Bell, Smith spar for GOP nodAccidentally not being there when the vote occurred doesn't get you off the hook, pal. Either you're in the trenches fighting for the cause or you side with those who enjoy spending the taxpayers' money. "Away on business" don't get it.
By Mason Adams, The Roanoke Times
As Virginia Senate contenders Brandon Bell and Ralph Smith head into the homestretch of their primary battle for the Republican nomination in the 22nd District, the war of words is getting hotter.
Bell said that his Republican constituents seemed concerned largely with gun issues, illegal immigration and moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
Smith has focused his campaign largely on taxes. He's accused incumbent Bell of being a "RINO" (Republican in Name Only) who portrays himself as a fiscal conservative in election years but who votes for tax increases the rest of the time.
"The guy is so deceiving," Smith said. "Every piece of material he sends out tags him as a conservative fighting for your taxes. The guy did no such thing."
While it's true that Bell did vote for a 2006 transportation bill that, had it passed, would have raised the sales tax on wholesale gasoline, the question of whether he supported Gov. Mark Warner's 2004 overhaul of the tax code is a little trickier.
Smith said Bell supported that tax increase. Bell said he opposed it but "when the vote happened, I was in Detroit, Mich., on a business trip." (link)
And you embarrassed yourself and shamed us with your vote on that transportation travesty.
The term RINO was invented for guys like Brandon Bell. It's time, before we face our next "crisis" in Richmond, for a fresh face. Someone who will look out for the interests of the people. and not for the interests of Richmond.
2 comments:
I note with interest that the former head of the Republican Party in Virginia, Don Huffman, has come out for Smith. This bodes ill for Bell as Huffman is a very savvy, honest and popular Republican leader. I was leaning toward Smith anyway but am sure to vote for him now. Goodlatte had better rethink his endorsement of Bell.
The latest Huffman radio ad blasts Bell for voting to raise our taxes for the Northern Virginia blokes who contributed heavily to his campaign. Wow! The problem is that if he wins the primary next Tuesday, the enemy will have fuel for its' campaign. Well, he'll have at least two votes agin' him. Drain that swamp.
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