]]>For the first time since 1980, Wolf also is facing a challenge from within the GOP, from financial consultant Vern P. McKinley. McKinley said his experience working for U.S. and foreign governments and free-market think tanks qualifies him for office. He has accused Wolf of being a “big-government Republican” who has abandoned his conservative roots during his long time in office.
During the 1980’s and ‘90’s McKinley worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, the Resolution Trust Corporation and the Treasury Department’s Office of Thrift Supervision, and attended the law school at George Washington University. He also conducted policy analysis for the CATO Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. During the past eight years, he has worked as a legal and policy advisor on financial and fiscal matters to governmental entities in the United States and several foreign countries including China, Nigeria, the Philippines, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Kenya, Libya, Serbia, Kosovo and Tajikistan according to his campaign press secretary Michael Parrish.
His main issue thus far in his campaign has involved government spending and “earmarks,” a practice he would like to see “vanish.” He seeks to reduce government spending “dramatically.”
McKinley reportedly is “angry” with Wolf and other Republicans whom he views as having “stayed away from Republican principles of small government.” In addition he is a defender of Second Amendment rights to bear arms and has earned a 100 percent rating from the Virginia Gun Owners Coalition.For more information on McKinley, visit his campaign website at www.mckinleyforcongress.com.
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE VERN ON JUNE 10th (Next Tuesday).
]]>]]>Though they have made some side-by-side appearances, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) and his Republican opponent Vern McKinley are unlikely to debate before their party primary June 10. “He is not doing any debates,” wrote Dan Scandling, a member of Wolf’s congressional staff, in an email.
McKinley said there have been four efforts to get the congressman to debate his Republican opponent — including invitations from Loudoun County high school students and the Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi on 88.5 FM, the public radio station.
Loudoun County’s Northern Virginia Community College campus and Sterling Foundation, Inc. also invited Wolf to partake in a debate similar to the one held between the Democratic primary candidates last week. Participation would have required Wolf to meet with some of the college’s political science students for a pre-debate interview earlier in the spring.
“The congressman wouldn’t agree to debate. … I don’t know why he wouldn’t. Maybe he doesn’t have time,” said Rosemarie Pelletier, the political science professor who extended the invitation to Wolf.
McKinley said the U.S. government should not try to control the price of oil. The development of alternative energy sources should also be left up to the world financial market and not subsidized by the federal government.]]>“[Corn] ethanol is a complete distortion of markets and reality,” said McKinley.
The Republican supports opening up restricted territories in the United States, such as those in Alaska, for oil exploration and drilling. He wants to reassess the use of the federal gas tax and said that all responsibility for transportation — and possibly the taxing authority that supports those projects — should ultimately be shifted to the local government.
“I don’t think we get our money’s worth for all the [federal] transportation money we spend,” he said.
]]>I suppose Wolf feels he has nothing to gain from the debate - no reason to submit to attacks from three sides. But he has in the past articulated his positions well, so he should have no worries about being “out-debated.” His refusal to participate conveys a sense of fear, as though he does not want to have to defend his record in the Congress.
540-539-7733 or vern@mckinleyforcongress.com
Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District has not faced a Republican primary challenge since he first won his seat as part of the “Reagan Wave” in 1980. Today, he faces strong criticism from many conservatives for turning from the “Reagan Values” that he once campaigned on. Vern McKinley, Republican challenger in the 10th district, is running a campaign on these issues. McKinley is an experienced policy expert who would bring vast federal government, international and private sector experience to Congress, along with a vision of limited government.
At least four independent efforts have been made over the past few weeks to organize a debate of the issues between Congressman Wolf and McKinley: the Politics Hour on WAMU with Kojo Nnamdi; the “Road to…” show on FCAC Channel 10; the Sterling Foundation; and the Loudoun County High School Young Republicans, all of which were turned down by the Congressman. The 10th Congressional District has a long-standing history of political debates. During Congressman Wolf’s early campaigns in the 1970s then-Congressman Fisher made himself available for debates several times against then-challenger Frank Wolf. Next week McKinley will debate the two Democratic Candidates in the 10th Congressional district to get out his message. This week he also debated the Libertarian Party candidates for President, including Bob Barr and Mike Gravel.
]]>Ashburn, VA – Reason Magazine held a debate on Libertarian and Republican principles on May 20th. In attendance were Vern McKinley, Mike Gravel, Bob Barr, and Wayne Allen Root. Each of them answered a variety of questions from Reason Magazine’s reporter David Weigel and took questions from the audience.
McKinley talked about immigration, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, limiting the role of government, and drug policies. He said that he would have voted for a more targeted attack of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, but would oppose any type of nation building. As for Iraq, he would have voted “no” to go in.
Each of the candidates got to express their opinion on getting rid of a department and Vern chose Commerce, Energy, and Education. He said that Republicans talked about it in the 80s and 90s, but “this time around, we need to get serious and get rid of them all,” McKinley stated.
On the topic of drug prohibition, McKinley stated that the Constitution leaves that issue up to the states.
For those who weren’t there and would like to watch it online, can do so at http://www.reason.tv/video/show/431.html
For further information please contact Michael Parrish at 540-539-7733 or mparrish03@gmail.com.
McKinley is a financial expert who advises foreign countries, has worked for the FDIC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and has done policy analysis for the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is running for the Republican nomination in the 10th District of Virginia for the House of Representatives. The primary is scheduled to be held on June 10, 2008.
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