Mike McPadden (Republican candidate for the 5th District nomination) was in Danville on Friday night. Gotta admit, I was pleasantly surprised at his professionalism and knowledge.
I’ve used the phrase “clown car candidates” to describe the challengers for the Republican nomination because only one or two have done anything to stand out and get any sort of name recognition. Mike McPadden was in that group until I listened to him talk about his ideas and his positions on issues.
When I attempt to personally elevate candidates out of the quagmire that is the current candidate field, I ask one question… “Is this person someone who I could vote for in the general election?”. After listening to McPadden tonight, my answer is “Yes.” Just to make it clear, this is not an endorsement of McPadden over the other candidates, just an opinion piece saying that my impression of him has taken a significant uptick.
McPadden’s support for the FairTax is quite refreshing, as was his honest admission that “there’s no way to educate everybody about the FairTax” (meaning that people will have to learn about it for themselves). McPadden sees nuclear power as an important piece of the energy independence pie and that makes a lot of sense. I found his concept of “If a company has already built a nuclear power plant on a site, why does the government need to do a 2 to 3 year study if they want to build another one right beside it?”
You can look at Mike McPadden’s website and see his stand on these and other issues.
Other thoughts on tonight’s event…
- McPadden’s chief of staff, Josh Solovskoy, really seems to have his act together. He was well prepared for questions and knows his stuff.
- Although I was disappointed with the turnout (around 10 people), Solovskoy said that they plan to have at least four more appearances in the area. Name recognition will be the key in this race.
- McPadden came off as totally sincere and not a politician. His hand gestures and body language showed that he really believed in what he said.
- Finally, McPadden’s omission of anything negative about his competition showed class. He could have easily talked down about the lesser-known candidates but chose not to. At this stage of the campaign, that’s a very smart move.
Tonight, Mike McPadden showed me that Robert Hurt isn’t the only candidate to consider in this campaign.
A candidate with the guts to endorse the Fair Tax is refreshing.
I told ya so!
😉
Im glad you went Bruce, Mike McPadden is a breath of fresh air.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Southside Central, Not Andy Sere. Not Andy Sere said: RT @sosidecentral 5th District candidate McPadden impresses at Danville event – SC article at http://bit.ly/7l325C […]
I am pleased to hear that he didn’t attack Hurt because that is huge change from his normal speech.
He does have problems which he has yet to answer.
First why did his well known and admired campaign manager leave him ?
Second, was he an officer in a labor union ?
Third, this real money thing is really out there and Perriello will eat him alive when he tries to explain it.
Fourth, Has he been able to raise any money so far to be a real competitor in this ?
His manager is very nice but clearly not up to a real campaign yet if he continues to get such poor attendance.
Questioning said ; “I am pleased to hear that he didn’t attack Hurt because that is huge change from his normal speech.”
um, I have heard him a couple of times, and attacking Hurt is not what I heard. Mentioning differences in philosiphy is not attacking.
Questioning asked; “First why did his well known and admired campaign manager leave him ?”
Um, well known and respected by whom, and if you know..please enlighten us…we are awaiting your response with baited breath.
Questioning queried; “Second, was he an officer in a labor union?”
Um, do not know. If he was he seems to have learned from it, see his position on right to work on his website; especially the part about unions..you might find it intresting.
Questioning asked a poorly worded question and posted; “Third, this real money thing is really out there and Perriello will eat him alive when he tries to explain it. ”
Please elaborate on that, I have no idea what it means.
Questioning wondered; “Fourth, Has he been able to raise any money so far to be a real competitor in this ?”
Still early and we shall see, once the debates come along, and people hear and see him….I think that will come.
Finally, Questioning opined; “His manager is very nice but clearly not up to a real campaign yet if he continues to get such poor attendance.”
Clearly? You know that manager “is not up to it” how, exactly? Because he is not the “well known and respected” one that you spoke of earlier?
Sherriff/ State Senator Ed Robb quit. His reasons are well know in the Charlottesville area but not open for public publishing.
If he didn’t mention Hurt ok, but did he mention any of his other opponents and his differences with them also ?
The statement on his web site about right to work are very recent and only when he has been questioned about his union affiliation. HE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO BE IN THE OFFICER ROLE HE VOLUNTEERED TO DO. He has changed his views to win a nomination in my opinion.
He has a part of his platform(removed from his platformon his website) what he calls real or sound money. It is going back to the gold and silver standard. Just not something that should or ever will happen.
Joshua is a great person. He knows nothing about what a campaign really is. Has nothing to do with the prior campaign manager.
If you can’t raise money and no one shows up to your events, you are not going to be a viable candidate. So far he has done neither.
Questioning: I too have not heard Mike McPadden say anything against the other candidates. In fact just the opposite. When did you hear it? What meeting and where was it?
I’ve been to Mike McPadden’s website a number of times, they have updated the site just recently with many new videos of Mike on many issues. I haven’t seen any changes on his principles of Government. I have heard folks share their concerns about the Fair Tax, he is always willing to explain it.
Yes we can go back to a Gold Standard, it was a mistake to leave it. What is a dollar really worth, it’s like any art work, it’s in the eye of the beholder! Our dollar today isn’t backed by anything. It actually isn’t even government money, it’s printed on behalf of a private corporation. Pull a U.S. Dollar out or and denomination, the top line states, “Federal Reserve Note” which is a private corporation.
As for him being with a Union, I honestly don’t know but since he IS a Commercial Airline Pilot, it wouldn’t surprise me. If you want a real opportunity to succeed in certain careers you have to join a Union. I know a Teacher in Virginia that is joining a Union to protect himself in his job. I don’t think he likes it but the threat from civil lawsuits is REAL, thanks to all the trial lawyers in Congress today. Did I tell you that Mike McPadden is a Pilot? That being said, Virginia is a Right-to-Work State and many folks here don’t see everything concerning Unions; the good & bad. Many professions almost require you to join a Union. If Mike McPadden became a Union Leader, that shows me that others saw him as a leader too!
As for Joshua, he is a quick learner; with a family and work, he stays very busy. Both Mike and Joshua are making the right moves and trying to advance Mike McPadden’s philosophy on Government. As a Tea Party guy, Mike is moving around the 5th into any size group that wants to hear his message. I’ve seen a Lt Governor at a republican meeting with as few as 10 folks in attendance. Sometimes the word doesn’t get out or it is a Club meeting for members only. I’ve seen peoples reactions to Mikes McPadden it has been positive. His message comes from the heart and it’s easy for him to articulate.
No teleprompters!
great post, Cardinal Crossing.
Me thinks that Questioning is more than just the average questioner, if you know what I mean…sure does seem to “know” a lot.
Questioning really seem to know why “Sheriff/ State Senator Ed Robb” quit….Since it is not “well known here in south-side” do you care to share?
Questioning? The Real Fifth District??? It all sounds like the Robert Hurt Fan Club to me. Do you all have matching tee-shirts? The problem with going with the “pop Idol” is they look good but there is not much substance there. Unfortunately for the fan club, the grassroots Republicans in the fifth district can still think. They know that anyone who votes to raise taxes six times is not a conservative. Let’s be serious anyone who votes for taxation without representation is not a conservative. Anyone who votes to take away parental rights is in fact a liberal period.
I have heard Mike McPadden speak. He never attacks anyone. What he attacks are the failed policies of career politicians. These policies are driving our nation into bankruptcy and saddling our children with a debt so burdensome they will never be able to repay it.
I personally asked him about his work with the union. He was not a leader in the union, “Questioning”. He volunteered to help other pilots. He helped them plow through a contract that was hundreds and hundreds of pages long and filled with legal doublespeak ( sounds like the health bill to me). He volunteered so he could help others in difficult circumstances. He was a leader alright, but is sounds like servant leadership to me. The kind of servant leadership McPadden has pledged to take to Washington and serve the interests of the Fifth District. I for one hope he is my next Congressman.
As a disclaimer I will state up front I no longer live in the 5th district. However, I still have economic ties there and my children and grandchildren still live in Southside Virginia. I hope to someday be able to return to my birthplace where the soil of Virginia will cover me as it has all my forefathers since 1720.
The reason I no longer live there is purely economic because for over 35 years I was, like Mike McPadden, an Airline pilot. I was for many years able to reside in Virginia and commute but in order to progress to the “Big Iron” as they call it required that I move to the west coast. Make no mistake, first I am a Virginian, then the rest.
Those of us in this profession know that ALL Major carriers are unionized. It has been that way since the 30’s and the mail pilots were “pushed” into flying in unsafe conditions and equipment at substandard wages. Onerous managers caused the formation of the Airline Pilots Association many years before any of today’s Airline pilots were born. Any pilot who wishes to reach the pinnacle of his chosen profession has no choice but to pay his dues to the union. ALPA represents the majority of major carriers and the others (most notable American Airlines) have in house unions. These unions are known as Agency Shop. This means everyone must pay the dues it is Federal law. There is an option to be a dues paying non-member, but the few pilots who have chosen this option are basically blacklisted and shunned by the other pilots. In general the case is, you are either one of us or you are agin’ us type of thing. I will not condone this; it simply is the way things are. So, the choice is not really a choice it is just something that’s always been that way. Should having no other choice exclude one from the Republican Party?
Most pilots I have known in my many years of flying are conservative with Republican leanings. They tend to believe in individualism, the Constitution, Liberty and fiscal responsibility. The Union and its membership are frequently at odds because of the relationship with the Democratic Party. Most pilots I know pay a degree of lip service to Unions political leanings and vote their conservative conscience in the voting booth. The Republican Party has not been exactly kind to the profession and has wasted a valuable asset by not embracing this particular group of professionals because I personally know many who as they tell it “hold their nose” and vote the Democrat tickets as well as their dinner plates. There is something wrong with that but again it is what it is.
I don’t know Mike McPadden, have never met him, but I will tell anyone who would listen that if his membership in the Airline Pilots Association is a reason to not vote for him, you are making a HUGE mistake and likely eliminate an extremely viable candidate. For a pilot to not be a member of ALPA is like a doctor not belonging to AMA, or even a politician without a party. If his ALPA affiliation is the only thing the opposition can come up with you likely have a winner with Mike. I have been all over his web site, listened to his articulate and lucid views on the condition of our nation and what he plans to do once elected, and frankly it is a breath of fresh air. The 5th district would be lucky to have a man of this caliber and accomplishments representing them.
I will further state that it takes a lot of guts for him to run on the Republican ticket. He will surly take some heat from some “rabid” unionist at work. This alone should ease any concerns some may have about the man. He feels strongly enough about his convictions to risk the ire of some of his fellow workers. Again you should be so lucky.
Listen to his message, determine his sincerity; then go vote. Our State and nation will be better for it.