...I forsee a Senator Kerry impersonator showing up at many, many Byrd fundraisers in the near future.
Lost by 13 points!
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."
Frankly, I'd love to run ads showing Byrd comparing Bush to Hitler on the Senate floor. Let's see "Sheets" try to defend that.
Based on the way they are acting.
Both.
They have actually stated its a high priority they hold the seat for Byrd (bare in mind, this guy has won elections with over 70% of the vote, and when he doesn't, he's around it).
This is the equivalent of the democrats saying they are targeting Ted Stevens in Alaska, the GOP would probably laugh and blow it off, or see it as a poor attempt to make them spend money own their own home turf.
The dems are falling for it, if a party says they are going to work, to protect a guy, who got something like 78% of the vote the last time, and the party commits to fundraisers for him, and spending resources for him, it means they are either nuts, or dumb, or both.
All the best to you, Mr. Lewis!
Actually, he'll be 88 this year (94 at the end of his next term, though I sincerely doubt he'll live to be that age).
It's unfortunate we can't slam Byrd harder. Lewis the candidate perhaps cannot, but how can we take some other kind of approach that posits the question, "Why on earth is the state of West Virginia the only one in the country that in the 21st Century still sends a man to Congress who was not only a member of, but actively recruited for, and endorsed, a White Supremacist/Terrorist organization ?"
It no longer matters what Byrd has "done", but that people like Byrd have no business in any elective body, that he is a part of this country's hateful past. Does anyone around here believe that if Strom Thurmond had belonged to the KKK that he would've survived 39 years as a Republican in the U.S. Senate ? It's just amazing what the 'Rats (and their media cohorts) will tolerate within their party, from outright criminals, to America-haters, to raving anti-Semites, to Black hatemongers and racists, to a White ex-Klansman. Unbelievable.
With all the money poured into WV over the last 20-30 years at the behest of Sen. Byrd, they should all have well paid jobs!
ain't gonna happen. The fraternity of Kappa Kappa Kappa will continue to have a brother in the Senate as long as Byrd lives....
I don't know much about this Mr. Lewis, but he's already my favorite '06 candidate! :-)
In fact, while I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Senator Byrd attacked the war, calling it unconstitutional. It hurt to watch my own Senator attacking my service to my country on such a personal level. And, I saw firsthand the effect on morale on the faces of the many West Virginians serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom with distinction.
The bottom line is that Senator Byrd has served his time. It is time for him to retire and ready the reigns for a new generation of leadership.
I believe I have the experience, good judgment and integrity to represent West Virginians proudly. As your Senator, I will bring the same devotion to service to my state that I have brought to my country.
I like him. :-)
I listen to state wide talk radio here in West Virginia. A lot of folks out there are becoming dissatisified with Senator Byrd's performance and feel he has become an embarassment to the state.
The NRA endorsment is huge for Hiram....Byrd doesn't have it.
Hiram is also pro-life, and Byrd is pro-abortion. The Democrats who put life over party will vote for Hiram in numbers large enough to make the difference.
The other candidate mentioned to run against Byrd is Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, who is also pro-abortion. I think she knows that she couldn't beat him, and won't run. Hiram could splinter off the pro-life Democrat vote, and she couldn't.
BYE, BYE, BYRDIE!
You sound very optimistic, Chief. :-) That's good. I don't view this as an impossible task, but Hiram definitely has his work cut out for him.
It would be nice to oust pretty, pretty, pretty KKK Byrd.
Road trip for Hiram!
Forgot you on my Veteran ping. Sorry
Hey, maybe they can run for President! Oh, wait. I have it backwards.
Are you questioning my patriotism?!?! :-p
FROM HIRAM LEWIS CAMPAIGN WEBSITE
Inside the Beltway
March 10, 2005
By John McCaslin - Washington Times
Drifting backward
For decades he's brought home the bacon, but outspoken Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd isn't popular these days with everybody in his beloved West Virginia.
Politics aside, West Virginia Republican Party Treasurer Hiram Lewis IV says it is upsetting to watch Mr. Byrd "destroy his credibility and become the basis of jokes over the national airwaves which, in turn, make West Virginia look like a backwards state."
He was referring, in part, to recent remarks made by Mr. Byrd (the senator insists his words were taken out of context) that some perceived as comparing Senate Republicans to "Nazis."
"We, unlike Nazi Germany or Mussolini's Italy, have never stopped being a nation of laws, not of men," Mr. Byrd stated. "But witness how men with motives and a majority can manipulate law to cruel and unjust ends."
He then quoted historian Alan Bullock as saying that Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler "turned the law inside out and made illegality legal."
"It is sad to see a senator that has contributed so much to this state over the years be reduced to a bumbling fool," says Mr. Lewis, who adds the 87-year-old Mr. Byrd either must come to grips with the fact that President Bush won re-election in West Virginia by more than 90,000 votes "or retire."
BTTT
...I forsee a Senator Kerry impersonator showing up at many, many Byrd fundraisers in the near future.
Lost by 13 points!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.