Community Corner
Letter to the Editor: A Focus on the Issues, Not False Personal Attacks
Ken Vaughn responds to the Chris Perkins campaign's allegations that he lied
Our country is facing serious challenges on many fronts. Our national debt has surpassed 100% of GDP, and our deficit in February set another record - $229 billion of new debt in one month. Despite stealing this money from our future, the unemployment rate remains persistently high at 8.3%.
In addition to losing our financial freedom, we also continue to see our individual liberties erode. Amazingly, our current administration now claims that it has the right to kill American citizens without any trial. While I suspect Anwar al-Awlaki was guilty of treason, he still deserved a trial, as the Constitution prescribes:
No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
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These are serious times, and our country needs statesmen who are willing to address these and other issues. Unlike my primary opponent, I have offered to participate in debates all over Virginia’s 11th congressional district so that the public can choose which candidate to support based on where our positions and beliefs differ.
Without these discussions, we are left with piecemeal quotes. Last week, while campaigning outside an election location in Oak Marr, the asked me to distinguish myself from my opponent. My response focused only on issues for which I had direct quotes from my opponent to substantiate my statements.
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Rather than joining the discussion, my opponent’s campaign directly challenged my character by accusing me of peddling “blatant lies” and launching “the first negative attacks.” Nothing could be further from the truth, but a challenge to my character requires an official, fact-based response. To that end, I offer the exact quotes from which my statements were derived.
My Position My Characterization of Opponent Opponent's Quote Pro-life Pro-choice "I believe this decision should ultimately be left up to the woman, her family, and her doctor." Support the Second Amendment: "the right of the people ... shall not be infringed" is a statement that is all-encompassing; it applies to federal, state and local governments. Local jurisdictions should be able to violate the second Amendment "the individual states are well suited to determine their own policies regarding firearms, and that the federal government should allow them to do so." The payroll tax cut, which added $100 billion to the debt, was an immoral act The payroll tax cut was a small victory "We may have won a small battle with this tax cut, but we're a long way from winning the war." [2]; Lorton Patch, Jan. 12.
[2] "What 'Holiday'?"; Chris Perkins for Congress, Feb. 24.
Rather than resorting to unfounded personal attacks, I am interested in keeping the focus on the issues. I launched this campaign because I believe America is facing a serious crisis. We will only be able to avert this crisis by finding statesmen who are willing to move beyond the political bickering and are willing to work towards practical solutions for our country. I look forward to your support.
-Ken Vaughn
Ken Vaughn is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
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