UPDATE: David Brat has defeated Eric Cantor. Full story via TheBlaze.
Primary season continues on Tuesday with voters in Virginia heading to the polls. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), who represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, faces a formidable challenger in economics professor Dave Brat. While Brat has appeared on Pat & Stu and The Morning Blaze with Doc Thompson, this morning marked his first appearance on The Glenn Beck Radio Program. Glenn spoke to Brat about his conservative beliefs and why he offers an important alternative to Cantor.
Glenn explained that he has been largely disappointed with the results of many primary races this election cycle. While Brat did not need to convince him that Cantor has over-sold and under delivered, Brad did need to convince Glenn that he is the candidate that deserves his support.
“You don't have to convince me that Eric Cantor is a guy who has sold us a load of goods,” Glenn said. “What you have to do is convince me why should I reach into my pocket and give you money today or do any work because a lot of people are listening to us going, ‘I don't believe in any of this stuff anymore.’ I mean I'm waiting for the hand of God. Why should I do that?”
“I’m on what I call the Plato plan. Plato said wait until you are 50, and you’re done with wine, women, and song. Eric Cantor has been a lifetime professional politician. I went to seminary. I have a PhD in economics,” Brat explained. “I am running on term lists for myself and everybody else. That is a huge differentiator. I'm running with a pledge to meet… people in every county once a month. I have nine counties in the city. That is a huge commitment to actually meet and represent the people. That's the job description: To be the representative of the people. It is that a clear. It’s that decisive.”
“He's backing big business 100%. He's throwing the people in the district under the bus with low wages, losses in jobs due to amnesty, Obamacare, regulations… and he’s doing nothing on entitlements,” he continued. “It’s why our country is in the ditch… We need free market principles, freedom loving conservative to get in office. I will do my best to tell the truth and make it happen.”
Cantor has been open about his support of immigration reform, and Stu asked Brat if he believes Republicans will have a tough time winning national elections in the future if immigration reform is not passed.
“We are told that they are never going to vote you. If the percentages continue to go in the way that they are going now, you are never going to win another national election,” Stu said. “So how do you do nothing here? What do you do to make people come along to your side of the argument, without breaking your principles?”
“It's easy. The Hispanic community has one awesome thing in common with us that, of course, our Republicans are too wimpy to point out: The Judeo-Christian tradition… They are great family people. They believe in the rule of law… We are making the assumption that they are in favor of some sort of illegal act. That's absolutely false. If we go down that road, it would be the worst thing we did,” Brat explained. “So we need a compassionate society, but it has to be built on the rule of law… We need to go to all people and sell the Republican principles. There's one reason all the people are coming here. We are the richest nation on earth. China is feeding 1.2 billion people. How did that happen? Because they are finally going free market.”
While Brat trails Cantor in the polls, he has cut Cantor’s lead to just 13 points. The GOP establishment is squarely in Cantor’s corner, outspending the Brat campaign 25 to 1, and Glenn encouraged his listeners to consider supporting Brat in anyway they can.
“Dave, the best of luck to you tomorrow. We need people like you to be able to get in and hold some of these guys’ feet to the fire,” Glenn concluded. “The Republicans are doing everything they can to destroy the idea of small government… For it to be this close says an awful lot.”
Learn more about Brat’s campaign HERE.
