Bristol “Tea Party”—Fertile Ground For Movement To Unseat Boucher
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Jim Bebout Seeking Republican Nomination For Virginia's...
A Marion, Va., entrepreneur announced Monday he hopes to challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th.
George Jackson/11 Connects
Bristol, Va.—The modern “Tea Party” movement is spawning more than anger over tax policy in 2009.
The final protest (of six total) over this long July 4th weekend assembled in Sugar Hollow Park Monday night.
It started with a simple and sombre prayer by former Congressman David Davis. His message: lawmakers have forsaken the U.S. Constitution.
“God forgive us,“ Davis said.
That’s the common thread among often disparate “Tea Party” groups in the Tri-Cities Region.
Rev. Strouther Smith started a group called the “Tenth Amendment Foundation.“ He said, though typically tied to the GOP, tea is a non-partisan affair.
“We’re delighted to have Independents, Democrats, Republicans, the Constitutional Party, Libertarians, whoever they are,“ Smith said.
Davis wasn’t the only past, present, or future lawmaker ready to cash in on that grassroots energy.
His successor, U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-1st ) gave a roughly ten minute speech before fielding a few questions from the audience.
The gathering was also fertile ground for the movement to unseat U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-9th). Roe, Smith, and others criticized the 14-term Democrat for his stance on health care, taxes, and a carbon cap-and-trade.
“Rick Boucher was one of those who voted for {the cap-and-trade bill)," Smith said.
Political unknown Jim Bebout (R-Marion) picked up the baton a few speeches later, and announced his bid for the 9th District GOP nomination.
"{Boucher} is helping to run the county over a cliff. And whether I win or lose I’m just not going to sit back and let it happen,“ Bebout said.
Bebout and other challengers in the 9th District face a seemingly impregnable incumbent in Boucher. His last legitimate challenge was Kevin Triplett in 2004. Boucher still managed 60-percent of the vote that year.
Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) said he has no intention of running for Congress.
Boucher’s press spokesperson said the Congressman was unavailable for comment.
To view a video version of this report, click the play icon above.
For more on Bebout, click on the link (at left) to read an article by the Bristol Herald Courier’s Debra McCown.
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Reader Reactions
Global Warming is a hoax,therefore this so called Cap and Trade bill is nothing more than a tax that we cannot afford. Pray that this bill will go down in flames.
Health care? Tax payers owe you nothing. I had no insurance or health care until I did something about it at age eighteen. I now have one of the best plans available. I earned it. So can you. Stop looking for free hand outs.
Boucher is well aware of what is deemed, defended and supported as the acceptable standards of health care in this area. If he was doing his job, RAM wouldn’t be comig here for the umpteenth time in his umpteenth term.
Rick Boucher, Tim Kaine, Bob Adkins don’t care about the people and their health or health care.
http://www.wisecountyissues.com
Do not expcet me to forget FREETRADE was a Regean / DADDY BUSH and NEWT GETRICH invention.
All the USA had to do was demand the U.S. Corporations pay a fair market value for the natural resounrces taken from other countries and then those countries would have been able to devople their own economys without U.S. Manufacturing leaving the USA.
bUT THAT WOULD NOT WORK HUH ?
Can’t have a FREE MARKET or COMPETITION !
Republican have to control the markets and prevent competition right !!!!!!!
Eatn
If you knew the facts that Rep Roe was just elected to Congress. Therefore the insurance plan that is in congress,Roe had nothing to do with it. In fact Roe is in favor of term limits which would get rid of lot of the dead weight on both sides of the aisle that has voted all these great benefits in. And as for health insurance after Boucher’s vote for cap and trade I can’t see where there would be any money left for health insurance. And since it would put private insurers out of business because no company can compete against a non profit backed by our taxes I guess the only other alternative would be to tax everyone!
We finally had great health care at the V.A. after Clinton got into office. But Bush came alone and nearly destoryed it all the wile making clams of increasing the V.A. Budget.
What good is increasing the budget after you cut it 35 % get rid of staff surgeons and then begin the slow increase funds to Private Contract Surgeons. The cost tripled and that limited the number of operations done. Forcing the emergency cases to be pushed into private hospitals at unreal cost.
Bush increased the cost of Veterans Health care while lowering the V.A.‘s ability to provide quality healthcare.
tmullins said “Come to the Wise Fairgrounds when RAM is here and see what quality health care really is.“
The last admin fought against health care reform, but this admin and Boucher will be fighting for health care reform so that folks don’t have to line-up like a third world country.
I invite anyone to please come to Pound and Appalachia to see the prosperity and progress themselves what it’s like living on a mine site in these communities. Come to the Wise Fairgrounds when RAM is here and see what quality health care really is.
http://www.wisecountyissues.com
Do a Google Earth search and see what is happening to Andover, Roda, Stonega, Flat Gap then take a peek at my web site if you care to see what the prosperity of main street Pound and Appalachia really is in pictures.
tmullins said “He and his peers are the one’s who are prospering, not our communities”
Tell that to the multitude who Rep. Boucher has touched with his tireless work, then brace yourself as you get laughed out of the room.
It’s time for Boucher to go. Wise County can’t stand anymore of his leadership and the prosperity of mountaintop removal.
http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=138
He and his peers are the one’s who are prospering, not our communities.
1oldgrunt- yeah, that’s the insurance plan we all would like to have access to—looks like the family plan cost about $170 per month for Tennessee under United Health Care. Of course the govt picks-up about 3-4 times this amount as their share, but they could probably negotiate a better price with all Americans being covered.
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