Olde Salem Days brings thousands of people out to shop and mingle. One prelude to the festival for the past several years has been the Olde Salem Days Republican Breakfast at the Salem Civic Center. This year’s breakfast event featured the entire Republican statewide ticket, including Bob McDonnell, nominee for Governor, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, who is running for re-election, and State Senator Ken Cuccinelli, nominee for Attorney General.
Greg Habib, Salem City Committee Chairman, welcomed a sellout crowd of over 250 to the event. House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, who has opposition for his seat this year (Carter Turner), told of late nights placing signs around town.
Cuccinelli reiterated his differences with his Democratic opponent, Steve Shannon, and said Shannon will not agree to ten debates as he suggested, but one. Cuccinelli said he was for traditional marriage, states’ rights, offshore drilling and he is pro-life.
McDonnell asked people to “stand up for what you believe in. People do watch the votes on Capitol Hill on issues such as health care, cap and trade and card check, so pay attention to how your legislators vote … if you don’t like it, vote.” McDonnell also announced that he had just received the endorsement of the NRA, which has over 120,000 members in Virginia alone.
Special guest Congressman Eric Cantor, the House Minority Whip, expressed dissatisfaction with current government spending: “We are at risk if this spending continues. They dictate to us and tell us what to think and the American people are standing up and saying enough is enough.” Cantor has been a fixture on cable TV programs in recent months.
“This is a critical election, not only to Virginia but to the nation,” said Bolling, who ran down a list of issues. “Unemployment is at its highest in over 25 years. We need to invest in economic development, be an energy leader and create new jobs. Forty percent of all education dollars goes to the front office, instead of the classroom and we will change that.”
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (6th District) told breakfast attendees that the Republican statewide ticket has 43 years of experience and has won 21 elections between the three candidates. “When people vote, they know that values matter and character counts,” said Goodlatte.
By Carla Bream [email protected]
