Singh-ing freedom’s song: candidate invokes liberty, federalism in challenge to Moran

Republicans in Virginia’s 8^th Congressional District can tell you the difference between swimming against a mere tidal wave and crashing up against a tsunami. This ever-changing U.S. House district, which encompasses Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County has not been good country for Republican candidates over the past decade.

Democrat statewide nominee Mark Warner captured 62 percent of the vote here in his 2001 gubernatorial race, John Kerry won 64 percent here in 2004, Democrat Governor Tim Kaine scored a whopping 70 percent in his 2005 race while down ballot Democrats for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General both secured roughly 69 percent of the vote. In the 2006, U.S. Senate race, Jim Webb trounced Republican George Allen by a 69-30 score (despite this writer’s best efforts as a George Allen precinct captain at the Virginia Square precinct in Arlington County).

Despite this, two Republican hopefuls have placed their names on the usual sacrificial alter by challenging United States Congressman Jim Moran, the hot-tempered Irishman who was first elected in 1990. Glancing at the above mentioned Democrat numbers and Moran’s own 66 percent reelection total in 2006, it is a tribute to the fighting spirit of local Republicans that anyone would bother to weather the Democrat storm that could return in full force to the 8^th District this November.

The Republican race, which culminates in a June 10 primary, is a contest between a 33 year old newcomer named Amit Singh and 49 year old Mark Ellmore. Ellmore, who was soundly defeated for the GOP nod for this same seat in 2006, has run a conventional race focused on standing with the GOP old guard, pronouncing his support for the Bush Administration’s war policy, emphasizing the need to stand with John McCain, and even advocating more government intrusion into the nation’s health care system.

Singh, on the other hand, acknowledges that if Republicans swimming in the rising blue waters of the 8^th Congressional District seek to stay afloat, appeal to the changing demographics of the region, and win back critical seats, they must do so by advocating something beyond the scope of Ellmore’s mix of Marvin Olasky-style compassionate conservatism, Kristol-esque neo-conservatism, and the sort of evangelical Christianity that seems more likely to draw votes in West Virginia than Northern Virginia.

Some local party insiders admit that Ellmore has been running for this seat since his defeat for the nomination in 2006. Singh, on the other hand, was a late entry into the fray. “Once the presidential nomination was decided, I started looking closer at the local and congressional level,” says Singh. “I saw that the other Republican in the race wanted to expand health care and SCHIP. From that I got the feeling that Republicans have just given up in Northern Virginia by advocating the expansion of government.”

Singh differs from his opponent on a variety of issues and has also been able to draw a youthful coalition of supporters to several of his campaign events in the area, one of which featured former presidential candidate Ron Paul.

“I differ from my opponent in many ways. First, we disagree on government’s role in health care. Second, we disagree on how to execute the war—he wants the military to control all aspects of the war and I believe we need to emphasize the economic and political features of the war as well,” according to Singh. “Third, on immigration he has offered a confusing statement on amnesty, saying that he doesn’t want amnesty, but wants a path to citizenship without illegals having to the leave the county. I’m not sure how that differs from amnesty.”

Unlike some recent Republican campaigns in the 8^th District, Singh sees an opportunity to reestablish a winning agenda for the GOP, beginning with a focus on federalism, freedom, and liberty.

“What I present is a true limited government candidacy. I know that social issues are not addressed at the federal level; they are handled at the state level. Abortion, marriage, and other social issues can’t be dealt with as a one-size fits all thing,” says Singh. “I am a pro-life candidate. I know the best way to be pro-life is to let the states make decisions at that level. Federalism works—no one should go around and say they have the only answer for 350 million people living in this country on every social issue.”

Singh believes he can defeat Congressman Moran by running the type of campaign that hasn’t been tried before and exploiting the long-time incumbent’s apparent weaknesses. “We are going to be much more creative than previous campaigns. We know right off the bat that if we raise $1 million and run a conventional campaign, we’d still lose by 30 points in this district,” states Singh, “We’re in this to win.”

Disgruntled voters across the nation express that the only options appearing on the table are to either support the status quo or continue to grow the government. Singh sees an opportunity to move in a different direction. “When we have debates, we will show that there is more than the dichotomy to expand government or do nothing. We have to show that we can use the free market to do great things,” says Singh.

According to Singh, Moran and the Democrats shouldn’t plan on running up the score again this year in the 8^th District. “Congressman Moran is vulnerable this year because the economy has taken central stage. Plus, this year, because of Obama, there will be new voters who are not locked into one party,” Singh says. “When it comes to wasteful spending, nobody has a worse record that Jim Moran.” Singh also points to Moran’s addiction to earmarks and special interest money as reasons why he is increasingly out of step with the district.

Perhaps Singh is on the right path. On March 11, 2008, the Sunlight Foundation reported that Moran referred to earmark reform as “one of those political fads that’s having its time right now, just like campaign finance reform.” Speaking at a Democrat Party dinner in his district on June 9, 2006, Moran beamed about the possibility of his party regaining control of the Congress so he could bask in the glow of pork projects. The Arlington Sun-Gazette reported on June 10, 2006 that Moran stated “When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I’m going to earmark the shit out of it.”

On foreign policy, Singh sees another wedge to drive between Moran and the electorate that has permitted him to feed at the Congressional trough since 1991. “Moran benefits from the war—he has no reason to bring an end to it. So many of his supporters are from the special interest groups who don’t want the war to end, they would rather have the government keep spending the money. On top of this, the Democrats haven’t done what they said they would do [after being elected to take control of Congress],” says Singh.

“My foreign policy would be to use our biggest strength—our economy—to open up trade with nations like Iran and Cuba. Let’s use our economy to trade with every nation possible. Capitalism is the best conveyer of peace,” according to Singh, who is also leery of using foreign aid to relieve poverty and opposes launching a potential war with Iran.

“I would oppose a war with Iran as it stands. If we perform a strike on Iran, the blowback would be massive,” says Singh. “They will launch proxy wars around the world against us and disrupt the world’s economy. Alternately, there is something we can do with Iran. They have some of the most difficult to process crude oil in the world. We have the technology in the U.S. to process it. We should offer to form a partnership with them to help bring them to the table.”

The outcome of the Singh-Ellmore race and its impact upon Republican performance in November is part of a larger conundrum for the GOP: if Republican numbers keep slipping in this district, Republican candidates running for statewide office such as gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling who is seeking reelection, and state Senator Ken Cuccinelli who is running for Attorney General in 2009 may see their chances of statewide victory hindered by increasing Democrat strength in the 8^th District.

Next Tuesday’s primary results will show whether or not local Republicans are ready to embrace the pro-freedom, pro-federalism message in order to combat the Democrat tsunami or stick with the message of “stay the course” neo-conservatism.

Those who have watched Republican numbers go from bad to worse over years can’t help but wonder if local GOP voters will take the opportunity to give Singh’s platform and unique profile a chance to score a major upset against one of the state’s true-blue liberals in November.

Nathan R. Shrader is president of Bull Moose Partners and has worked on over 15 political campaigns. He can be reached at nathanrshrader@yahoo.com.

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