Virginia Primary June 10th: The Amazing Adventures of Cantor and Gutierrez

The Virginia Primary is June 10th. Here's how "reaching across the aisle" in 2014 works with Virginia as a springboard, as we head into the November elections. The scene was set sometime ago, behind closed doors somewhere on Capitol Hill or in a private club in the D.C. area. I can't give you an exact date of a hatched plot, but I can point you to one public outing in late July 2013 at a Queens, New York Jewish Center. Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) jointly appeared with Democrats in support of what most of us understand is amnesty. One of the three Democrats attending was Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). Gutierrez is the among the most ardent supporters of open borders, amnesty, a path to citizenship that ends in amnesty -- if illegals become U.S. citizens or have permanent residency and voting rights, Gutierrez is for it, and he is not insisting that borders be secured first. Yesterday, Gutierrez, from Illinois, rode into Richmond and stood on the Virginia State Capitol's steps and decried Eric Cantor as an "obstacle" in the way of securing amnesty or a 'path to citizenship.' If you've been paying attention, you are rolling your eyes right now.

Queens Jewish Center: Rep. Eric Cantor (third from left), 
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (center back row), 
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (far right)

Important to this story: Cantor has a conservative challenger -- perhaps the first ever that Cantor has to worry about. Dr. Dave Brat is a professor of economics at Randolph Macon College. Brat does not want Cantor-styled immigration reform. He wants borders secured first, then we talk about what comes next. Rather than debate the issues, Cantor believes he has the political capital to dishonestly trash his opponent.

So Gutierrez rode into Richmond.

Cantor's and Gutierrez' clever brilliant, subliminal move yesterday should backfire if details are reported. Let's go back to 2013. Here's a quote from the three-day get-together at the Jewish Center:

Indeed, it was an interesting three days last year, when Cantor and Gutierrez toured together as part of a group intending to promote “comprehensive immigration reform.” At the time, Cantor said of his current foe Gutierrez: 

"Luis [Gutierrez], the leadership you’re providing through thick and thin right now as we try and navigate these very tough political times in choppy waters. My hat is off to you. I’m very grateful." ~ Eric Cantor

Cantor and Gutierrez have the same goal -- their agreed goal of 'comprehensive immigration reform.' Gutierrez and Democrats need Eric Cantor and his powerful position as House Majority leader in Congress; what better way than to convince GOPers to keep him there by positioning Cantor as a foe-to-be-feared by Democrats, against the holy grail of bringing 12+ million people "out of the shadows."

In response to Gutierrez yesterday, Eric Cantor took the low road and stood up for "the kids:"

“I’ve always been for the kids that never committed any illegal act in entering this country because they were brought here … by their parents unbeknownst to them,” Cantor said in an interview Saturday. ~ Eric Cantor, May 28, 2014

The problem is, as written in the Senate legislation which pro-amnesty Republicans are mimicking, with the kids come masses of relatives already here and still in foreign countries, and felons need not be concerned.

Cantor has led the push in the House for a "comprehensive immigration bill," without securing borders first. He wants it passed by the end of summer 2014 and has said it is "doable."

Cantor has refused to debate challenger, Brat. The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) has dissolved into corruption -- Cantor-paid corruption, with the new head of the RPV, Shaun Kenney, on Cantor's payroll. Yet, at the Republican Party of Virginia 7th District Convention this month, Cantor's 7th district strong-man, Linwood Cobb III was ousted as chairman, and replaced with "Tea Party favorite," Fred Gruber.

Dr. David Brat

Brat has won support from some big-name conservatives and has tapped into discontent across Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. On Wednesday, Brat planned to travel to Washington to meet with leading conservative agitators, a sign that his effort is starting to be taken seriously at the national level. Source: Washington Post May 2014 

In late March, Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) joined with Democrats at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida "to collaborate with a group dedicated to defeating conservatives in Congress." The event:

..."was organized by a group that has "received money from left leaning unions, George Soros backed-organization, and a major Democrat contributor." 

Cantor's top consultant, Ray Allen, reportedly said he will "bankrupt the RPV," if necessary to put Cantor's people in charge:

Sources tell PJ Media that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s long-time top consultant, Ray Allen, has “angrily” stated to multiple individuals that he intends to bankrupt the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV), to install his own people throughout all levels of RPV’s State Central Committee, and to rebuild the RPV with money from Eric Cantor’s donors. 

Ray Allen is considered the “brain trust” of Eric Cantor’s Young Guns, which has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and has hired staff with the intention of retaking control of the RPV at all levels. (Eric Cantor and Ray Allen lost control of the RPV in 2012, when Tea Party/conservative candidates won seats at all levels of the party, taking majority control from Cantor allies.)  Source: David Steinberg, PJ Media

Cantor needs help in his home district, where he was recently boo'd and heckled numerous times at the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) District 7 Convention for telling serious, now debunked Cantor-originated, untruths about Dave Brat's conservative creds:

They booed Cantor, cheered for Brat and even ousted Cantor’s right-hand man as 7th District Republican Committee chairman in favor of one of their own [Fred Gruber]. More at The Blaze

So Democrat Gutierrez came to save the day for his pro-amnesty cohort (likely snickering while doing it -- thought you wouldn't notice). It reminds me of a cunning twist on Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) convincing Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to join the Gang of 8 pro-amnesty groupies. Didn't work out so well for Rubio.

Cantor sent out thousands of high-quality fliers stating a dishonest position. Gutierrez helped push the dishonesty that Cantor is an "obstacle." Repeating a third time: Gutierrez needs Cantor in Congress.

If you believe describing Cantor's  'pathway to citizenship' as "amnesty," is going a tad too far, then think of it as a "pathway to citizenship" with provisions that you will not like, that you will regret, your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will regret, long after you are gone. Think of it as a horrible joke on you and yours. 

From Cantor, January 10, 2014: During a House floor exchange with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) on Friday morning, Cantor said:

“immigration reform could be an economic boon to this country,”...

particularly voicing support for a measure that would likely grant legal status for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. Source, January 10, 2014

From Cantor's February 2013 "Major Policy" Speech, Making Life Work:

We must balance respect for the rule of law and respect for those waiting to enter this country legally, with care for people and families, most of whom just want to make a better life, and contribute to America. Source: Eric Cantor's Majority Leader website 

Defeating Eric Cantor's return to Congress is a huge step toward defeating amnesty. Defeating Eric Cantor's return to Congress is a huge step toward securing our borders before we do anything about laying a pathway for illegals. Learn more about Dave Brat here, see Dave Brat on the Issues here. The Virginia primary is almost here. Give consideration to your vote. One way or the other, you have the opportunity to change history.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook