Tea Party Patriots of Virginia’s 5th District “Very Disappointed” with Hurt’s “Snub” of Charlottesville Debate

Lynchburg, Va. – Lynchburg Tea Party activists are disappointed that Republican candidate for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, State Senator Robert Hurt, has cancelled his appearance at the first of three Tea Party Debates in Charlottesville, VA.

“Mr. Hurt gave me a commitment on the phone just after Thanksgiving,” said Mark Lloyd of the Lynchburg Tea Party, and organizer of the VA 5th District Tea Party Debates. “We had a pleasant conversation and checked the calendar together,” Lloyd explained, adding, “Mr. Hurt told me that date should work since it was early in the legislative session, that things would get difficult for him after that. We agreed to hold the first of the three Tea Party Debates in Charlottesville so Mr. Hurt would be able to travel from Richmond easily. I really thought we had a deal. We’re very disappointed in his decision.”

Lloyd said his group had “worked really hard to create a public forum for the candidates to lay out their vision for the voters in the 5th district.” Lloyd continued, “We regret that Mr. Hurt won’t be there to explain his positions on the issues — especially his controversial tax votes in Richmond that so many of our members are concerned about. We will have an open chair for him, just in case he can work us into his schedule.”

In 2004, State Senator Hurt voted to increase taxes $1.5 billion in Virginia, and was only one of 15 Republican state senators to vote in favor of it, joining every Democrat in the legislature. Lloyd held out hope that Hurt would attend future debates. Lloyd said, “I hope that he will make himself available for the debates in Lynchburg in February and Southside in March. I guess we’ll just have to see. The campaign does know of these following debates.” Lloyd said the dates and times for the upcoming debates would be announced shortly, saying he still wanted to work with all candidates to find mutual availability.

Roger Schweikert of the Jefferson Area Tea Party of Charlottesville, said “Virginians, like people all across the country, are tired of this sort of game playing from professional politicians.” Nigel Coleman of the Danville Tea Party Patriots agreed, “Mr. Hurt is making a mistake. The Tea Party movement is growing in the 5th district and all over the country, and to not make himself available may really hurt him in the upcoming primary and election”.

READ MORE: Read Feda Morton’s response to Hurt’s debate evasion at www.fedaforcongress.com