Americans for Prosperity (AFP) held their third annual Defending the American Dream Summit in Washington, D.C. last weekend with a large group of conservative Roanokers in attendance. AFP is a grassroots organization, with a membership of more than 700,000 from across the country. AFP advocates limited government and lower taxes. In Virginia, AFP claims to have successfully fought a proposed four billion dollar tax increase, despite the backing of Democratic Governor Tim Kaine.
Thousands gathered first in Upper Senate Park for a Capitol Hill rally and news conference. Tim Phillips, president of the AFP Foundation, a Virginia native and Virginia Tech alum, started the rally by proclaiming that “[many] Americans are tired of all the politicking going on today. They are against cap and trade, against the massive so-called health care bill and tired of being taken advantage of.”
Phillips introduced several speakers, including Roanoke area congressman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (6th District), who later invited constituents to his office for a chat. After the rally the march was on to Capitol Hill, where citizens from across the U.S. attempted to meet with their senators and representatives. Few Democratic Representative offices remained open for the heavily partisan crowd.
The Dream Summit evening featured a “Tribute to Ronald Reagan” dinner which included speakers Laura Ingraham, radio host and best selling author, and Congressman Mike Pence, R-Indiana. The final event was a screening of the film, “Not Evil, Just Wrong,” a counter to Al Gore’s movie about global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Saturday’s program started with Shona Grimes, a Canadian citizen who came to the United States to receive her medical care for a brain tumor. Grimes said if she had waited and accepted care under a public option in Canada, she would be dead today. Other speakers included Senator Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, Stephen Moyer of the Wall Street Journal and Herman Cain, radio host and Fox News contributor.
During his address former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich said the economy could turn around, increasing jobs and wages with three steps; reduce payroll deductions (for two years) for Medicare by 50 percent, adopt the Chinese model of a zero percent capital gains tax and adopt the Irish model of a lower 12 percent corporate tax rate.
The afternoon included breakout sessions with classes on grassroots training, countering media bias and investigative reporting skills, among others.
Roanoker Roxanne Christley said she and her husband attended the summit, “because we have to do it for our kids. People need to get educated on the issues and vote the right way. We are trying to save our country.”
Mildred Scott, another Roanoker who made the trip said, “I am tired of [what] the Democrats and Obama are telling us. We need to be heard and tell people the truth.”
By Carla M. Bream [email protected]
