Posted on 04/10/2005 9:08:30 PM PDT by smoothsailing
April 10, 2005
Hiram Lewis Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate Against Byrd
by HNN Staff
Charleston (HNN) — On the second anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to American forces, Hiram Lewis IV, an Army National Guard Captain, Iraq War Veteran, lawyer and 2004 Attorney General candidate announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate from the base of the Robert C. Byrd statute inside the State Capitol rotunda Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2005.
Stated Lewis: "My candidacy is not a personal vendetta against the senior Senator; rather it is simply time for a change. I am offering up my service to the voters of West Virginia."
Lewis nearly upset a high name-recognition, twelve-year incumbent in the state's Attorney General race last year, losing by only 5,946 votes, or less than eight tenths of one percent. It was the closest Attorney General race in West Virginia's history.
Lewis acknowledged that defeating Byrd next year will also be a big challenge, adding, "either way, I will continue to dedicate my life to improving our state so our children won't have to leave to find a job elsewhere."
Lewis said Senator Byrd has served his state well over the years, bringing in a lot of money from Washington. However, Lewis said Senator Byrd has lost touch with the average West Virginian."
"From his recent appearance at a MoveOn.org rally in Washington and his service as a co-chairman for John Kerry's campaign in West Virginia, Senator Byrd has allied himself with the liberal left wing of the Democratic Party. West Virginians are generally moderate to conservative. Byrd was hired to represent West Virginia; not liberal special interest groups in Washington, D.C."
An Iraq War veteran, Lewis disagreed with Byrd's stance on the Iraq War in 2003, explaining: "He basically called my service unconstitutional. Personally, that hurt. But, more importantly, his stance against the war encouraged the enemy and depleted troop morale. You cannot say on the one-hand that you support the troops, and then say that their service is unconstitutional. It is impossible to do both."
Many believe Byrd cannot be beat, but Lewis thinks differently: "Just ask the 1980 US hockey team or the 2004-2005 'Elite Eight' WVU basketball team; anything is possible."
Political observers say the resurgence of the Republican Party in West Virginia will help Lewis. In 2004, President George W. Bush won West Virginia by 13 points, Republicans picked up three seats in the State Senate, a Supreme Court seat, and the office of the Secretary of State.
"For years now, West Virginians have settled for near last in every good category and near first in every bad category," Lewis said. "We have watched as our children leave the Mountain State to find jobs. We don't want handouts anymore; we want hand-ups. We want jobs, education, security and healthcare. Pork can only go so far. Good, solid economic principles can grow the economy and create opportunity for everyone."
"I look at it like this; I am not running against Senator Byrd, I am running with him. I believe we both have the interests of West Virginians at heart. It is just that we disagree over the way to protect and serve those interests. Ultimately, it is up to West Virginia voters to decide who can best do the job. I believe I can."
KKK Byrd needs to be sent packing and join Tom Daschle in the ash heap of history
It may not be very likely, but Tom Daschle's defeat can give us hope.
Be nice to send bird brain Byrd into a well deserved retirement.
Be respectfull of the kleagle, say its time for a change, make this a "let Byrd retire in peace and reward with for his service with a nice pension while we plan for the future". I.E. reward Byrd by voting for somone else.
As long as the campaign can stay positive, and as long as Lewis works the grassroots, uses his resources wisely, on the minimum, he can force the democratic party to spend large sums of money and resources in a race that they should have locked up, costing them those same resources in areas where there will be more competitive races.
In the best case scenario, he beats Byrd (highly unlikely) and starts moving West Virginia ahead.
It is eventually going to be the time for Gulf War vets to start making inroads in politics, as the vietnam era guys are going to start to fade. It would be nice to have a Gulf War vet in the senate.
I don't know how long the link will work.
A parallel that has been used is Strom's last campaign in '96, which was tougher but he still won 53-44.
I'd like to see judges emerge as an issue as well.
I don't see one
He is by far the best porker this government has ever seen. He's a master. In the same breath, I'm amazed how the people of WV are so clueless and don't seem to see the big picture. But I live in Maryland and they are even worse.
Byrd is FRICKIN' 84 years old! Retire already, sheesh!!
Also Lewis will have the backing of the NRA and thats a big deal in WV.
Over and over Barkley reminded us that what had been done for Voters years ago had little lasting power at attracting voters. He said the memory of what Roosevelt did in the 30s was fading. And if the Repubicans ran a good candidate in 1952, they could take back the presidency. They ran Ike and he won. I mentioned that Winston churchill got defeated just months after WWII was over.
They all knew that Winston had saved England from Hitler.. But HItler was gone. What is Winston going to do for us next? The problem was Churchill did not tell them what he was going to do and got defeated.
I think Alben had it right. What I have done for you in the past is of little value to a politician, if he can't articulate what he is going to do for the voters in the future.
I think Byrd can be beat. If Churhill could be beat after winning WWII, then Byrd can be beat after getting lots of pork.
Remember the Repubicans have been in control since 2002. Byrd is not so porkupied as he was was.
DIRTY
SHEETS
Even if Byrd were a good guy Republican, this would be a campaign to watch:
Hiram Lewis IV, an Army National Guard Captain, Iraq War Veteran, lawyer and 2004 Attorney General candidate announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate from the base of the Robert C. Byrd statute inside the State Capitol rotunda Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2005.
One might hope the fall of a certain despot's statue in Baghdad might be repeated in Charleston.
I've read and heard the same thing, repeatedly.
I think its just a ruse to get the dems, and the 527's fired up so they spend time and money and resources protecting a safe seat instead of putting that stuff to more work in a competitive race.
If the Dems have to work (or think they have to work) to keep Byrd safe, they'll spend even less in places like Florida or Minnesota, etc. They might keep WV for 6 more years, but it could cost them a seat or 2 somewhere else, and if thats the goal, fine by me.
Time to air out ol' sheets.
Here's a link to his campaign website.This guy is no lightweight.
I dunno. The Democrats seem to be taking it seriously. Have they been duped? Or are they privately concerned?
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