The Shadow
Speaking at The Historic Masonic Theatre, Jennifer Lewis, Democrat congressional candidate for the sixth district, shared her political views with an audience of 24 on Mon., Sept. 26, in Clifton Forge.
Lewis, a mental health care worker from Waynesboro, was introduced by Dr. John Rainone, president of Mountain Gateway Community College, and she began by thanking those present for attending and by sharing with the audience her campaign strategy to win.
After pointing out that Ben Cline, her opponent whom she lost to on Nov. 6, 2019, votes against every bill the Democrats bring to the floor of the House of Representatives, she said that he has aligned himself with MAGA Republicans.
Having received just over 40 percent of the vote in her loss to Cline, she said that the key for her to win is to get out the vote and to recruit new voters who support a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.
During her speech, she pledged to work to improve healthcare, housing opportunities, education and the environment.
Lewis remarked, “I attended every county fair in Virginia this summer, and I never saw him (Cline) at any of them.”
She continued, “I think that abortion is our winning issue.”
“It’s not just women who are concerned, but I’ve had men come up to me and express their concern about abortion,” she noted.
Concerning inflation and high gas prices, she blamed corporate greed.
She asked, “Do you know that the top four gas companies in the nation have made record profits during the past two years?”
Lewis added, “We’ve got to do something about corporate greed in this nation.”
As for her ploy to turn out the voters that did not show up to vote when she lost to Cline, she said, “We are a big-tent party, and it’s heartbreaking to have seen the Republican Party taken over by MAGA Republicans.”
She asked those present to take her campaign literature that she brought with her and recruit Republicans who she claims have been left behind by their party.
“This election is every two years, and if you give me the chance and don’t like me (the job I do) then you can vote me out,” she stated.
As for the issues, she advocates for an assault weapons ban, the expansion of background checks and closing gun show loopholes.
After pointing out that one school shooter killed 19 children in 19 seconds with an assault rifle, she was asked what she considers to be an assault rifle.
Lewis was quick to answer, “Any one that can kill 19 children in 19 seconds.”
She spoke about the need to support a living wage and noted that many Virginians are unable to afford adequate housing with the amount that they earn.
Lewis said, “Here’s this man working 40 hours a week at Arby’s, and he can’t afford housing.”
Agreeing that teachers are underpaid, she pointed out that most of them teach because of their dedication to helping students, and she noted that they should not have to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets.
Rainone entered the discussion concerning educational needs and pointed out that the U.S. Government’s rule requiring both parents of a student to complete a form causes students not to be able to access federal dollars for their education because often parents are divorced, resulting in one parent not being available to sign the required form.
He also noted that some parents are reluctant to divulge private information despite the fact that ample federal funding is available to help their students.
Dr. Ronald Goings, a member of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, asked what can be done about the immigration problem at the U.S. Southern Border.
She responded, “Well, stop using terms like illegal aliens.”
Lewis observed that the U.S. Congress has “kicked the can down the road” for years by talking about it but not fixing the problem, and she noted that those coming into the country could help solve the labor shortage many employers are facing following the COVID-19 restrictions.
Lewis concluded, “One of the best places to campaign is at fast food drive-through windows where I distribute campaign materials.”
Democrat State Senator R. Creigh Deeds posed with her for a photograph following her speech as her supporters gathered around her.
The election will be held on Tues., Nov. 8, and she made it clear during her speech that she believes she can defeat Cline the second time around by increasing voter turnout, capitalizing on the backlash from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that struck down Roe v Wade and by recruiting disenchanted Republicans who oppose Donald J. Trump and side with Liz Cheney.
