been so long since Cantor has practiced it, he's forgotten what it's about.

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 19:02:50 PM UTC

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Thanks for questions everyone. Catch you next time. (0.00 / 0)

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 19:14:22 PM UTC

Closing (0.00 / 0)

If you want to stay up to date with our campaign to Can Cantor
check out PowellforVA.com and CanCantor.com

Wayne Powell

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by: WaynePowellforVA @ Thu Aug 02, 2012 at 19:15:21 PM UTC

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