From the Party Chair

A message from C. Richard Cranwell

Posted by Support on Tuesday, January 30

Dear Fellow Virginians,

Let me welcome you to the Democratic Party of Virginia's website. 

Much has been written in recent years about the Democratic message, largely because we've taken some lumps in national elections. So let me take a moment to tell you what Virginia Democrats are all about.

We're for smarter government and the common sense management of the taxpayers' dollar. That means we believe in investing wisely in our human resources, because you can't get a return without an investment. Then, we relentlessly monitor how that money is spent. We are opposed to "taxing the future" by heaping huge amounts of debt on our children.

We embrace equal opportunity and that the path to a better life for your children - no matter your last name, how much money you make or where you call home - lies in developing great schools. That's not always cheap. However, part of the American dream is the simple promise that our children will be better off than we are. We must invest in education with that promise in mind.

We believe in the genius of the human mind - the one thing that has always been the catalyst to the forward progression of civilianization. That means supporting stem cell research, which may one day lead to breakthroughs that put an end to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and diabetes, just to name a few. It means listening to every idea that can make our air and water cleaner, including finding energy alternatives to oil. It means embracing proposals that spread economic opportunity to all and innovations that will reform the way our government works, so that it's more responsive and efficient.

Always, in Virginia, being a Democrat means putting integrity, progress and people before politics.

This isn't just sloganeering. Former Gov. Mark Warner, Gov. Tim Kaine and Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate put their muscle behind the message, reaching out to Republicans three years ago to pass budget reform that dropped thousands from the tax rolls at the same time it preserved Virginia's triple-A bond rating and allowed for an historic re-investment in the state's education system that will be felt by a generation of students.

Today, under Democratic leadership, Virginia is the best-managed state in the nation. It enjoys job growth that far outpaces the national average, and taxpayers continue to enjoy one of the lowest tax burdens in the country.

In 2005, our message and our record helped elect Tim Kaine governor and allowed us to continue to pick up seats in the General Assembly. We have increased our numbers in the legislature in every election since 2003. Our message continued to resonate with the voters in 2006 with the historic election of Jim Webb to the U.S. Senate.

I urge you to join the party of hope, opportunity and responsibility. We're counting on you. If you are for smarter government, and oppose "taxing the future" we ask that you join us. If we all work together we can make Virginia an even greater place to live and fulfill the promise of a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.

Sincerely,

C. Richard Cranwell

Chairman, Democratic Party of Virginia

View all From the Party Chair posts.

Join In
Enter your email address to join up with the VA Dems Online.
Go Local
Headlines
Voter Information