On March 31st, the Democratic party in VA-05 is holding its annual dinner. Speakers will be Jim Webb, Harris Miller, and the two congressional candidates, Fighting Dems Al Weed and Bern Ewert. They're trying to replace George "Football Metaphor" Allen and Virgil "MZM Scandal" Goode this November.
C-SPAN has nothing planned for March 31st programming, and we'd like them to cover the event. If you want to see both sides of these two primary races, help us out; e-mail events@c-span.org and tell them to cover the 5th District Dinner on March 31.
Below the fold, I list some of the reasons why these speakers, and the 5th district in particular are important parts of the progressive movement. events@c-span.org
Opposition to the war: Jim Webb and Al Weed are fighting Dems who opposed the Iraq war from the start. Jim Webb was the first Marine to serve as Secretary of the Navy, under Pres. Reagan; he resigned in protest over Reagan's military restructuring policy, and he once beat up Oliver North (not kidding). Al Weed is a highly decorated 42-year veteran of Army Special Ops with a son currently serving his country in armed service.
The 5th District is a microcosm of national problems: unemployment and under-employment, social conservatism, the decay of the rural foundations of the country, frustration with the direction of the country under GOP leadership, the cost of globalization, as well as the struggle between establishment leaders and grassroots activists (see if you can guess which of the 5th district candidates represents which).
Renewable Energy: The tobacco-farm buy-out of recent years has opened the way for people who for generations relied on tobacco as a cash crop to move into biofuels -- growing switchgrass and other crops that will be essential to the coming economy based on renewable energy sources. This is a centerpiece of Al Weed's campaign, in concert with other progressive Democrats who want to protect the environment and reverse global warming (see Public Policy Virginia conferences and papers; and the Apollo Energy Alliance).
Turning Jerry Falwell's Backyard Blue: Forest VA is a suburb of Lynchburg, where Rev. Jerry Falwell rules the roost, his Liberty University controls a major share of the local economy, and Republicans regularly win every election. Yet in the January 2006 special election in Lynchburg, Democrat Shannon Valentine won a resounding victory, by 58%-42%, over her Republican opponent and now represents the Lynchburg area in the Virginia House of Delegates.