Thread: Cantor Spends Big While Brat Hammers Immigration Issue

by Michael Patrick Leahy 2 Jun 2014, 8:04 AM PDT
breitbart



New filings showed Majority Leader Eric Cantor spent about $1 million in the seven weeks between April 1 and May 21 against a long-shot primary challenger, Randolph-Macon economics professor David Brat, while Brat continued to hammer Cantor on the immigration issue with a new web ad featuring a photograph of Cantor and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Cantor has spent a total of $1.9 million on his reelection campaign, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That's a vast amount of money for running against a political neophyte primary challenger with virtually no resources of his own, but Cantor is known for pushing hard in every campaign. In 2012, when he faced a less credible challenger, Cantor had spent $1.5 million up to this point in the campaign.

There are a few key differences this time. In 2012, Cantor did not run negative television advertisements against Floyd Bayne, who he went on to beat by a 80-20 margin.

Also, in 2012, very little of his spending—less than $250,000 out of $1.5 million—was for media related to his re-election campaign. Most of the money was spent on travel and lodging outside the district, events, fundraising, and personnel. In 2014, that ratio is dramatically different. More than half of the $1 million Cantor has spent since April 1 has been on local media expenditures.

The American Chemistry Council, also recently launched a $300,000 independent expenditure for television ads in support of Cantor. It's rare for the trade association to wade into primary campaigns.

Brat, who has spent a mere $123,000 since January 1, is out with a new web-based ad that features Cantor arm-in-arm with Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, a leading financial supporter of amnesty efforts.

The photo is from 2011 when Cantor, GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy, and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan visited Facebook's Palo Alto, CA headquarters for a panel discussion moderated by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. In the panel discussion, which was public, Cantor and his GOP colleagues blasted government regulations that hinder business.

The ad says “There are 20 million Americans who can't find a full-time job. But Eric Cantor wants to give corporations another 20 million foreign workers to hire instead.”



Cantor has generally gotten good marks from anti-amnesty group NumbersUSA on its voting scorecard over the course of his career, and he has opposed the Senate “Gang of Eight” bill. However, following the 2012 elections, Cantor made support for the principles of the “DREAM Act” part of a major rebranding effort. He also supports the “ENLIST Act,” which would grant amnesty to illegal aliens who came to the U.S. as minors (“DREAMers”) if they enlist in the military.

Cantor also endorsed the House GOP's immigration “principles” that call for legal status for millions of illegal aliens in the U.S. now, but not citizenship. He supports increasing the number of visas for high-skilled workers.

Although Cantor is spending heavily in the race, and it has garnered national attention after Cantor was booed by Tea Party activists at a contentious Republican party meeting in his district, there's still little reason to believe Cantor is in serious political danger.

Local political insiders who spoke to Breitbart News said they expect Brat's vote total will end up somewhere between 35% and 40%. There are no public polls of the race.

Still, with the race drawing national attention, Cantor is taking elaborate steps to ensure victory, including issuing a campaign mailer that paints himself as an anti-amnesty warrior.

Brat predicted victory in an interview on Laura Ingraham's radio show Friday. "They're going to have a shocker come June 10," Brat he said.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...sty-Third-Rail

Cantor is using NumbersUSA to stand up to a challenger that opposes amnesty while Cantor supports Amnesty!!!

W

Well isn’t that all touchy feely, fuzzy warm, Zuckerberg and Erich Cantor smiling at each other, true pals. I may have to stop writing soon and go to the bathroom and puke.

What is this? Is Zuckerberg trying to purchase a Senate seat? Is he trying to build a stable of ideological prostitutes?

It is important that every patriot know about this, it’s so called “Carpet Bombing.” The enemy outspends the “good guys” by 20, 30, 40 to one. With rare exceptions the conservative candidate can not match the enemy billionaire’s spending dollar for dollar. The enemy floods the TV and radio with vicious attack ads that are often full of lies telling people the conservative is an evil crook. Without enough money the conservative is unable to effectively respond with ads of his own. The conservative is virtually silenced, shoved out of the public debate. The uninformed, lazy voters only hear the voice of the enemy, and they vote on what they have heard. Bingo – a victory purchased--“fair and square.” “Carpet Bombing” almost always wins.

With extraordinary generosity beyond what is the usual contribution, I think patriots could match Zuckerberg, the Chamber of Commerceand the billionaires’ lobby by at least one dollar of ours for every two of the enemy’s, which is usually good enough for our candidate to win.

Patriots, give more than you can afford. Raise money; get temporary work, garage sales etc. and give the money to ALIPAC and the good guys’ candidates.

In the future you will wish you had given whatever money you withhold today. How much good will it do if everything comes crashing down and becomes worthless?

Work and sacrifice and take back your country.

American jobs forAmericans. Illegal aliens, go home -- and take Obama with you.