Posted on 06/10/2014 9:25:48 PM PDT by kristinn
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated in a Republican primary Tuesday, conceding his Virginia seat to a local activist after a stunning loss with possibly dramatic consequences for leadership, the chances of any immigration overhaul passing Congress and the future of his party.
He is the first majority leader ever to fall in primary defeat the position was created in 1899.
Cantor, toppled by college economics professor Dave Brat, 56 percent to 44 percent, conceded just after The Associated Press declared the race over.
Democratic and Republican leadership aides expressed total disbelief and dumbfoundedness Tuesday night. Political operatives in the Old Dominion and organizers in Washington quickly studied election law to see if he could run as a write-in.
With his wife, Diana Fine Cantor, at his side, Cantor choked back emotion and did not sound like a man aiming to stage a comeback.
I know theres a lot of long faces here tonight. Its disappointing sure, but I believe in this country, I believe theres opportunity around the next corner for all of us, he said.
Cantor has been a contentious figure within the GOP, never more so than early in the speakership of John A. Boehner, when speculation abounded about his background attempts to overthrow the Ohio Republican.
But that talk had been tamped down in recent years and the two leaders worked in tandem. In many ways, Cantor had been the intellectual leader of the House Republicans, preferring a hands-on approach to Boehners famously laissez-faire demeanor.
Cantor is known inside the conference as the leader most interested in projecting a kinder, gentler, approach for the party, not only on immigration but also at the margins of social policy.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.rollcall.com ...
That's what I'm saying.
Case-in-point, perhaps you missed this little gem in the above OP:
Political operatives in the Old Dominion and organizers in Washington quickly studied election law to see if he (Cantor) could run as a write-in.
You really think for ONE SECOND that the Ruling Class Establishment is going to allow itself to be voted out of power?????
They will prefer a Democrat/Marxist/Fascist take Cantor's seat, than allow a Conservative they cannot control 'win' it. Anyone who believes you can stop tyrants via civil means is delusional and woefully ignorant of history and where we have arrived as a nation.
Stopping this Marxofascist juggernaut is going to have to come from OUTSIDE the system and from OUTSIDE of Washington. Not from trying to work within a cancer that has metastasized into the marrow of the government.
“I believe theres opportunity around the next corner for all of us”
For Cantor, it will be an extremely well-paid lobbyist “Consultant”, passing out the checks he formerly was receiving.
Not so fast in praise of my birth state, they put Terry McAuliff in the governor’s mansion.
I’m not disputing your sentiment concerning the GOP-e’s nefarious ways, but only the point the RCE is indestructible.
You see the OUTSIDE influence that unseated Cantor is a viable political force, right?
Funny, though. Yadon’tsuppose that GOP primary elections might be just a tad bit less crooked than those involving ‘rats?
Probably, but it was an open primary I heard, but not sure about it, and I think his stance on immigration was what drove people to the poll to vote against him.
That’s the narrative they are going to go with, however...and I would not be surprised if the press doesn’t push this narrative hard at the behest of their DNC overlords - that the GOP has now been taken over by “extremists”, and they must all be defeated so more moderate, level-headed leaders like Pelosi can be in charge rather than the “extremists.” You know its coming...
True. But they seem to be fast learners.
What does your government think of tonight’s results?
Take that GOP establishment. Get the idea that no one is safe and the people want change not business-as-usual? It wasn’t even close!
Funny how Rove was nowhere to be seen on Fox tonite. He’s down the rabbit hole somewhere, hiding.
I’m from N KY, trust me, Mitch McConnell will lose in the general election. I’m not a tea party member, but agree with many of their positions. When Mitch called TP racist after beating Bevin, it convinced me that I will vote for Grimes in order to rid the party of this the McConnell albatross.
LOL
Yep!
I don’t want to rain on this great victory’s parade but isn’t it likely that, instead of Brat overcoming republican skepticism and climbing 25 points in a few days, democrat cross-over votes were the margin of his victory. Many, voting in a primary where no democrats were on the ballot, voted against the hated Cantor without regard to his opponents message.
Hey, I am now in Tucson and we have bigger problems!
I AM ALSO VERY AFRAID that this is what happened!!!!! I am praying I am VERY wrong but I think the DEMS interfered in the PRIMARY!!!! I
sincerely hope we CAN WIN the GENERAL, I was VERY impressed with
Brat and his CLEAR message WE WILL SEE!!!!
It is time that Cantor step down. Now!
I lived in Tucson for 9 years and visit often - still have family there.
What kind of problems ate you referring to?
Don’t vote for Grimes! Hope that 2014 gives the Republicans the majority in the Senate. McConnell may be GOPe to the core, but his vote according to the American Conservative Union is a 92% rating. McConnell’s vote may be the key towards rejecting Zer0’s next Supreme Court justice. Then, put on our wish list a new Senate Majority Leader when we do get the Senate majority.
If your faith is in the GOP to save us from what is coming, it is woefully misplaced.
Tyranny cannot be stopped by civil means within a corrupted system, history is very clear on this truth WITHOUT exception.
It’s sad so many continue to delude themselves in the cognitive dissonance that playing party politics will save us.
Why do you continue to ignore what the Ruling Class have said in the OP? That they are going to see about running Cantor as a third party candidate - and yet you still put your faith in voting for Republicans to change the party from within and save us???
You have a fatal case of Normalcy Bias.
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.