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Just got back from the 2008 Regional Jefferson Jackson Dinner, which featured Gov. Joe Manchin, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and our own WV-02 Democratic candidate Anne Barth.
It was at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg, but it brought together Democrats from Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties.
Let me just say this first off. Listening to Anne Barth speak - Whoooo! / ric flair - I am looking forward to her debate Bush Republican Rep. Shelley Moore "Country Club" Capito.
She had the crowd fired up and ready to go.
Here's some of her great lines from tonight:
"George Bush and Shelley Moore Capito represent the status quo...If you're not sure how many homes you own, you're probably for the status quo."
"I believe in putting West Virginians first. Senator Byrd taught me if you never forget West Virginians they'll never forget you."
"I believe in ending the war in Iraq quickly and responsibly."
"We're spending $10 billion a month in Iraq on roads and bridges while the Iraqi government is running a surplus. Here in West Virginia we need new roads and bridges. Just think of Route 9."
"My campaign is about putting the people of West Virginia first."
"If you believe in a representative who fights for the people all the time and not just election time, then I'm your candidate."
She said a lot more great stuff, but I was too busy clapping to write it all down.
Here's what Gov. Manchin said about Barth:
"We're 1,000 percent behind you. We've never had the opportunity to have someone so well qualified in Washington."
"Anne has the largest district east of the Mississippi. She can't do it by herself. She needs all of you. We've never had a candidate like this before, so well connected in Washington."
Manchin talked about his experience at the Democratic National Convention and of Republican jealousy at Barack Obama drawing more than 84,000 into Mile High Stadium to see his acceptance speech.
"I'd never been at anything like that in my life. It was electrifying."
Manchin's thoughts on Obama:
"In West Virginia, I truly believe we can win."
"I've heard everything from the pundits and the media on why he can't win from he's African American...that's like saying John Kennedy couldn't win because he was a Catholic. We proved that wrong."
Manchin on energy:
"We are addicted to oil We have been absolutely the worst polluters this world has ever seen. We've also grown the world's largest economy and the biggest middleclass. There's tradeoffs."
I didn't get all of this down verbatim, but he said if they said no more coal in the U.S., it wouldn't stop the other countries from using the cheapest fuel available, coal, in their countries. But a new energy policy is needed to develop renewable and clean sources of energy for the future.
"We're going to have a renewable energy policy."
"I've spoken to the Republican hierarchy and they're completely wedded to the Big Oil companies."
Manchin on John McCain:
"John McCain is a great, decent and honorable hero. I just don't respect continuing the same policies we've had for the last eight years. Just changing the name and keeping a Republican at the top would be the downfall of this nation."
On his pride in West Virginians:
"I believe in you more than you believe in yourselves."
On the 23,000 new jobs and $8 billion in new private investment in the state created under his watch:
"I tell people don't vote for me what I did in the past. Vote for me for what I'm going to do in the future."
On his future plans:
"We're goint to make sure every West Virginian is covered with healthcare."
(That got huge applause)
On broadband infrastructure:
"By 2010 we'll have the state completely wired."
On his loss in Berkeley County in 2004:
"If you told me I'd lose in Berkeley County in 2004, I wouldn't have believed it. I thought we'd win and win handsomely here. Well I blame no one but myself. I took it for granted. I'm not doing that again."
He hasn't either. He's been up here a lot.
Manchin's remarks on Darrell McGraw.
"Darrell has done more to protect the citizens of West Virginia than any human being ever.... He'll do whatever it takes to protect West Virginians."
His remarks on Natalie Tennant:
"She's a rising star."
He had other great remarks about other candidates too, but I didn't get them all down.
(Note to self: fundraiser for a digital video camera for the site sometime in the future.)
Other highlights of the evening before I left (the other candidates speaking had just kicked off when I departed.)
Berkeley County Democrat of the Year: Niles Bernick (he's a great guy.)
Jefferson County Democrat of the Year: Virginia Graff. She's a hard worker.
Morgan County Democrat of the Year: Brenda Hutchison. She's the first Democrat to win as Morgan County commissioner in ages and the first ever to win every precinct. She's got it tough against two Republican good old boys. We need to get her some more Democrats at the commission.
Stephen Skinner describe how great it was that the Eastern Panhandle united to send two delegates to the DNC when usually Kanawha County dominates the delegation.
Tom Vogel, who is in charge of the Obama campaign in WV, said we're getting 6 offices. He signed the paperwork for the M'burg office today. And 27 paid staff. Not long ago we thought we'd get one to three.
Vogel: "And they're all West Virginians."
That's important. I see the Republicans keep saying McCain will win by 20 here. I hope they keep thinking that. I love complacency in opponents.
One last note, before the dinner I spoke to the ubiquitous Rod Snyder, president of the WV Young Democrats. His organization has kicked off a 55 county campaign to have a presence in each and every county. Much like Howard Dean's 50 state program at the county level.
Update: Wanted to point out this was organized and put together well by the Berkeley County Democrats Executive Committee. The local press incorrectly reported it as the Berkeley County Democratic Association, which many of us was there, but John Fink and his board deserve the credit.
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