October 2006 Newsletter

Annual PAC Fundraiser - A Great Success!

      The Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia would like to thank
friends and supporters who helped make this year's annual PAC fundraiser a great success, and we would especially like to thank our special guest, Representative Tom Davis, who spoke strongly and eloquently for the Club's continued involvement within the Republican Party.  Mr. Davis noted that he was proud to be with us and spoke of the Republican Party's prospects in the November elections, what the country's political focus should be, and answered lively questions from the audience.

      Specifically, Mr. Davis conceded that it is impossible to predict
the outcome of next month's elections, noting that winds are blowing
against Republican incumbents but stressing that the Party is prepared.
He named four long-term, vital issues confronting our nation that are
being ignored in the partisan attacks that form the basis of this year's elections.  

      First, he stressed, the country needs to be working towards
energy independence.  Every oil dollar that rogue nations such as Iran
or Libya earn is money made readily available to terrorists.  Second,
Mr. Davis focused on the pending retirement of the baby-boomers and the  crisis in entitlement spending that will cause. Political parties and politicians should avoid brinksmanship, begin looking now for solutions to the looming financial crisis that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are facing, and act now before options become fewer and more expensive.  Third, the United States needs to accept and embrace the globalization of the world economy and find new ways to be competitive.  Representative Davis noted that trade agreements benefit everyone in the long term and stressed that strong economies in Latin America are our country's best immigration policy.  Finally, the war on terror will be with us for a long time and how our country deals with it will affect nearly every domestic and foreign policy decision.  It is a fundamental struggle between those who espouse our cherished ideals of democracy and liberty and those who seek to destroy those same ideals.

      Questions from the audience ranged from questions on alternative
fuels, a mature immigration policy, forcing corporations to be more open and honest with their accounting practices, and close to home, the
issue of divisive politics.  Mr. Davis stated that the majority of
Republican members of Congress are comfortable with gay issues, and
stressed that we need to continue reminding them that "gay" issues
are human issues. He noted that we may not always agree on all issues,
but confided that his wife, State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis,
considers him a work in progress, and we might too.

      We'd again like to thank our guest of honor, Rep. Tom Davis, and
special guests Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis, 8^th District Congressional candidate Tom O'Donoghue, Arlington County Republican Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, and Arlington County Board candidate Mike McMenamin.  At this fundraiser, the Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia PAC raised over $4,000 for inclusive Republican state and local candidates, and since its inception 5 1/2 years ago, has raised over $30,000 for such candidates.  Next year, the entire Virginia legislature is up for re-election, and if our Club is to continue speaking out for equality and fundamental Republican values, money helps us be heard.  If members or friends have not yet contributed, it is not too late. Make your check payable to: LCR - VA PAC, and mail it to LCRC - VA, P.O. Box 16611, Alexandria, VA  22302.  Please help us continue with our vital work.

October Meeting - 

      Our guest speaker at our meeting on October 17 will be Rick Sincere.  Rick is a longtime libertarian activist, Log Cabin member,  and now blogger at Rick Sincere News and Thoughts http://ricksincerethoughts.blogspot.com/).  He will introduce us to the Virginia blogsphere and discuss the major players and how important blogging has become in political campaigning and politics in general.  We’ll also get the latest news from the campaign to defeat the Marshall/Newman amendment on November 7.  Please join us at 6:30 at the Boulevard Woodgrill at 2901 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington (just two blocks from the Clarendon Metro stop).  The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 and dinner is always available after the meeting. 

Commonwealth Coalition - The Time to Act is Now!

      It's time!  There are only three weeks before the November 7
elections, and we have a historic opportunity to defeat the Marshall/
Newman Amendment (Ballot Question #1), the mean-spirited and downright
dangerous proposal from extremists within our own Republican Party to
amend Virginia's Bill of Rights.  Polls show that this will be a close
race, but we can win it if we continue to bring the message home to
voters that this effort is un-democratic, unfair, un-Republican, and
unnecessary.  There are various things you can do, including:

      1.  Sign up at the Commonwealth Coaltion website at www.voteNOva.org to get e-mails on volunteer opportunities in your area.  The Coalition is a broad-based band of over 130 civic, religious, and political organizations, including Log Cabin Republicans, which oppose the Marshall/Newman Amendment.

      2.  Watch the Coalition's new TV ad by clicking on        http://www.votenova.org/burning, and send it to everyone on your      e-mail list. The more people we educate, the better.

      3.  Visit the Republican page on the Coalition's website,       http://votenova.org.gop.  Please note that you can e-mail this        page to all your Republican friends who may not be aware of the full       implications of the amendment.  Send it to your local Republican        Party officials and activists, along with Republican elected         officials, and send your personal note urging them to oppose      Question #1.

Local Inclusive Republicans Need Your Help

      As you probably know, we have some courageous local Republican candidates in Northern Virginia who deserve your support: Mike McMenamin, candidate for the Arlington County Board (www.welikemike.net) and Tom O'Donoghue, Republican candidate for Congress running against Jim Moran in the Eighth District (www.TomforCongress.com).  Both have both voiced their intentions to vote against Question #1 on November 7.  They have remained true to the basic creed of minimal government intrusion in our private lives, and we salute them for it.  Get involved in their campaigns!

Nominating Committee - An Opportunity to Serve

      Elections are always just around the corner in Virginia, and the Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia is no exception.  Club officers are elected at the January meeting, and serve one-year terms.  This year, we have several officers who have expressed a desire to assume less of the burden and wish to step down.  Other officers will either run for re-election, or will be available for other duties.  The bottom line, however, is that clubs such as ours retain their vitality and effectiveness with new ideas, new officers, and new energy.  We need new candidates and we want your involvement.

A nominating committee will be looking for candidates for president, vice president, treasurer, internal communications director, external communications director, secretary, membership director, and social director.  In addition, opportunities exist to serve on the PAC committee.  If you have any interest in any of these positions, we encourage you to attend one of our officers' meetings; they are always open to any member. You can see how the board functions and ask any questions about responsibilities.  The next officer's meeting is Monday, November 6 at 7:30 at the Boulevard Woodgrill in Arlington.  Dinner always follows the meeting, so if you're interested, please stop by.

Calendar of Events -  

Tuesday, Oct. 17 -- Regular monthly meeting at the Boulevard Woodgrill in Arlington.  As usual, social period begins at 6:30, and the meeting begins at 7:00.  Dinner is available in the restaurant afterwards.

Tuesday, Nov. 7 - The day the Marshall/Newman Amendment to Virginia's
Bill of Rights is defeated.  Polls are open from 6:00 AM until 7:00 PM.

Tuesday, Nov. 21 - Regular monthly meeting at the Boulevard Woodgrill. 
Speaker will be Amy Walter, respected pollster with The Cook Report.
Come and hear her discuss what happened on November 7 and why.

Tuesday, Dec. 19 - Annual holiday party, held in lieu of our regular
monthly meeting.  Details will follow.