Thu Jun 12, 2014. Richmond Times-Dispatch

Dave Brat, an economics professor from Henrico County, stunned House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a Republican primary Tuesday night, a shocking defeat for the veteran congressman who appeared next in line to become speaker of the House.

Brat, a Randolph-Macon College professor with little name ID, toppled a Republican heavyweight who had not faced a close challenge since he was first elected in 2000.

"This is one of the most stunning upsets in modern American political history,” said Larry Sabato, head of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “This is the base rebelling against the GOP leadership in Washington as represented by Eric Cantor.”

“I’m as stunned as anybody,” Sabato said. “I’ve yet to find one person nationally or in the state outside the Brat circle who thought Cantor would be beaten.”


Brat addressed jubilant supporters at a victory celebration in western Henrico County.


“The reason we won this campaign is dollars don’t vote — you do,” Brat said.


He said the campaign was about “basic American values. ... Power belongs to the people and that’s what we’re going to do.” Brat called the win “a miracle from God,” and said the upcoming campaign with Democrat John “Jack” Trammell — another Randolph-Macon professor — would be about “returning the country to constitutional principles, returning the country to Judeo-Christian principles and returning the country to free-market principles.” Brat said he did not run against Cantor, calling him “a good man.”

At the Westin Richmond hotel, Cantor delivered a speech of roughly 4 minutes.
“Obviously, we came up short” the 14-year congressional veteran said at the start. He thanked his wife, Diana, his family and his campaign supporters and staff.


Brat and his supporters seemed as stunned as many in the political firmament.


“Oh my God!” said Brat supporter Liz Warren of Henrico, greeting the GOP nominee.

“Oh my God — that’s exactly right,” said Brat, embracing her.

“Unbelievable — it’s a miracle,” Brat told supporters as he greeted them one by one, stopping to pose for photos and selfies.

“That’s what you get when you get lackadaisical,” Warren [Brat supporter] said. “People are so disenchanted with politicians making laws for everybody but themselves. Dave is right with what the people want, and Eric Cantor has lost his way.” Cantor supporters at the Westin were stunned. Some said they thought it could be close but didn’t expect an upset.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest...1a4bcf6878.html

Listen to the Victor, not the losers and the pundits!!!

"The central policy issue in this race has become Cantor’s absolute determination to pass an amnesty bill. Cantor is the No. 1 cheerleader in Congress for amnesty," Brat declared in an op-ed for
the Richmond Times-Dispatch during the last week of the primary. "This is not the Republican way to fix our economy and labor markets."

So tone deaf!!!

"A day after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) lost his primary after Dave Brat hammered him on amnesty, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) embraced "immigration reform" on a conference call with Michael Bloomberg's pro-amnesty group and Grover Norquist."
Paul, a potential 2016 contender, reportedly said that "amnesty is a word that’s trapped us," and, according to CNN, emphasized, "If you want immigration reform, there has to be openness to compromise." Earlier on Wednesday, talk radio host Rush Limbaugh declared that when politicians in Washington say "immigration reform" what they really mean is "amnesty."

“I say everywhere I go, 'I am for immigration reform,'” Paul said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Quote: Sanguine wrote in post #4

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When is Rand up for re-election?

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Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #6

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"“The reason we won this campaign is dollars don’t vote — you do,” Brat said."

"It was a historic defeat because Cantor, an establishment Republican, lost to a virtual unknown! Challenger Dave Brat is a local college professor of economics. He was also outspent 25 to 1, having raised only about $200,000 compared to the over $5.5 million that Cantor dumped into the race."

http://www.norcalblogs.com/postscripts/2...ed-primary-wha/

Obviously our highest priority right now is campaign finance reform so evil people like the Koch brothers can't buy the government.

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