May
29
Frank Wolf Dodges The Debate
Filed Under 2008 Election, Debate, Frank Wolf, Media, News Items | Leave a Comment
In a local newspaper, The McLean Connection, a Frank Wolf representative reveals that he will not participate in any debates prior to the Republican Primary against Vern McKinley on June 10th.
Though they have made some side-by-side appearances, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) and his Republican opponent Vern McKinley are unlikely to debate before their party primary June 10. “He is not doing any debates,” wrote Dan Scandling, a member of Wolf’s congressional staff, in an email.
McKinley said there have been four efforts to get the congressman to debate his Republican opponent — including invitations from Loudoun County high school students and the Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi on 88.5 FM, the public radio station.
Loudoun County’s Northern Virginia Community College campus and Sterling Foundation, Inc. also invited Wolf to partake in a debate similar to the one held between the Democratic primary candidates last week. Participation would have required Wolf to meet with some of the college’s political science students for a pre-debate interview earlier in the spring.
“The congressman wouldn’t agree to debate. … I don’t know why he wouldn’t. Maybe he doesn’t have time,” said Rosemarie Pelletier, the political science professor who extended the invitation to Wolf.
Read the full article (sidebar) here.
May
29
CentreView: Vern McKinley And Opponents Discuss Rising Oil Prices
Filed Under 2008 Election, Energy Policy, News Items | Leave a Comment
Vern McKinley and his Democratic and Republican opponents in Virginia’s 10th district congressional race weigh in on energy policy and rising oil prices in a local newspaper article yesterday.
McKinley said the U.S. government should not try to control the price of oil. The development of alternative energy sources should also be left up to the world financial market and not subsidized by the federal government.“[Corn] ethanol is a complete distortion of markets and reality,” said McKinley.
The Republican supports opening up restricted territories in the United States, such as those in Alaska, for oil exploration and drilling. He wants to reassess the use of the federal gas tax and said that all responsibility for transportation — and possibly the taxing authority that supports those projects — should ultimately be shifted to the local government.
“I don’t think we get our money’s worth for all the [federal] transportation money we spend,” he said.
May
28
NOVA Townhall Blog Asks “Why Won’t Wolf Debate?”
Filed Under 2008 Election, Debate, Frank Wolf | Leave a Comment
An article posted on the NOVA Townhall blog asks the golden question, “Why Won’t Frank Wolf Debate Vern McKinley?”
I suppose Wolf feels he has nothing to gain from the debate - no reason to submit to attacks from three sides. But he has in the past articulated his positions well, so he should have no worries about being “out-debated.” His refusal to participate conveys a sense of fear, as though he does not want to have to defend his record in the Congress.
Read the full article at NOVA Townhall.
May
23
Not So Frank: Congressman Wolf Refuses to Debate
Filed Under Debate, Frank Wolf, Press Release, Republicans | Leave a Comment
Contact: Michael Parrish
540-539-7733 or vern@mckinleyforcongress.com
Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District has not faced a Republican primary challenge since he first won his seat as part of the “Reagan Wave” in 1980. Today, he faces strong criticism from many conservatives for turning from the “Reagan Values” that he once campaigned on. Vern McKinley, Republican challenger in the 10th district, is running a campaign on these issues. McKinley is an experienced policy expert who would bring vast federal government, international and private sector experience to Congress, along with a vision of limited government.
At least four independent efforts have been made over the past few weeks to organize a debate of the issues between Congressman Wolf and McKinley: the Politics Hour on WAMU with Kojo Nnamdi; the “Road to…” show on FCAC Channel 10; the Sterling Foundation; and the Loudoun County High School Young Republicans, all of which were turned down by the Congressman. The 10th Congressional District has a long-standing history of political debates. During Congressman Wolf’s early campaigns in the 1970s then-Congressman Fisher made himself available for debates several times against then-challenger Frank Wolf. Next week McKinley will debate the two Democratic Candidates in the 10th Congressional district to get out his message. This week he also debated the Libertarian Party candidates for President, including Bob Barr and Mike Gravel.
May
23
Vern McKinley Debates Barr, Gravel, Root
Filed Under 2008 Election, Debate, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Press Release, big government | Leave a Comment
Vern McKinley Debates Others Because Frank Wolf Won’t
Ashburn, VA – Reason Magazine held a debate on Libertarian and Republican principles on May 20th. In attendance were Vern McKinley, Mike Gravel, Bob Barr, and Wayne Allen Root. Each of them answered a variety of questions from Reason Magazine’s reporter David Weigel and took questions from the audience.
McKinley talked about immigration, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, limiting the role of government, and drug policies. He said that he would have voted for a more targeted attack of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, but would oppose any type of nation building. As for Iraq, he would have voted “no” to go in.
Each of the candidates got to express their opinion on getting rid of a department and Vern chose Commerce, Energy, and Education. He said that Republicans talked about it in the 80s and 90s, but “this time around, we need to get serious and get rid of them all,” McKinley stated.
On the topic of drug prohibition, McKinley stated that the Constitution leaves that issue up to the states.
For those who weren’t there and would like to watch it online, can do so at http://www.reason.tv/video/show/431.html
For further information please contact Michael Parrish at 540-539-7733 or mparrish03@gmail.com.
McKinley is a financial expert who advises foreign countries, has worked for the FDIC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and has done policy analysis for the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is running for the Republican nomination in the 10th District of Virginia for the House of Representatives. The primary is scheduled to be held on June 10, 2008.
May
23
Vern McKinley Asserts His Conservatism In Interview At Miller Politics Blog
Filed Under 2008 Election, Earmarks, Economics, Frank Wolf, News Items, Republicans, big government | Leave a Comment
Vern McKinley was interviewed by Lee “Ben” Miller for the Miller Politics blog yesterday.
MP: “Why did you decide to challenge incumbent Frank Wolf for the Republican nomination?”
McKinley: “I observed the 2006 election and saw a ‘Big Government Republican’ and a ‘Big Government Democrat’ offered by the two major parties. There was an ‘urban legend’ in the District that Congressman Wolf was a good limited government, fiscal conservative and he perpetuated this myth. I took a Vote-Smart survey that showed I agreed with him only about 25 to 30% of the time. This led me to research his record further and everything I found out about him as well as his votes subsequent to my initial research has shown that my decision to challenge him was a good one.”
Read the full interview at Miller Politics.
May
22
McKinley Required Reading: GOP in danger of becoming ‘Pelosi-lite’
Filed Under 2008 Election, Earmarks, Media, Republicans, big government | Leave a Comment
This week the Washington Times published an article discussing Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor’s fear that Republicans may be giving in to the Democrats a bit too much of late.
A top House Republican yesterday said the leadership must steer disheartened rank-and-file members from adopting a centrist or “Pelosi-lite” agenda and instead reaffirm conservative principles, or risk deepening the political grave the party dug for itself under President Bush.
“The job of the conference right now is to not allow us to slip into [saying] we’re going to just be like them. We’re going to go and just be Pelosi-lite and go with their solutions and try and slip by this election,” said Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the Republican chief deputy whip.
Read the full article at the Washington Times.
May
22
Vern McKinley Speaks Out Against Court Decision On Abortion
Filed Under Abortion, Press Release, Regulation | Leave a Comment
Ashburn, VA – Vern McKinley spoke out against the US Court of Appeals’ (4th Circuit) decision, which said that Virginia’s law on late term abortion was unconstitutional because it is more restrictive than what the Supreme Court approved last year.
McKinley has always been someone that has championed pro-life positions. He would support and cosponsor the Taxpayer’s Freedom of Conscience Act of 2007 (HR 1095), the Sanctity of Life Act (HR 1094), and the Right to Life Act (HR 618). Vern believes in a federalist approach to the abortion problem and would remove federal jurisdiction which would return the issue to the states.
“There is no authorization in the Constitution that permits the federal government to interfere with state restrictions on abortion,” McKinley stated. “With the Supreme Court’s injudicious ruling in Roe v Wade, the court is legislating from the bench instead of respecting the will of the people through their legislators.”
More information about Vern’s stance on pro-life issues can be found at http://mckinleyforcongress.com/issues.html#pl
For further information please contact Michael Parrish at 540-539-7733 or mparrish03@gmail.com.
McKinley is a financial expert who advises foreign countries, has worked for the FDIC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and has done policy analysis for the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is running for the Republican nomination in the 10th District of Virginia for the House of Representatives. The primary is scheduled to be held on June 10, 2008.
May
21
Reason Magazine Debate Video With Vern McKinley, Bob Barr, Mike Gravel, and Wayne Allyn Root
Filed Under 2008 Election, Debate, Media, News Items, Republicans, Video | Leave a Comment
Here is a ten minute long video of the Reason Magazine Debate from yesterday in which Vern McKinley participated. For more on the debate see the Reason Magazine blog.
May
20
Washington Post on The Reason Magazine Debate Today
Filed Under 2008 Election, Debate, News Items, Republicans | Leave a Comment
The Washington Post had a blurb promoting today’s Reason Magazine Debate with Vern McKinley, Bob Barr, Mike Gravel, and Wayne Allyn Root.
“This is the wildest Libertarian [race] in a long time,” says Reason associate editor David Weigel, who organized and will moderate the debate. “They’ve never had two [former] elected officials leave their parties and run Libertarian.”
The first one is, of course, Barr. The second is Mike Gravel, a former Democratic presidential contender and former senator from Alaska. Gravel, disillusioned with the Democrats after standing on their stage for this cycle’s early debates, joined the LP in March.
Joining Barr and Gravel will be Wayne Allyn Root, a former Republican, and Vern McKinley, a “Ron Paul Republican” who is challenging Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.).
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