Candidate for House of Delegates – Virginia's 67th District

We’ve clearly rattled Delegate LeMunyon’s cage. He’s writing desperate emails failing to explain away his extreme right wing agenda and couching the TEA Party group, The Middle Resolution PAC, as a “group of private citizens”. He fails to mention that nearly all of those private citizens not only don’t live in the district but don’t live in Northern Virginia at all. No wonder they encouraged him to support the crazy Repeal Amendment that would allow a roll-back of protections for clean air and water and could allow other states to block Virginia’s share of federal transportation dollars. Eric is going to go down to Richmond and focus on tackling Northern Virginia’s problems not rewriting the US constitution.

LeMunyon keeps trying to disassociate himself from the TEA Party but they fund his campaign and he carries their bills. The Repeal Amendment was the Tea Party’s top legislative priority (http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/feb/01/tdmain01-tea-partys-top-goal-repeal-amendment-ar-811757/) and Delegate LeMunyon’s friends with the $168,452 in support also just so happen to sponsor the Virginia TEA Party convention (http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/tab3.aspx?EventID=867563).

In a last ditch effort to save himself, Delegate LeMunyon reached all the way back to when Eric was in college. Eric’s politics have changed a little bit over the years. Eric was a Republican long ago before the party was taken over by extremist right wing ideologues like Jim LeMunyon. But don’t take Eric’s word for it–he’s endorsed by progressive institutions such as the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, NARAL and Planned Parenthood.

Don’t let LeMunyon run from his record–join us to volunteer today: https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/volunteer.aspx?X=UHU1wzu4AmkpFEcNN3iq9A%3d%3d.

LeMunyon Fails to Defend Repeal Amendment During Debate

Fairfax, VA-October 17^th, 2011-Delegate LeMunyon failed to justify his sponsorship of the highly controversial “Repeal Amendment” during a televised debate Sunday.

Eric Clingan and Delegate Jim LeMunyon squared off last night in a debate on Fairfax Public Access Channel 10’s program “The Inside Scoop Virginia”. The debate was co-moderated by Mark Levin and Mike Lane. Full video of the debate can be found here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17929410

The Repeal Amendment, as it is being called, would allow 2/3 of states to nullify any federal law. As Eric Clingan pointed out during the debate, the Repeal Amendment could be very bad for Northern Virginia. “There is not an area of the Federal Government that does not affect Northern Virginia…would the other states, perhaps wanting a bigger slice of the pie, vote to affect Northern Virginia’s slice? Of course they would.”

LeMunyon attempted to defend the Amendment as a defense against unfunded mandates. However as Clingan pointed out during the debate, “unfunded mandate” doesn’t appear anywhere in the bill. “As a lawyer I can tell you when the bill says any law or regulation that means any.” This means 2/3 of states could repeal protections for clean air and water, the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Right Acts, the minimum wage.

LeMunyon did not deny that his Repeal Amendment could nullify all federal laws but merely clarified that that was not his intent. Clingan says that’s not good enough, “Delegate LeMunyon has a choice here. Either he does support nullifying these federal laws as the bill would allow or he was sloppy in writing his bill–either way he’s not right for the job. “

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Our challenge has been accepted. This Sunday, the people of Northern Virginia will get to see me face off against Delegate Jim LeMunyon. This head to head match-up will allow the voters of the 67th District to see who is best equipped to represent their interests in the House of Delegates on the issues of Transportation, Education, the Budget and the Environment. 

The debate will be broadcast on Channel 10′s “The Inside Scoop” at 6:30PM this Sunday, October 16th. It will be moderated by Mark Levine and Mike Lane. You can stream the debate live online at: Debate Live Stream.

Make sure you tune in to support our campaign. Tweet your favorite lines using the hashtag #67Debate Twitter or Post them to our Facebook page Clingan for Delegate Facebook.

Thank you for your support,

Sincerely,

Eric

□  Host – $1,000   □  Co-Host – $500    □  Supporter – $250     □  Guest – $100

Buy Tickets Here: tinyurl.com/perrielloevent

LeMunyon Beholden to Richmond TEA Party Extremists

Chantilly, VA- September 28, 2011- Under pressure for his extremist ties, Delegate Jim LeMunyon announced he is returning just $50,000 of the $168,452 total he has taken from an extreme TEA Party group called the Middle Resolution PAC, according to the Virginia Public Access Project website (VPAP).

His opponent, Eric Clingan, has called on him to give all the money back – not just a fraction.

“By taking money from Richmond-based Tea Party extremist groups and then pushing their backward legislative agenda, Jim LeMunyon continues to put right-wing causes ahead of working Northern Virginia families,” said Clingan. “He was right to return the $50,000 he received from the Tea Party group, but what about the other $118,452 the group gave him because they knew he would fight for their reckless agenda?

“If Jim LeMunyon really shares the mainstream values that make our community great, he will return every dollar of this radical group’s money and denounce their extremist agenda.”

During the last legislative session, Delegate LeMunyon sponsored an extreme bill to amend the U.S. Constitution with what he called the “Repeal Amendment” at the behest of the far right-wing group. The “Repeal Amendment” would allow states to void any federal law including potentially the Civil Rights Amendments, the Voting Rights Act, protections for clean air and water, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Del. LeMunyon even appeared on FoxNews Channel with Neil Cavuto, calling for a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of amending the Constitution with his proposal.

According to VPAP.org, nearly all of Middle Resolution’s over 300 contributors live in Richmond or the surrounding areas. Only one contributor lives in Fairfax and it is unclear whether he lives in the 67^th District.

In early August this year Democratic challenger Eric Clingan publicly noted that LeMunyon had just accepted another $50,000 from the same Tea Party-Affiliated group.  At that time, Clingan called on LeMunyon to return the donation. LeMunyon responded through his staff, and claimed that the Middle Resolution was not a Tea Party PAC.

Eric Clingan is an Air Force Veteran and small business owner from Chantilly who is challenging Jim LeMunyon in the 67^thDistrict of the Virginia House of Delegates.

http://oakton.patch.com/articles/lemunyon-repays-50k-loan-from-middle-resolution

http://bluevirginia.us/diary/4860/new-video-eric-clingan-lemunyon-voted-to-cut-virginia-schools-i-wont-ever

To our neighbors in the 67th District:

On September 3rd, I sent an open letter to Del. Jim LeMunyon requesting that he join me for a series of debates starting this month. I’ve been on the doorsteps of over 5,000 residents and it’s clear, from South Riding to Fair Lakes, our neighbors have questions regarding who can best lead the 67th District in Richmond and fight for the needs of our community.

Frankly, many important issues are facing us, including constant traffic congestion, cuts to education funding, and the future of our local economy. Our neighbors deserve to hear from each candidate as we seek to represent their interests in Richmond in 2012. Debates are the best way for voters to hear from both of us, compare our positions and make a full and informed choice in November.

This is why I requested of Del. LeMunyon to join me for a series of debates starting in September. I sincerely hope Mr. LeMunyon agrees, and voters in the 67th will get to hear both of us side by side.

Very Truly Yours,

Eric Clingan Democratic Candidate, Virginia House of Delegates (67th District)

I was dismayed to hear Sarah Palin’s comments about the economy and people of Northern Virginia. That is why my campaign put out a press release today calling for Delegate LeMunyon to join me in refuting Palin’s remarks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eric Clingan, Democratic candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates (67^th District) is criticizing former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin for her recent comments regarding the economy and people of Northern Virginia. Clingan is also calling on his opponent, Delegate Jim LeMunyon, to join him in refuting Palin’s statements.

 

“Contrary to what former Governor Palin seems to think, residents of Northern Virginia have not been unaffected by the recession. Job losses, tumbling housing prices and budget cuts have caused hardship for many families here in Northern Virginia. Our historically strong public schools are being asked to do more with less as our Delegate, Jim LeMunyon, votes to cut education funding.  Meanwhile, those who are retired or entering retirement are increasingly uncertain about their nest eggs.  We all have been affected by the economy.” Clingan Said.

 

He continued, “Governor Palin’s comments are completely out of touch with reality in Northern Virginia.  They are also a typical example of the TEA Party and the far right wing trying to divide our country as opposed to coming together during these uncertain times. Instead of coming together and working to solve our problems, elected officials and political pundits seem more interested in who can win the race to the bottom. This is the reason I left the Republican Party back in 2004 and I call on Delegate Jim LeMunyon to refute Palin’s statements.  Together, we can send a strong unified message to Sarah Palin and the TEA Party that those of us from Northern Virginia are just as affected by today’s economy as residents in Wasilla, Alaska. We just sit in a lot more traffic than most Alaskans”

 

When asked for comment, Campaign Manager, Phil Olafsen stated, “Jim LeMunyon has a history of being more in touch with right wing Tea Party allies than the voters of his own district. Failing to refute Palin’s statements would just be one more example of Jim LeMunyon putting the desires of the Tea Party and right wing ideologues above the people he is supposed to be representing. ”

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