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Our country is facing serious challenges on many fronts. Our national debt has surpassed 100% of GDP, and our deficit in February set another record - $229 billion of new debt in one month. Despite stealing this money from our future, the unemployment rate remains persistently high at 8.3%.
In addition to losing our financial freedom, we also continue to see our individual liberties erode. Amazingly, our current administration now claims that it has the right to kill American citizens without any trial. While I suspect Anwar al-Awlaki was guilty of treason, he still deserved a trial, as the Constitution prescribes:
No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
These are serious times, and our country needs statesmen who are willing to address these and other issues. Unlike my primary opponent, I have offered to participate in debates all over Virginia’s 11th congressional district so that the public can choose which candidate to support based on where our positions and beliefs differ.
Without these discussions, we are left with piecemeal quotes. Last week, while campaigning outside an election location in Oak Marr, the Oakton Patch asked me to distinguish myself from my opponent. My response focused only on issues for which I had direct quotes from my opponent to substantiate my statements.
Rather than joining the discussion, my opponent’s campaign directly challenged my character by accusing me of peddling “blatant lies” and launching “the first negative attacks.” Nothing could be further from the truth, but a challenge to my character requires an official, fact-based response. To that end, I offer the exact quotes from which my statements were derived.
| My Position | My Characterization of Opponent | Opponent's Quote |
| Pro-life | Pro-choice | "I believe this decision should ultimately be left up to the woman, her family, and her doctor." [1] |
| Support the Second Amendment: "the right of the people ... shall not be infringed" is a statement that is all-encompassing; it applies to federal, state and local governments. | Local jurisdictions should be able to violate the second Amendment | "the individual states are well suited to determine their own policies regarding firearms, and that the federal government should allow them to do so." [1] |
| The payroll tax cut, which added $100 billion to the debt, was an immoral act | The payroll tax cut was a small victory | "We may have won a small battle with this tax cut, but we're a long way from winning the war." [2] |
[1] "Decorated War Vet Guns for 11th Congressional District Seat"; Lorton Patch, Jan. 12.
[2] "What 'Holiday'?"; Chris Perkins for Congress, Feb. 24.
Rather than resorting to unfounded personal attacks, I am interested in keeping the focus on the issues. I launched this campaign because I believe America is facing a serious crisis. We will only be able to avert this crisis by finding statesmen who are willing to move beyond the political bickering and are willing to work towards practical solutions for our country. I look forward to your support.
-Ken Vaughn
Ken Vaughn is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
Jo Ann Stewart
2:07 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
As most Americans feel, the issue is jobs, jobs, jobs and not what you do or do not feel about abortion (done--there is a law if you have forgotten), the right to bear arms (sure--everyone needs an AK47), or the payroll tax cut (immoral?-really, please do your preaching in church). Concentrate on what is important to people and you will gain respect--if not then you lose.
Mike James
12:06 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Exactly Jo Ann, this is what myopic and hypocritical look like all rolled into a seeming innocuous package. Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." What we have here is a corrupt tree. The Republicans have shown what their fruits are and it certainly is NOT for the benefit of all. As soon as they had complete control of the state of Virginia they went giddy with their new found religious zealot power. I'm sure Mr. Vaughn is a wonderful person but would just continue the insanity and continue to make our wonderful state the laughing stock of the United States. All true Virginians need to rally around and stop the destruction of our fundamental rights which are being replaced by a theocracy.
Alex E. Cahn
9:31 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012
Yep... Republicans have gone off the deep end. The vast majority of sane people wouldn't want to be seen anywhere near the idiotic nonsense that passes for today's Republican Party. People like Gerald Ford and even Ronald Reagan wouldn't recognize the mean-spirited and backward-thinking mess that it has become.
I was wondering why there is so much hateful talk, distortions and even outright lies being hurled by Republicans these days. But several of us at a dinner party the other night figured it out. That's all the GOP has left right now, because they've been totally discredited on every other major front recently. They claimed to be the economically responsible party, and then Bush and his administration left the U.S. losing 750,000 jobs PER MONTH, and left us a collapsing banking industry that we were left to "bail out"... signed into law by Bush! They claimed to have "family values" but many have been caught in sex scandal after sex scandal. Quite a few prominent GOPers have three or more ex-wives, but still boast of their "values"! What a crock.
Then there's the claims of some sort of religious superiority. But at the same time, Republicans have been exchanging racist emails, questioning whether Obama is a citizen. The President got on the ballot in all 50 states... so... did they all mis-read his records? No. That's preposterous.
(Oh, and there is the phony "intelligence" they used to lead us into a second war.)
Jim Daniels
1:43 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I actually have little interest in the feud between Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Perkins. Neither one of them stands a chance against Gerry Connolly in November. What I do find amusing however is that Republicans are actually advocating we put them back in charge because President Obama isn't cleaning up their mess fast enough :-)
Sorry, I will take even the current economic and job growth over yet another Republican induced economic crisis any day of the week!!
Joe Brenchick
2:45 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
My liniest test for a politician is whether or not they support the Second Amendment. If they do, then they truly mean what they say when they take the oath, swearing to protect and defend The Constitution of the United Sates of America.
Anything less is just lip service.
Connolly is just one of Pelosi’s Rubber Stamps!
Robert Kenyon
10:37 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
That litmus test eliminates Perkins, and obviously Connolly.
Jon-Michael Bryce
12:56 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
There doesn't seem to be any argument here? Opposing the payroll tax cut means Vaughn just wants to raise taxes I guess? I would think that if you were a conservative you would want to decrease the size and scope of the FED rather than increase taxes to eliminate the debt. That the difference between these two. Perkins has repeatedly talked about how he wants a smaller, limited government while Vaughn just talks about the debt and apparently how much he is opposed to tax cuts?
Tax cuts are good. Matter of fact, I think that a cut in anything except for defense is good and the only reason for defense spending is that that is the primary role of the federal government. There are even handful of entire agencies that we can cut instead of raising taxes. So it's not like Vaughn doesn't have any other options but to raise taxes.
David D
4:05 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Unfortunately the payroll "tax cut" isn't really a tax cut; it's a tax deferment. It's a gimmick, unless future social security benefits were being cut, which isn't part of the deal. This "tax cut" is a Keynesian stimulus method that too many people buy into because they (justifiably) hate taxes.
Money from the payroll tax is used to pay social security benefits. Not collecting those taxes doesn't mean the benefits are magically paid out of thin air. Not collecting the taxes DOES mean we're increasing our long-term debts.
We need Republicans in Congress who understand that current policies are mortgaging our future for the sake of politically-friendly gimmicks. It needs to stop. Ken Vaughn GETS IT, and that's why he deserves support. The point he's making isn't simple, and it isn't pretty, but it's *necessary*.
Jon-Michael Bryce
4:45 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
I'm sorry but it's not *necessary* or even the best solution to the problem. Anyone who says that we need to remove tax exemptions or raise taxes in order to get out of this deficit isn't going after the true problem. If Vaughn was as fiscally conservative as he says he is then he should have a debt policy designed around limiting the power and scope of the federal government. Our system of government was set up as a federalist representative government. This means that power is supposed to be split evenly betweent he fed and the states with everything else being given to the localities and individuals. There is no need for the DOE(both energy and education), EPA, commerce, and HHS. How about we start with cutting those useless government entities first and then if we are still loosing traction we will talk again... but even THEN we need to deal with entitlements and the entire underclass of civilization that is living off of the government without putting anything back into society.
Vaughn is out of touch with the real issues and real solutions ailing this nation.
Robert Kenyon
10:30 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Go look at his plan on his website. He has a comprehensive approach to addressing our fiscal issues. Tax increases are the least of your worries with him. Perkins will keep doing what we've been doing, which has gotten us to 100% of GDP in debt.
Jon-Michael Bryce
4:05 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Robert, you comment on every single article. Therefore I am assuming that like Nicki, you are a personal friend of Vaughn's making you completely biased and means no matter what you will support him. Maybe if you read Perkins website you will see that he has no intentions of maintaining the status quo in DC. On top of that, he is a man of the highest integrity who will never break his word. Our army entrusted him to command hundreds of troops with the same integrity that he plans to represent our district.
Robert Kenyon
11:30 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
I've read it. He wants to "protect" entitlements. FAIL. He doesn't understand the Second Amendnment. FAIL. And he uses his military service as a crutch, as someone else put it. Using your standard, YOU must be HIS friend.