Eric Cantor clearly hasn’t spent enough time over the last two years speaking and listening to the constituents in the 7th District. If he had, he would have realized that they are increasingly politically aware, shrugging off the frustration of naivety and ignorance, and engaging the political system. As the 7th District grew more interested and more vocal, Majority Leader Cantor grew less present and less interested. I suppose he thought that the 7th District was comprised of a bunch of ignorant sheep who’d show up to vote for one of the most liberal, corporatist congressmen in Washington D.C., so long as he told them that he was one of the most conservative and constitutional folks in the Capital.
Lying your way to victory is a time-honored tradition amongst politicians, especially those politicians with an enormous amount of power, influence, and wealth. However, while Cantor’s pockets were spilling over, the citizens in Virginia’s 7th District were still feeling the pinch and pressure of a poor economy and an overzealous federal government. They wanted to know what was happening and why it was happening. They discovered one of the causes of all this government growth. It was their “conservative” congressmen, John Boehner, and a horde of purchased congressional suits swayed into the service of the Chamber of Commerce.
Lying to the 7th District appears to have been the last straw.
When Economics Professor Dr. Dave Brat decided to challenge Congressman Cantor, he found a small, but extremely motivated group of supporters. This wasn’t enough to draw Cantors’ ire or attention. Slowly, as Dr. Brat had the opportunity to speak to more and more 7th District constituents, his small following grew, and then grew some more. Then Cantor started paying attention. Then Cantor started with the lies. It’s the lies, the lies piled on top of lies, that woke up the 7th; and here we are, just days before June 10th, when Cantor’s reign will be decided, and that small rumbling that was a fledgling campaign has become a reverberating thunder!
Maybe politicians will take note, lying your way to victory only works when your constituents are stupid. The citizens of Virginia’s 7th District are not and Cantor’s lies have simply paved his own path toward defeat.
What seemed impossible became a long shot. What seemed a long shot became a horse race. What is a horse race is coming down to the wire. Will your voice be heard? Are you tired of Cantor’s lies? Will you send Dr. Dave Brat to the House of Representatives?
Article written by: Steven Brodie Tucker
About Steven Brodie Tucker
Graduated with a degree in Philosophy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Also studied economics and political science at George Mason.