Democrats Gather for Annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner

Saturday night on the eve of the health care reform vote in Congress, Virginia Democrats came out strong in support of the bill during their speeches at the state party’s largest annual fundraising event.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the evening’s keynote speaker, said while the Democrats were offering positive reforms, Republicans had no solutions to offer and were instead selling fear.  

Klobuchar:   I tell the fear mongers, we’re not afraid, and when they try to scare the American people, we’re going to tell them It’s wrong and we’re going to call them out.  

House of Delegates Minority Leader Ward Armstrong rallied fellow Democrats to stay confident in the face of many difficult elections in November.   

Armstrong:  Last election was not a happy day. We didn’t win a statewide seat. We lost eight incumbents in the House of Delegates.  But did anybody in here think that because Barack Obama won and we took back the Congress that the fight was over? It is never over! Get up!

Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb as well as Congressmen Bobby Scott, Tom Perriello and Gerry Connolly all gave speeches and voiced their support for the Federal Health Care Reform Package. Congressman Glenn Nye also spoke but did not mention health care as he did not intend to support the bill.
 
Craig Carper, WCVE News, Capitol Square.