Why I want Mark Warner to run for President
I fish for Largemouth and Striped bass. I love NHRA drag racing and have taken my own car down the track a number of times. I believe everyone has a right to own a gun. I drive a Dodge 1500 Hemi pickup with which I tow my boat to the lake and I served in the Navy for 9 years. If you knew nothing more about me than this, many of my Democratic friends would consider this a bio of a Republican...
As with most of you, I have spent some time thinking about the future of our party. No matter how I look at it, I always come back to the same solution. The party must grow and truly become more tolerant. Calling someone stupid because they live in a “red” state is counterproductive and just plain wrong. We must listen to the folks first, then provide real answers as to why they should be voting FOR Democrats.
Most Americans are in the center of the political spectrum. I have a pretty large number of friends and in-laws that consider themselves Independents or Republicans. We tend to meet at a middle ground on a number of issues. Usually, it is the way we attack a problem we differ on, not the issue itself.
As a businessman, Mark Warner understands root-cause analysis. Finding the cause of a problem and fixing it. I’m sure some of you have read about the infamous 2004 tax reform debate. What you have not heard is how Governor Warner reduced waste and cut spending his first 2 ½ years in office after inheriting a $6 billion revenue shortfall from Republican Governor Gilmore and his Republican controlled General Assembly.
He did not consider any new tax initiatives until he had trimmed the budget, reorganized government departments and streamlined processes. Did you know that the tax burden for 65% of Virginians was reduced under the 2004 tax reform bill? Or that the Republican Senate wanted to pass a $4 billion package before coming to the realization that Governor Warner’s $1.2 billion package was more fiscally responsible?
Governor Warner knew that for Virginia to be strong, she needed to be strong in every corner of the Commonwealth, not just in Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Richmond. He has created thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue by encouraging companies to set up in the southeastern part of the state, a region in desperate need of jobs. He brings fresh ideas to old problems. THAT is what we need.
I had the pleasure to work as a county coordinator for the Warner for Governor campaign in 2001. The professionalism and organization of his campaign team was remarkable. How many Democrats do you know that could get support from the business leaders, the Chamber of Commerce and Trade Unions while keeping the NRA neutral in his race?
During the early months of 2001 he would walk up to an individual and introduce himself, ask them if he could shake there hand and then look them in the eye and ask what their main issue or problem with government was. He didn’t always say what they wanted to hear but the person left knowing that Mark Warner had given them an honest answer.
He supported the State Constitutional Amendment giving all people the right to hunt and fish, sponsored a truck at a NASCAR race in Martinsville and went deep into the rural parts of Virginia to talk kitchen table issues. He carried the rural vote with 51%.
Recently Governor Warner was quoted as saying Democrats must find a way to expand the party's appeal. If Democrats continue to hope that if everything breaks right we can get to a 17th state and somehow 270 electoral votes, we do this country a disservice and we do the Democratic Party a disservice. He does not bow to party orthodoxy. There have been a number of times that ardent party activists have bemoaned the Governor’s position on particular issues.
When I read that Governor Warner was filing to set up a federal PAC, I could hardly contain my excitement. It is our job not only to convince moderate Republicans and Independents to urge Mark Warner to run, but also our more liberal friends in our own party. If they truly believe in tolerance and a big tent, they can start by supporting Mark Warner for President in 2008.
I look forward to sharing more with you in the near future.
Steve Deak
Ga for Warner
As with most of you, I have spent some time thinking about the future of our party. No matter how I look at it, I always come back to the same solution. The party must grow and truly become more tolerant. Calling someone stupid because they live in a “red” state is counterproductive and just plain wrong. We must listen to the folks first, then provide real answers as to why they should be voting FOR Democrats.
Most Americans are in the center of the political spectrum. I have a pretty large number of friends and in-laws that consider themselves Independents or Republicans. We tend to meet at a middle ground on a number of issues. Usually, it is the way we attack a problem we differ on, not the issue itself.
As a businessman, Mark Warner understands root-cause analysis. Finding the cause of a problem and fixing it. I’m sure some of you have read about the infamous 2004 tax reform debate. What you have not heard is how Governor Warner reduced waste and cut spending his first 2 ½ years in office after inheriting a $6 billion revenue shortfall from Republican Governor Gilmore and his Republican controlled General Assembly.
He did not consider any new tax initiatives until he had trimmed the budget, reorganized government departments and streamlined processes. Did you know that the tax burden for 65% of Virginians was reduced under the 2004 tax reform bill? Or that the Republican Senate wanted to pass a $4 billion package before coming to the realization that Governor Warner’s $1.2 billion package was more fiscally responsible?
Governor Warner knew that for Virginia to be strong, she needed to be strong in every corner of the Commonwealth, not just in Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Richmond. He has created thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue by encouraging companies to set up in the southeastern part of the state, a region in desperate need of jobs. He brings fresh ideas to old problems. THAT is what we need.
I had the pleasure to work as a county coordinator for the Warner for Governor campaign in 2001. The professionalism and organization of his campaign team was remarkable. How many Democrats do you know that could get support from the business leaders, the Chamber of Commerce and Trade Unions while keeping the NRA neutral in his race?
During the early months of 2001 he would walk up to an individual and introduce himself, ask them if he could shake there hand and then look them in the eye and ask what their main issue or problem with government was. He didn’t always say what they wanted to hear but the person left knowing that Mark Warner had given them an honest answer.
He supported the State Constitutional Amendment giving all people the right to hunt and fish, sponsored a truck at a NASCAR race in Martinsville and went deep into the rural parts of Virginia to talk kitchen table issues. He carried the rural vote with 51%.
Recently Governor Warner was quoted as saying Democrats must find a way to expand the party's appeal. If Democrats continue to hope that if everything breaks right we can get to a 17th state and somehow 270 electoral votes, we do this country a disservice and we do the Democratic Party a disservice. He does not bow to party orthodoxy. There have been a number of times that ardent party activists have bemoaned the Governor’s position on particular issues.
When I read that Governor Warner was filing to set up a federal PAC, I could hardly contain my excitement. It is our job not only to convince moderate Republicans and Independents to urge Mark Warner to run, but also our more liberal friends in our own party. If they truly believe in tolerance and a big tent, they can start by supporting Mark Warner for President in 2008.
I look forward to sharing more with you in the near future.
Steve Deak
Ga for Warner
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