RICHMOND - Lieutenant Governor Bolling today issued the following statement on the 2010 midterm election results: "Last year, the people of Virginia overwhelmingly swept Governor McDonnell, Attorney General Cuccinelli and me into office. Our victory was the first sign that America was turning away from the misguided policies of President Obama and the Democratic leadership in Washington and turning toward principled, conservative leaders who are focused on economic prosperity, limited government and individual freedom.
"Tonight, Virginia voters have reiterated this message by doing their part to get our nation back on the right path by electing conservative leaders who will embrace pro-business policies that will get our economy moving again and support limited, constitutional government. They have forcefully rejected the anti-business agenda of high-taxes, out-of-control spending and debt, and overly intrusive government that we have been forced to endure in Washington for the past two years.
"I want to congratulate Congressman-elect Robert Hurt, Congressman-elect Scott Rigell and Congressman-elect Morgan Griffith. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead. They campaigned relentlessly and were tireless, articulate advocates for the conservative principles that are needed to restore American greatness. For that I express my profound gratitude.
"I would especially like to congratulate my dear friend, Eric Cantor, for his re-election and his leadership in charting a course for the Republican Party to regain a majority in the House of Representatives. Congressman Cantor will undoubtedly assume a mantle of high responsibility in the new Congress and America could not have a more capable or effective leader.
"I also want to congratulate Congressman Frank Wolf, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Congressman Randy Forbes, and Congressman Rob Wittman on their re-election to the United States House of Representatives. They have provided our state with tremendous leadership in Washington and they have stood strong for conservative principles we believe in. I know that they will each continue to represent our state well and help lead a new American renaissance.
"Even on a night as successful for our party as this, not all of our Republican candidates were victorious. At this hour, the race in the 11th District is still undetermined. I commend Keith Fimian for running an aggressive and competitive campaign. I thank Chuck Smith, and Patrick Murray for their willingness to take part in the democratic process and for the vigorous campaigns they ran. I look forward to working with them in other capacities to advance our shared conservative values.
"And finally, I offer my sincere and profound gratitude to the thousands of Virginians who dedicated their energy, their time and their treasure to support the candidates of their choice. Over the last two years, we have seen unparalleled participation in the political process from long-time party leaders and new conservative activists. Tonight their voices were heard, especially in Washington, DC.
"In the days, weeks and months ahead many people will offer many opinions to explain the results of this historic election. The truth is that President Obama and the Democratic leadership in Washington have blindly and relentlessly pursued a course that has made our country weaker, while ignoring the deafening pleas of the American people to choose a better way.
"They have abandoned our constitutional tradition of limited government for a liberty-stifling and freedom-suffocating government with an insatiable desire to control its citizenry at every turn. They used the economic misfortunes of American families to advance their partisan political agendas. They saddled our children and our grandchildren with unsustainable spending and unimaginable debt. They rejected the capitalist, free market system that has made America the wealthiest, freest nation in the world for a system where significant portions of our economy are owned and controlled by the federal government.
"Today, Republicans, Independents, Tea Party activists and conservative Democrats have joined together to deliver a powerful American message. America's greatness is born from the strength of the American people, not the size of the American government. The American people run this country, not American politicians.
"The American people have given our party an opportunity to provide leadership to get our nation back on the right track. This is a trust not to be taken lightly. We must remain committed to our conservative principles and results-oriented leadership; to restoring the appropriate scope and size of government; and to expanding liberty, freedom and economic opportunity for all Americans. This is the same message we heard and lesson we learned after our election a year ago, and I hope our new leaders in Washington will accept this responsibility and opportunity as we have here in Virginia."
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