Ed Gillespie is running in the purple state of Virginia.  He is a Republican political strategist who was formerly the Chairman of the Republican National Committee and counselor to President George W. Bush. Unlike many Republican candidates running in the liberal districts of Los Angeles and elsewhere, Gillespie is not running away from  conservative views regarding the issues.  He discussed with American Thinker why Democratic Senator Mark Warner exemplifies the problems of this country through his policy choices.

Gillespie will have an uphill battle, since Warner is considered one of the most popular elected officials in Virginia and Obama won the state in 2008 and 2012. It does not help that people see Warner reaching across the aisle, including his ties with the Republican leaning business community. In addition, Gillespie got a slap in the face from former Senator John W. Warner, a Republican who defeated Mark Warner nearly two decades ago, when he announced that he was endorsing the person with the same last name. Yet, Gillespie noted to American Thinker, “According to the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Mark Warner got a 38% rating.  He stood with Barbara Boxer and John Kerry in supporting Cap and Trade legislation.  These policies would be devastating for Southwest Virginia.”

Gillespie told American Thinker that a Republican can get elected in this purple state by presenting core conservative ideas and pointing out that Warner is an Obama and Reid clone, supporting their agenda.  Warner stood with them when he supported ObamaCare, the stimulus package, and environmental measures that would hurt the coal industry. In fact, Gillespie has shown his political smarts with the new You Tube video showing TV clips of him ripping ObamaCare, (which can be viewed on his website) calling it a “monstrosity,” while switching to clips of Warner enthusiastically supporting it.

Gillepsie points out that political pundits have now put this Senate race in the category of competitive races for the GOP.  He believes, “Warner talks about being an independent voice when in fact he had voted with Obama and Harry Reid 97% of the time.  Included in those are his votes for ObamaCare, even though he promised Virginians he would never vote for a bill that would cause them to lose their insurance.  He argues for tweaking it and keeping it, while I believe we should repeal it and replace it.  Republicans do have alternatives and I think in November the American people will support these market-based solutions. I think we can get our message out.”

Another video the Gillespie campaign has put out shows Warner’s disregard for energy alternatives, pointing out that that the senator supported carbon tax measures to increase the cost of carbon-based energy production and stated, “The most significant thing we can do is send the market signal that either directly through a carbon tax or indirectly through Cap and Trade, we are going to put a price on carbon.” Gillespie continues to put pressure on Warner where the senator is now seen as speaking out of both sides of his mouth.  Last month, Senator Warner conceded to the Richmond Times Dispatch that Cap and Trade has “not proven to be successful, even in Europe.” In addition, Warner has flip-flopped on first voting against the Keystone Pipeline and then recently voted for it. 

Gillespie is hoping Virginians will see how Warner supports “reckless spending and regulations.  I always supported the Keystone Pipeline and the need to maintain coal jobs.  These are important to our nation to create jobs and to become less dependent on foreign oil.  We need to remove the federal red tape that slows down the development of energy infrastructure. Unfortunately, Senator Warner and President Obama have shown no leadership in removing the barriers.”

There is also a leadership problem within the Democratic Party regarding defense spending.  Gillespie sees this as inexcusable.  “This administration is slashing the military to pay for ObamaCare.  The fact is, we see America receding from a leadership role in the world that has created instability around the globe.  Our Navy needs to have approximately 360 ships to protect us and we are nowhere near that.  I believe we are about 250 and going down.  This just shows the awful priorities of this administration. Virginia has historically and proudly played a role in defending our country since the American Revolution.  The world is a safer place when we have a strong defense.”

Recent polls show that Democratic candidates are in trouble.  Gillespie regards Virginia as an important state.  If it moves from purple to red by electing him Gillespie feels that Republicans would be able to take control of the Senate.  “The policies that Warner had helped to enact has made it harder for Americans to claim the opportunities this country has to offer.  We need a future where the next generation is better off than the one that came before it.”

The author writes for American Thinker.  She has done book reviews, author interviews, and has written a number of national security, political, and foreign policy articles.