The following letter-to-editor after the 2008 election was sent to every newspaper serving the 9th District. Two ran the letter, in part. One – The Martinsville Bulletin – ran it in its entirety.
Dear Editor:
It is time again to congratulate Congressman Rick Boucher for yet another re-election. Although he ran unopposed, Mr. boucher raised over $1.6 million and reportedly spent $1 million on his “campaign”. Lobbyists contributed $60,000.00 and PAC’s contributed over $1.1 million. He retains $1.3 million in his re-election war chest. With folks in the 9th District being squeezed financially, Mr. Boucher traveled the world with his “guests”, at our expense, to such places as Japan, Germany and twice to Las Vegas to attend “consumer electronics shows”. In the current term, Mr. Boucher has missed 126 votes in the House.
Two years from now Mr. Boucher will run again claiming “conservative” Southwest Virginia “values” while he votes in virtual lock step with Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank almost 97% of the time. Mr. Boucher has “evolved” into the intellectually dishonest Washington political scene as he SAYS one thing and DOES the opposite when no one is watching. Citizen watch-dog groups rate Mr. Boucher as a “big spender” and a “populist leaning LIBERAL”. He is given a 100% approval rating by ACLU, pro abortion NARAL, and NEA while receiving a 15% approval rating from the Christian Coalition and a “zero” rating from National Right to Life.
Southwest Virginia values?
His gall in introducing president-elect Obama as a “friend of coal” and a “friend to gun owners” was jaw-dropping. Sen. Obama’s comments about bankrupting coal-fired power plants were exposed and he was given an “F” rating by NRA which stated that “Sen. Obama would be the most anti-gun president in American history”. Both men voted for partial-birth abortion to be paid for by tax payers.
Space limitations prevent listing all of Mr. Boucher’s left-wing votes in Congress, some of which were defeated by margins as much as 357 to 66. For example, he has voted AGAINST: making English the official language of America, the Patriot Act, requiring a photo ID to vote, prosecution for desecration of the American flag, line item veto, Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, term limits, tax reform, Foreign Intelligence Acquisition by electronic surveillance, safe and drug free school programs providing info on risks of tobacco use, Unborn Victims of Violence Acts, parents’ notification of a pregnant child’s transport across state lines for abortion, the surge in Iraq, new refineries, and drilling in ANWR. He voted FOR the Wall Street bail-out. Prior to 9/11 he voted against the Anti Terrorism Bill of 1996 while voting for more massive domestic government spending with, in his written words, “FUNDING TO BE DERIVED FROM INTELLINGE AND DEFENSE BUDGETS”.
Mr. Boucher continually refuses to respond to citizens’ requests on issues through, for example, the “Political Courage Test”. In the coming term, unlike in the past, Mr Boucher’s liberal voting record and spending habits are going to be exposed publicly.
Ted Reavis
Fancy Gap, Va.