Decision Virginia

He put the Obama administration’s critics on notice, raised a bunch of cash for his party’s nominee for Governor of Virginia and only made one, minor but noticeable gaffe. All in a day’s work for the Vice President of the United States of America.

Joe Biden, the charismatic and experienced lawmaker charmed a crowd of close to 100 invited guests today at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Henrico. It was clear from the start of his speech that not only was the V.P. here to defend his team’s stimulus plan, but also to specifically target one of it’s chief critics, local congressman Eric Cantor.

During his nearly 40 minute address, Mr. Biden talked at length about specific examples of what he sees as progress that has resulted from the stimulus plan. From the protection of some 7,000 public sector jobs to the potential for local small business owner John Fernandez (pictured above with Biden) to add 25 jobs by the end of the year, Biden attempted to make the case that the expensive investment was worth it.

At one point Biden asked Central Virginians and the stimulus plans critics to step back and “look around” at the progress. Perhaps a tough sell to a community like Richmond that has seen the loss of a number of locally based companies. (Something we explored tonight on NBC12 news at 11.) But that wasn’t enough. Biden specifically went after Cantor by hinting that the Congressman was a hypocrite, for fighting against the stimulus, while at the same time begging for money to develop high speed rail from Richmond to Washington, D.C. (For his part Cantor called the Recovery Act a flop).

((Video from that section of Biden’s speech, plus more on the VP’s trip can be found after the jump)) Read the rest of this entry »

Ryan Nobles – bio | email

The Washington Post is reporting this afternoon, that without mentioning Richmond Congressman Eric Cantor by name, Vice President Joe Biden plans to target the House Minority Whip during his remarks today at J. Sargaent Reynolds.

The Post received an advance copy of the speech and in excerpts released by the paper, Biden challenges opponents of the Recovery act to stop opposing the plan for the sake of opposing it and recognize the results it is already producing. Cantor is one of the chief opponents of the Obama Administration plan and this week delivered the Republican weekly radio address where he hammered the White House’s “pork barrel spending”.

Here is a section of the Post report:
“To those who say that our economic decisions ‘have not produced jobs, have not produced prosperity, and simply have not worked’ I say, take a look around,” Biden will say, according to prepared remarks obtained by The Washington Post.

“I say, ‘Don’t let your opposition to the Recovery Act blind you to its results,’” Biden plans to say in the Richmond speech. “‘Come see what I see everywhere I go: workers rehired, factories reopened, cops on the street, teachers in the classroom, progress toward getting our economy back on the move.’”

Without naming Cantor directly, the rhetorical assault is aimed directly at the Richmond lawmaker, who has helped lead the Republican Party to its most effective message since Obama became president: that Obama’s stimulus bill has not produced jobs.

Meanwhile Cantor, appears to be ready for a fight. He has already held a press conference call in response to the Biden visit and his staff released a video clip of a press conference today where the Congressman addresses the issue. “I have said consistently since the numbers have come out: this stimulus plan has been a flop,” said Cantor. “This is President Obama’s economy, let’s get down to business here and get people back to work in this country.”

You can find that clip after the jump. Don’t forget that we will stream the Vice President’s speech live on NBC12.com. My first live report on television will be during our First at Four program and throughout the early evening newscasts.

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In the rough and tumble world of Washington, D.C. beltway politics, Eric Cantor and Bobby Scott couldn’t be further apart. Cantor has become the standard bearer for a new Republican revolution, while Scott has become a respected member of the Democratic majority with growing influence.

But when it comes to their home districts, Scott and Cantor share a common interest and it just so happens that common interest is Richmond. Both Congressman represent a portion of the city and as a result their work in Washington sometimes must intermingle. By in large that work is behind the scenes, but for one signature issue, the kind of issue that could make a legislative legacy, the two have joined very public forces.

Cantor and Scott have agreed to work together to attempt to leverage federal funds to build a high speed rail-line from Richmond to Washington, D.C.  The idea of a train that one could get on in Shockoe Bottom and end up at Union Station in 45 minutes is mythical to Richmonders. It is almost like Ahab’s search for the great white whale.

But ironically, it is this difficult economy that is offering Scott and Cantor to opportunity land their big fish. The American Investment and Recovery Act (simply known as the stimulus) has pumped millions of dollars in federal funds to build the kind of infrastructure that could lead to a project like a high speed rail line.

Today the unlikely duo held a tele-conference with Richmond officials and Karen Rae, Deputy Administrator of Federal Railroad Administration to explain the process to submit proposals for competitive grant funding to get the project off the ground. It was their second major public appearance on the subject. A few months ago the two held a press event at Main Street Station to announce their partnership. (Rachel DePompa covered that event NBC12)

Expect this to just be the beginning, because if and when this project happens it will require the slashing through of plenty of red tape. Tape thick enough to require the muscle of two powerful Congressman to cut.

Local Congressman Eric Cantor (who is fast becoming one of the chief voices of opposition to President Barack Obama) is working hard to prevent attempts to move enemy combatants, currently housed at Guantanamo Bay, to military prisons in Virginia.

Closing down Guantanamo was a campaign pledge for the President and he promised to make it a reality in the very early stages of his administration. Shutting the facility down isn’t the problem, it is what to do after that is making life difficult for Mr. Obama and his staff.

By closing Gitmo’s doors, the Federal Government is faced with the daunting proposition of what to do with the detainees held at the facility. It seems that every scenario creates a bigger problem. By releasing them to their home countries, you run the risk of letting them return to the activity that got them into the military prison to begin with. By housing them in U.S., you run the risk of creating new, in-country terrorist targets and will be forced to spend taxpayer dollars to fortify the the proposed installations.

This laundry list of problems has created an opportunity for Eric Cantor. Cantor has become very vocal in his opposition to any of the proposed solutions, citing the reasons above. Cantor has proposed legislation that would force the feds to receive approval from the governor and state legislatures of any state that could become home to these enemy combatants. That would effectively prevent any terror suspects from being brought to the U.S. because no politician would run the risk of approving a move that is bound to be unpopular.

However, Cantor and (no other politician for that matter) seems to have the solution. It has created a problem that will just continue to grow.

After the jump you watch the video from out story on this topic that aired on NBC12 Friday night. In addition, I have an extended clip from Rep. Cantor where he reveals that he is supporting Pat Mullins for Republican Party of Virginia Chair. You may recall that we broke the news a few weeks ago that Mr. Cantor was no longer supportive of Jeff Frederick as chairman.

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It has been more than a week since my last post and looking back at what took place, I thought I would pick out a few key things that I thought were important.

*Bob McDonnell is very encouraged by poll numbers that show him at least 10 points up on any potential Democratic opponent. He also feels pretty good about his fund raising haul. His $3.5 million cash on hand is second only to Terry McAuliffe and McDonnell will not have to spend any money on an expensive primary.

*While McDonnell is riding high, Democrats are hoping to bruise him by making him target number one in their fight over the GOP’s block of changes to the state’s unemployment benefits package. The vote prevented Virginia from being eligible for $125 million dollars in stimulus money and McDonnell supported their efforts. All three democratic candidates for Governor signed a petition condemning his support of the plan.

*Democrats are not containing their displeasure over the unemployment vote to just the gubernatorial race. Party members will spend this weekend going door to door in GOP House districts to inform constituents about how their members voted. Del. John O’Bannon who is facing a fiesty challenge from Tom Shields in the 73rd district, is one of their targets.

*Brian Moran (who officially kicked off his campaign today in Northern Virginia) is dodging criticism over a Washington Post story that connects his brother Rep. Jim Moran’s earmarks to his campaign donations.  Moran’s campaign manager says there can be no influence because the former House Democratic leader is “entirely uninvolved” with his brother’s work in Washington.

*Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s Mayor who is hoping to be re-elected for a second time, despite the Big Apple’s two term limit, came to Virginia to meet with family members of the VA Tech tragedy.  Bloomberg is specifically going after Bob McDonnell, who did not back down.

Looking ahead..

*Rep. Eric Cantor will be featured in a lengthy profile in tomorrow’s CBS Sunday Morning. A crew from the long form, feature news program followed the congressman through his local district. His segment is scheduled to air around 9:45am.

*The three Democratic candidates for Governor will meet in their first officially debate of the primary season. Brian Moran, Terry McAuliffe and Creigh Deeds will meet in the Farm Team Debate at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. I will be there and am planning to liveblog the affair on nbc12.com.

What did I miss? Let me know if something else signifcant happened that did not make my recap.

Local Congressman Eric Cantor, to no one’s surprise voted against the budget proposal presented by his democratic counterparts in the house on Thursday night.  In addition, Cantor in his capacity as the house minority whip, corralled every single other member of the House Republican caucus to do the same. For good measure, 20 Democrats also decided the spending plan was not in the country’s best interest and voted it down as well.

Despite the universal opposition by Republicans and a significant number of Democrats, the measure still passed by a comfortable margin of 233-196.

But voting the budget down was not enough for Cantor and the Republican House leadership they also proposed a spending plan of their own. The plan which has lower taxes and less spending, was largely ignored by the Democrats and the media. In fact Cantor recently alluded to the fact that it is difficult for the minority members to get out their message because realistically their ideas have little chance of ever passing.

I spoke to the Congressman today to about why he believes the Obama budget spends and taxes too much.

See what he had to say about that and the fuss over his attendance at a Brittany Spears concert after the jump:

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We just talked to Rep. Eric Cantor at an event he was holding at the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond. The House Minority Whip is one the most visible Republicans in the state. Today he joined the party’s nominee for Governor Bob McDonnell by calling for RPV chairman Jeff Frederick to step down.

Here is Mr. Cantor’s quote:

“I don’t think there is any question that current chairman has lost the support of the grass roots, has lost the support of the business community in the state and probably best that he move on and that we focus very much on the future of Virginia and this year obviously being an election year that is very important.”

Cantor went on to leave no doubt as to where he stood on the controversy.

“I think that the controversy surrounding chairman Frederick indicates that he has lost the support of so much of the grass roots of our party , the business community and others that is why I think it is time for us to move on.”

And on how it could impact the race for Governor:

“Listen, I think that Bob McDonnell has the grass roots behind him, he has a big advantage in that our party is united behind his effort.”

Finally.. what’s next?

“I think it is all about how we go forward and given the state of the economy here in Virginia and the real need for leadership and  vision it is an opportunity for our party to reunite and to get about communicating with the people of this state of our vision for Virginia.”

SEE THE VIDEO FROM CANTOR’S COMMENTS AFTER THE JUMP:

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Ryan Nobles – bio | email

I just got done interviewing Rep. Eric Cantor about tonight’s Presidential address by Barack Obama. We talked about a wide range of topics including the President’s plan to increase taxes on the wealthy and the merits of bi-partisanship. I also got his take on how he feels the stimulus money (which will come from a plan he voted against) should be spent in Virginia.

A number of prominent Republican governors across the country have talked about not taking some or all of the  stimulus money. Some GOP lawmakers in Richmond have criticized Governor Tim Kaine’s plan to fill a large gap in the state’s budget with stimulus cash.

Cantor’s take was simple. If the money won’t be specifically be used to “Preserve, protect or create jobs” it should be left on the table.

Listen to the entire soundbite, and read the transcript after the jump.

**DON’T FORGET TO JOIN IN TONIGHT AT 8:45 at www.nbc12.com FOR OUR LIVEBLOG OF THE OBAMA SPEECH**

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Tonight President Barack Obama will be delivering an address to a joint session of congress that will be about the condition of the country and be held in late February, however it WON’T be the State of the Union. Technically Mr. Obama is not required to deliver a formal “State of the Union” because he was just inaugurated about a month ago. So tonight will have the look and feel of a State of the Union, it just won’t be called that. 

We will cover the President’s address from Richmond and will once again be looking for your input during our liveblog which will take place on nbc12.com. The liveblog will launch around 8:45 prior to the President’s speech. We will recap some of your best comments during our 11pm news and I will post some of them on my twitter feed as well. (Which if you aren’t following yet, sign up!)

We are also set to talk to Rep. Eric Cantor today about the speech. (ICYMI- Cantor had an interesting exchange with Obama yesterday and Politico had a story today about his relationship with his Democratic counterpart Steny Hoyer).

Tonight during the liveblog, we will be most interested in how you think the President’s plans could impact us here in Central Virginia. So read up and prepare. I will join you tonight on nbc12.com for the discussion.

In a lengthy spread in today’s NY Times, local Congressman Eric Cantor is singled out as the person who may be best positioned to lead a Republican resurgence. Comparing Cantor to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, the Times’ Adam Nagourney makes the case that Cantor has become the person most turned to when in search of opposition to the Obama administration and the issue that has become synonymous with the President’s first few weeks in office: the economic stimulus plan.

Cantor has, on two different occasions, used his position as minority whip to organize 100% Republican opposition to the stimulus bill. Along the way he has been front and center at meetings with the president and holding a hearing to demonstrate the merits of G.O.P. alternatives to the Obama plan.  A plan he and his colleagues believe is filled with needless government spending and doesn’t contain enough tax cuts.

Here is an expert from the article:
As Republicans confronted President Obama in another budget battle last week, their leadership included another new face: Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, who as the party’s chief vote wrangler is as responsible as anyone for the tough line the party has taken in this first legislative standoff with Mr. Obama. This battle has vaulted Mr. Cantor to the front lines of his party as it tries to recover from the losses of November.

The article got big play in the paper and its’ web site and even got a link off the Drudge Report.

Of course leading the opposition makes for great headlines and plenty of face time for the Congressman, but it also comes with some baggage. Cantor has now become a regular punching bag for those on the left and has already been subject to radio ads criticizing his opposition to the stimulus plan. This could be just the beginning for the Richmond native who is now right in the middle of Washington’s most contentious battle.