Hurst Dominates Debate!

This just out from James Walkinshaw, Hurst campaign manager.

We are cleaning up the video, should be up soon.

Hurst Dominates Davis in PW Debate, Leaves 11th District Voters With a Clear Choice

Democrat Andrew Hurst dominated a debate last night against his opponent, Congressman Tom Davis (R-11). Nearly 300 people packed into the dining room of the Old Hickory Golf Club in Woodbridge to hear how Congressman Davis has supported the Bush agenda 90% of the time, continues to support the "stay the course" strategy in Iraq, and takes millions from corrupt special interests. Hurst stressed his vow to change the way business is done in Washington by fighting to implement his reform agenda.

"I'm not a professional politician like George Allen or Tom Davis," Hurst said. "But I believe in the issues I'm pushing and I'm disatisfied with my representation in Congress. I want to offer voters something different and something better."

Davis looked ill at ease throughout the event and often resorted to outlandish attacks unrelated to the issues at hand. In the final weeks of the campaign, Davis has grown increasingly desperate and has unleashed a series of negative and misleading attacks against Hurst.

"Congressman Davis looked like a fish out of water tonight," said James Walkinshaw, Hurst's campaign manager. "He's clearly having a tough time trying to explain his record of lock-step support for the Bush Administration. This man is fighting for his political life and it's not a pretty thing to watch."

Hurst and Davis differed on a number of important issues.

* On transportation, Davis continued to support a corrupt earmarking system that sends $250 million to build a Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska but leaves Northern Virginia with the 2nd worst traffic congestion in the nation and guarantees our permanent status as a "donor state" that sends more transportation dollars to D.C. than we get back. Hurst offered a reform proposal that would take politics out of transportation funding and guarantee extra funding for "high needs" areas like Northern Virginia. "Tom Davis has been in elected office here for 30 years and traffic has gotten worse every year," said Hurst. "How can he take credit for improving transportation?"
* On immigration, Davis attempted to shirk responsibility for Congress' inability to craft a comprehensive solution. Hurst highlighted the need to hire more border patrol agents and crack down on employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants. "Building a 700 mile fence on a 2100 mile border is not a real solution," said Hurst. "We need real solutions."
* On the war in Iraq, Davis continued to mimic Bush talking points. He offered no plan to bring our troops home and presented little more than a continuation of the Bush "stay the course" strategy. Hurst highlighted the need to elect new leaders who can guide our Iraq policy in a new direction to bring our troops home as soon as possible. "If you want a new course in Iraq," Hurst said. "You must vote for people like Jim Webb and I."
* On education, Davis continued to support the Bush position that No Child Left Behind is not an unfunded mandate. NCLB imposes strict requirements on local school systems, but is $40 billion underfunded. Educators, administrators and local school officials all agree that it is, indeed, an unfunded mandate. George Bush and Tom Davis disagree with those educators, administrators and local school officials.
* On energy, Davis reiterated his support for the Bush-Cheney energy bill that gave billions of dollars in tax breaks to rich oil executives while failing to invest in alternative energy sources. Hurst took Davis to task for supporting the bill and laid out his ideas to achieve energy independence. "We need to invest in wind, solar and other alternative sources of energy and we need to stop giving handouts to the big oil companies that fund campaigns like Mr. Davis'," said Hur

Hurst's closing summed up the campaign.

"Tom Davis takes money from special interests, puts it in his pocket, and then claims to represent you. I don't take money from special interests. When I go to Washington, I'll represent you and you alone."

Nate de la Piedra is the Online Outreach Coordinator for the Andrew Hurst for Congress 2006 Campaign. The ideas expressed herein belong to Nate de la Piedra and do not necessarily represent those of Andrew Hurst, his advisors, staff, or "The Campaign".