Rob Wittman is an embarrassment to the First District

First, the background.  Northumberland County is in Virginia’s First Congressional District that allegedly is represented by Rob Wittman (Republican, Montross) in the US House.  Wittman has done nothing for the First District.  He was — until the Democratic sweep in November 2018 — chair of the Seapower Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee where he became the darling of the naval shipbuilding industry, who have donated close to $1 million to his campaigns, in spite of his claims that he does not take money from defense industries.

Now — today, January 13, Wittman — with a new beard and mustache — appeared on Fox where he made a fool of himself.

Wittman’s Democratic challenger in November 2020 is Vangie Williams of King George County, VA.  She released this statement after Wittman’s ignorant tirade on Fox.  In November 2018, Vangie came close to defeating Wittman, 55-45 — she will win in 2020.

Official Response to Congressman Rob Wittman’s Appearance on Fox News
Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (R – VA01) appeared on Fox News to comment on the federal government shutdown and how it is related to ongoing discussions about border security.  During the on-air interview, Wittman said, “people have a right to expect their government to work.”  He went on to state that the American people are coming to understand how bad the crisis is at the southern border.His hypocritical statements today on Fox News are nothing less than an insult to the intelligence of the people of the 1st District and all Americans.

First, Rob Wittman says he wants to reopen the government, but he actually voted against doing so.  Not only did he miss a vote on the House floor to consider the legislation to reopen the government, once the legislation was up for final vote, he voted against it.

Second, he stated that he asked Speaker Pelosi to keep the House in session through the weekend to come up with an agreement to fund the border wall to end the shutdown.

To that I have one simple answer: 382 days.

That’s how many Legislative Days the House of Representatives was in session during the 115th Congress (2017-18).  The GOP House and Senate majorities had 382 days to pass bills to fund the border wall.  Rob Wittman had 382 days to make the border wall a top priority and do something about it.  Instead, Rob Wittman voted repeatedly for spending bill after spending bill and never said a single word about a border wall.

It is clear to me and the people of the 1st District that Rob Wittman’s concern about the border wall is purely partisan and political in nature.

Third, Rob Wittman stated that the American people and even The Washington Post recognizes that there is a crisis at the border.   What he failed to mention was that The Post’s coverage cited the current administration as the reason for the crisis.  Wittman failed to mention that more people are returning to Mexico than entering from Mexico.  He also failed to mention that the border crisis has been largely created by separating immigrant families (and keeping children in detention facilities) and refusing to follow existing laws when it comes to those seeking asylum.

It’s a sad day when Congressman Rob Wittman must resort to outright dishonesty to justify his political positions.  Instead of fighting for the tens of thousands of families who are being negatively impacted by the shutdown, Rob Wittman is playing petty partisan politics.

I’ve said it before and I will certainly say it again: I don’t care whether it’s a Democrat or Republican in the White House, I don’t care who’s in the leadership in Congress, I will always stand up for what’s right for the people of the 1st District.

It’s sad that Rob Wittman can’t or won’t do the same.

That’s why we deserve better.

Message from our Chairman; reminder of first 2019 meeting

A message for members and supporters of the Northumberland County Democratic Party

The Northumberland County Democratic Party first meeting of the New Year is Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 7 PM in the Public Library in Heathsville, Virginia.   We will discuss plans for the year, and the 2019 and 2020 elections.
If you believe we already have outstanding representation in Richmond and Washington, you probably won’t want to attend.  However, if you are outraged at the statements and policies emanating from our capitols, please attend and help change the current dynamics by which we are governed.
If you cannot join us but would like to run for a Northumberland County School Board or Board of Supervisor seat in Districts 1, 4, or 5, please respond to me at fjkober@aol.com or call 580-3530.
Thank you for your continued support of our Democratic Party.
Sincerely yours,
Frank Kober, Ed. D
Chair

 

Happy New Year — our first meeting

We hope everyone had a fine Christmas holiday season!!  Now, it’s time to charge ahead into 2019 and 2020 — both years will have a critical election.

Our first meeting of 2019:
  • Thursday, January 17, 2019
  • 7:00 PM; bring a snack to share at 6:30
  • Northumbeland Public Library, 7204 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville

Upcoming elections:

November 2019

This is an important statewide and local election.  We will vote for our representatives in the Virginia General Assembly.  Our current representatives are:

  • Virginia State Senate:  Ryan McDougal (Republican, Henrico).  As of January 2019, no challenger.
  • Virginia House of Delegates:  Margaret Ransone (Republican, Kinsale).  As of January 2019, Democrat Francis Edwards has announced he will challenge Ransone.

We also will vote for several Northumberland County offices:

  • Board of Supervisors, and, School Board in districts 1, 4 and 5; incumbents are Joe Self (1), Tommy Tomlin (4), and Ronnie Jett (5).
  • Constitutional offices:  Sheriff; Commonwealth’s Attorney; Commissioner of Revenue; County Treasurer
November 2020

This election is a REALLY BIG ONE.  We will vote for:

  • President of the United States
  • Vice President of the United States
  • One United States Senator from Virginia; incumbent is Mark Warner (Democrat); as of January 2019, no challenger.
  • Member of the US House of Representatives from Virginia’s First Congressional District.  Incumbent is Rob Wittman (Republican, Montross).  As of January 2019, Democrat Vangie Williams is challenging Wittman.

Northumberland Democrats Christmas Party details

The Northumberland County Democratic Commitee Christmas Party will be:

  • Tuesday, December 11
  • Women’s Club, Lottsburg
  • 5:30-8:00 PM
  • $30 each
  • Please send your checks to Kitty Creeth, 281 Lancelot Drive, Reedville VA 22539.

Our next meeting will be January 17,  2019; 7:00 PM; Northumberland Public Library, 7204 Northumberland Hwy, Heathsville. 

Lancaster County Democrats meeting announcement

The Lancaster County Democratic Committee (LCDC) will hold its special, post-midterms, monthly meeting:

  • at the Lancaster Community Library, 16 Towne Centre Dr., in Kilmarnock,
  • on Monday, November 26, 2018.
  • The meeting will open at 6:30 P.M., for a short social with light refreshments.
  • The evening’s formal program begins at 7:00 P.M.

The meeting will include business essentials, a recap and analysis of the mid-term elections, and discussion of plans going forward.  The evening’s analysis will focus on what worked, what needs to be improved, and how best to proceed.

The midterms were marked by an easy re-election for Senator Tim Kaine, and turnout in Lancaster County for Vangie Williams was 50% greater than the average midterm Democratic vote against Rep. Wittman.  We’re requesting that attendees be prepared to share their analysis of what worked in the midterms, what can be improved and what we should do going forward.  The Presidential Election in 2020 holds great promise for Democrats.

LCDC meetings are open to all.  Northern Neck snacks are always on display.  Attendees are encouraged to share and enjoy volunteer treats with the group.  Please plan to join us. 

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Visit the LCDC website at http://www.lancovadems.org

VERY important announcement

The next federal census is in 2020 followed by 2021 in which all states — including Virginia — will redraw voting district lines for all legislative districts — federal (Senate and House) and state (Senate and House of Delegates).

Redistricting is done by the General Assembly and approved by the Governor.  This practice results in the party — Democratic or Republican — that controls the General Assembly drawing district lines to favor their candidates — a practice known as “gerrymandering.”

OneVirginia2021 is a non-partisan organization that proposes to amend the Virginia constitution to establish an independent commission to conduct redistricting, thereby ending the practice of gerrymandering.

Liz White, Deputy Director of OneVirginia2021, will speak:

  • Northumberland Indivisible meeting
  • 6:00 PM,  December 6
  • Northumberland Library, 7204 Northumberland Hwy,  Heathsvile.

She will present the proposal for a constitutional amendment to remove the redistricting of legislative districts from the General Assembly, and assign the job to an independent commission.

This is an important matter; we urge EVERYONE to attend — invite a friend.  This is a non-partisan matter that should be supported by Republicans, Democrats, Independents and anyone else concerned about fair elections.

Vangie’s coming !! November 15 — be there !!!

Vangie Williams — our First Congressional District Democratic candidate — will be at the November meeting of the Northumberland County Democratic Party.

  • Thursday, November 15
  • 7:00 PM
  • Northumberland Public Library, 7204 Northumberland Hwy, Heathsville
  • Bring a snack to share at 6:30

Vangie has announced she will run again in 2020.  She wants to thank us for our support and tell us her plans for 2020.

Joe Schlatter will present an analysis of the 1st District voting results.

While Rob Wittman won over Vangie by 56% to 44%, Vangie had the highest margin against Wittman since he has been in Congress.  With a lot of work over the next two years, we can overcome that gap and win with Vangie in 2020 !!!!

Where do YOU stand?

The promise of America has always been bright, especially with the words “WE THE PEOPLE” atop our most important document. At times in our history, these words have not always applied to all people. But they are the promise of the nation. They are the words that give hope to everyone in this country, and those who have given up everything to come here.

Today’s Republican Party is no longer the party of “WE THE PEOPLE.”  Republicans have surrendered their souls to Donald Trump and are now proclaiming this nation is the party of only a few people.

Through our history, there are those who were on the wrong side of our nation’s history, while there are also those who have been on the right side of history.

 In Abraham Lincoln’s address to Congress in December 1862, he stated:

We know how to save the Union. The world knows we do know how to save it. We, even we here, hold the power and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the free–honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth.

We are at this same point in our country’s life once again. We know how to save the union. The entire world knows what we need to do to save the union, and if we do not act to save this country, then we will lose the last best hope on Earth.

The Republican Party, with its embrace of Donald Trump, is no longer the party of Lincoln, and it has not been for a long time. Fascism, racism, nationalism, anti-Semitism, and misogyny have no place in modern American society.

Standing against hate, standing up on the right side of history for all people, is not hate. It is doing the right thing.  We Democrats am driven by a love of country, and we love this country and its people too much to allow it to fall into a pit of hate that the president is spewing.  We believe in the promise of America, a promise where everyone is treated equally.

We Democrats stand for everything Donald Trump and his party are against. We do it not from hate, but from patriotism along with a deep sense of what is right and what is wrong.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said:

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others. In dangerous valleys and hazardous pathways, he will lift some bruised and beaten brother to a higher and more noble life.

We Democrats will not allow Trump and his vision of division and hate become the norm in this nation.

We Democrats know where we stand. Do you?