Matthew Berry for Congress in Virginia’s 8th District

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the American people have once again shown their incredible generosity. Americans have already donated over $500 million to relief efforts, and it is projected that contributions will ultimately top $2 billion.  $122 million in donations already have come from American companies, and over $30 million have been raised through contributions made by text messages.

But at this time when Americans have joined together to help the people of Haiti, Jim Moran has chosen to use this tragedy as an opportunity to blame the United States for Haiti’s ills.  Specifically, Moran said that “much of that endemic poverty in Haiti is a direct result of racist attitudes in this country.”

Moran’s comments remind of me of Jeane Kirkpatrick’s speech at the 1984 Republican convention, where she spoke of those who “always blame America first.”  The American people’s reaction to the tragedy that has unfolded in Haiti has not been not the reaction of a racist people.  And while our nation’s policy towards Haiti over the years certainly has not been perfect, we are not the primary cause of the corruption and misgovernance that has plagued that nation nor can any mistakes in our policy towards Haiti neatly be blamed on racism.

In short, at this time we should be coming together to aid the Haitian people during their time of need and thanking the American people for their generous response to this disaster.  Now is not the time to accuse the United States of being a racist nation or to blame our country for Haiti’s problems.

Unfortunately, Jim Moran doesn’t understand this, and that is yet another reason he should be replaced in November.

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By sending Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate, Massachusetts voters have sent a clear message; the question now is whether the Democrats in Congress will listen.  At a time when the federal government is running a record $1.4 trillion budget deficit, the American people don’t want the federal government to launch a massive new spending program.  Nor do they want to shift more power over our health care system to the government.  It is therefore time for the Democrats in Congress to abandon their efforts to pass the health-care reform bills currently pending in Congress.

Instead, President Obama and Democrats should work with Republicans to pass common-sense reforms that will expand the range of insurance choices offered to Americans and lower costs.  Last November, I outlined five such ideas: (1) allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines; (2) allowing small businesses to join together to form Small Business Health Plans; (3) reforming medical liability laws; (4) expanding the availability of health savings accounts; and (5) rewarding healthy behavior.  If you want to read more about my proposals, please click here.  Rather than giving the federal government greater control over our health care system, my ideas are designed to restore power to doctors and patients.

Aside from rendering a verdict on the Democrats’ health-care bill, the election results in Massachusetts also sent another clear signal:  2010 is unlike other years.  Democrat-held seats previously thought to be safe are now in play.  Simply put, if we can win a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, we can win in Virginia’s 8th District as well.  If you would like to help us take back Virginia’s 8th District and defeat Jim Moran, please click here to donate to my campaign or click here to sign up to volunteer.

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In today’s Washington Examiner, Jim Moran had this to say about the terrorist threat facing the D.C. region: “These terrorists don’t have an air force or navy or even much of an army of their own.  I don’t know what people are so afraid of.”

Given the fact that Virginia’s 8th District was attacked on September 11, 2001, it is appalling that Jim Moran would dismiss the terrorist threat in such a cavalier fashion.  It is also especially foolish and wrongheaded to do so less than one month after the Christmas Day Plot to destroy Northwest Flight 253.

Whether he is advocating the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, praising the decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a civilian courtroom, or supporting the transfer of Guantanamo detainees into Virginia’s 8th District or the District of Columbia, Jim Moran doesn’t appear to understand what needs to be done to protect the American people and win the war on terror.

Having worked on counter-terrorism policy at the U.S. Department of Justice, I am well aware of the fact that there are Islamic extremists plotting to inflict catastrophic damage on our country, and that we must not return to the pre-September 11 mindset of treating terrorism primarily as a law enforcement matter.

If you disagree with Jim Moran’s naive comments and would like to help me unseat him, please click here to donate to my campaign or click here to sign up to volunteer.

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Today, I am officially announcing my candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia’s 8th District. Twelve months ago, I never would have imagined that I would be taking this step; my life’s ambition has not been to hold elected office. But over the course of the last year, I have watched with growing dismay as the federal budget deficit has hit a record $1.4 trillion, unemployment has reached ten percent, and Congress has moved ever closer to passing a disastrous health-care reform bill. In Washington today, it sometimes seems that the answer to every problem is more, more, more… more borrowing, more spending, and more government involvement in more sectors of the American economy.

As a result, it is essential that the United States begin to move in a new direction. We cannot continue on a path that is projected to lead to at least $9 trillion in additional debt over the next ten years. We cannot continue on a path that is failing to create jobs. And we cannot continue on a path that will eventually lead to a government takeover of our health care system.

Here at home, in the 8th District, it is time for a new direction as well. Put simply, Congressman Jim Moran has abused the public trust. He has consistently secured earmarks that benefit his campaign contributors. He has taken a personal loan from a drug company lobbyist, and shortly thereafter sponsored legislation to benefit that drug company. And he has not behaved in a manner worthy of the office that he holds. Whether he is blaming American Jews for the war in Iraq or accusing American troops of engaging in ethnic cleansing, he has embarrassed the residents of the 8th District too many times. We can do far better.

Over the last two months, I have been very encouraged by the response that our exploratory effort has received throughout the 8th District. Despite only getting started in mid-November, we ended 2009 with more cash on hand than any Republican challenger to Jim Moran has ever had at this point in the election cycle. I have heard from many Republicans, Independents, and Democrats who share my belief that we must restore fiscal responsibility to Washington and elect a Congressman that you can be proud of.

Our needs have gone ignored in Washington for too long… You deserve a strong economy and a better future for our children, rather than passing along a mountain of debt to future generations. You deserve shorter commutes so that you can spend more time with your family and friends. And I hope that you will get involved with the campaign because we all deserve a government that is open, honest, and works with our best interests at heart, instead of simply taking more and more of our hard-earned money.

I realize that defeating Jim Moran will not be easy, and that is why I am asking you to help us get off to a strong start by doing three things today.

*First*, please sign up to volunteer by clicking here. We need to mobilize a grassroots organization to spread our message across the 8th District, and there are a variety of ways that you can help.

*Second*, please donate to our campaign by clicking here. To make our campaign launch a success, I am asking my supporters to raise $5,000 in the next 36 hours.  If you do not wish to contribute through the Internet, you can print out a donation form here that can be used to send in a contribution by regular mail.

And *third*, please pass along word of my announcement to as many friends, family members, neighbors or colleagues as you think might be interested in joining our cause.

I pledge that I will work my heart out between now and Election Day to make sure our voices are heard in Washington. And if you are willing to stand with me, I am convinced that we can celebrate a tremendous victory together come November.

See you on the campaign trail,

Matthew

 

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As election year begins, I am pleased to announce that we surpassed our end-of-the-year fundraising goal.  In less than two months, we raised over $62,000, and we finished the year with over $60,000 cash on hand.  This is the most cash on hand that any Republican challenger to Jim Moran has ever had at this point in the election cycle. (more…)

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