McLEAN, VA – Jeff Barnett, Democratic Nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 10th District, has praised President Barack Obama’s decision to replace General Stanley McChrystal with General David Petraeus as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S. Forces, Afghanistan (USFOR-A).
 
“I am proud of the way President Obama handled this situation. He acted swiftly and decisively, and he put the success of our mission ahead of politics. That’s the kind of pragmatic leadership that I will bring to Washington when I am elected this November.”
 

For Immediate Release   

McLEAN, VA – Jeff Barnett, Democratic Nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 10th District, released the following statement this morning. “I was very saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd. The late Senator was a towering figure in the American political landscape, a true statesman. His learning, his passion, and the depth of his institutional memory are irreplaceable.”
 
“Even as we mourn the passing of Senator Byrd, we look with hope to the future he helped create,” Barnett said. “Today’s America is a better place because of his 51 years of service. All public figures should work towards achieving some small portion of those virtues that shone brightest in the late Senator: a proud commitment to the independence of the legislature, and a tireless dedication to advancing the interests of the millions of people who gave him their vote – and their trust – over the decades.”
 
“I encourage all Virginians to direct their condolences to 311 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC  20510. As soon as I receive information about memorial arrangements, I will make it available online.” 

In an important editorial this week, the Loudoun Times-Mirror called for a dignified and respectful campaign that focuses on matters of importance to the 10th District, and warned that the incumbent cannot consider his seat secure at a time when so many voters are looking for a change. The paper's editorial board challenged both candidates to make frequent joint appearances, stressing the importance of giving voters a chance to hear a good discussion of the issues. I couldn't agree more - I am looking forward to a rigorous and open exchange of ideas with Mr. Wolf. Read the full article here.

Cross posted on Blue Virginia

On Tuesday night, I met the people who are going to be running for Congress a few years from now. I spoke to the people who are going to be helping our businesses create the next generation of jobs. I talked with people who are inspiring and organizing their communities.

Here’s the great thing - most of them were only in their 20s.

The Fairfax County Young Democrats invited me to join them for some pizza at their meeting last night and, never one to turn down an opportunity to combine good food and good politics, I was pleased to accept the invitation.

Last week, I wrote about how the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should remind us of the ultimately unsustainable cost of our addiction to fossil fuels. This week, I’d like to share my thoughts on a recent development with one of the most promising alternatives to fossil fuels: wind power. The barriers to harnessing the power of wind energy are not technological – they are primarily political. We have had wind power generation capabilities for years, but our leaders haven’t been active enough about setting standards for the adoption of renewable energy, investing in a transmission grid to deliver power from generation sites to consumers, or creating a consistent and reliable regulatory framework. An outdated transmission system is one of the primary reasons why alternative energies only meet a small portion of our national energy demand.

Crossposted on Blue Virginia.

More than a month after the Deep Water Horizon rig sank into the Gulf of Mexico, we can only begin to comprehend the scale of this human, environmental, and economic catastrophe. It took eleven lives. It continues to wreak havoc on the delicate ecosystems in and around the Gulf. It has endangered huge swathes of our coastal economy from Texas to Florida, and possibly beyond.

Estimates vary, but the ruptured well is spewing 39,000 to 58,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf each day. It will take years to recover. Even in the darkest days, we must remember that with many crises come opportunities. Opportunities to learn from our mistakes. Opportunities to seek a better future. This oil spill compels us to take an honest and much-needed look at our dependence on fossil fuels.

For Immediate Release

McLean, VA - Jeff Barnett, Democratic Nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 10^th District, raised nearly $80,000 in just six weeks. The Federal Elections Commission required both campaigns to submit financial reports for April 1 - May 19. The FEC reports for those six weeks show that Jeff Barnett, a first time candidate for public office, raised almost twice as much as Frank Wolf, a 30-year incumbent.

On Saturday, May 14, Jeff and the campaign attended McLean Day. Jeff had a great time engaging voters and talking to them about the issues they are concerned about.  To learn more about our McLean Day experience, check out the video below.

This past Saturday, Jeff attended the Loudoun County Democratic Committee's Annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner. Jeff joined Senator Jim Webb and Delegate Ward Armstrong in speaking to the crowd. Below is a release from the Loudoun County Democratic Committee about the wonderful event. Thank you to everyone involved in planning the Jefferson Jackson Dinner, and to the Loudoun County Democratic Committee for having us.