Why Every Arlingtonian Should Vote For Obama and Warner

Monday, July 21, 2008

(Arlington County Democratic Committee)

Report from the Chairman

Peter Rousselot

“Members instinctively understand that the Republican brand is in the trash can. I’ve often observed that if we were a dog food, they would take us off the shelf.” [Advice from retiring Virginia GOP 11^th CD Congressman Tom Davis in a May 2008 Strategy Memo to his House GOP colleagues]

The most basic demand of every voter in every election ought to be: who will do the best job? What do both your heart and your head tell you? For jobs as critical as U.S. President and U.S. Senator, voters also must place their choice in the context of association: who will you bring along with you? Have your likely associates demonstrated that they know what they are doing? Can your team lead and govern? Given this time-tested framework, every Arlingtonian should vote for Barack Obama and Mark Warner.

Why the Republican Brand Got in the Trash Can

America:

Nationally, the Republican brand got in the trash can through a series of disastrous choices by George Bush, his aspiring successor, John McSame, and the Republican team on which they rely: the war in Iraq, the total lack of a plan to address climate change, the failure to address the nation’s health care crisis, the failure to regulate mortgage lending—the list goes on and on.

Virginia:

In Virginia, the Republican brand got in the trash can through a series of disastrous choices by former GOP Governor, Jim Gilmore, most notably his failed attempt to repeal the car tax without thinking through the fiscal consequences; the ensuing budget crisis, and the failure of the VA GOP legislative leadership to do anything about it.

Why Obama and Warner will Lead Us Out of this Mess

Obama:

It’s time to get out of the trash can and back on the road to a brighter tomorrow. Barack Obama has demonstrated that he has the judgment and the vision to lead us out of the mess we are in. He was right from the start about the war in Iraq—while Bush and McSame were wrong. He has comprehensive plans to address climate change, health care, mortgage lending, and more. Most importantly, Barack Obama has a style of governing that unites, not divides; that inspires, not belittles; that asks every American to do better. Why not the best for America?

Warner:

Like Obama, Mark Warner has a record of bringing people together to solve problems—not a record of ideological confrontation. Mark Warner confronted the fiscal mess he was left by Gilmore; cut many expenses for unnecessary programs, and then proposed and negotiated necessary tax increases with the Republican –led legislature to put Virginia’s house in order. Mark Warner is a problem-solver, not a prisoner of unyielding ideology. Mark Warner will be a leader on Day One in the United States Senate for an Obama administration ready to tackle this country’s long-deferred problems.

What Every Arlington Democrat Should Do To Help

Talk to every Republican you know, and explain why—regardless of how they voted in the past and might vote in the future, they should vote in 2008 for Obama and Warner.

Volunteer as much time as you can to help the Obama campaign, the Warner campaign, the Arlington Joint Campaign, or the Virginia Coordinated campaign. You’ll find details on how to do that elsewhere in this issue of the Voice.

Retiring Virginia Republican Congressman Tom Davis knew what he was doing when he bailed out of running for re-election this year. Now, it’s your turn to vindicate his judgment by helping Arlington turn America and Virginia Blue. Let’s take the Republicans “off the shelf”!

PETER ROUSSELOT