<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Friday, March 29, 2024
March 29, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Herrera, Rossi join enthusiastic backers in ‘victory rally’

Candidates' message: Halt government spending

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: October 10, 2010, 12:00am
2 Photos
Jaime Herrera speaks to supporters Saturday at a &quot;victory rally&quot; event in Vancouver, saying that it's time to change directions in Washington, D.C.
Jaime Herrera speaks to supporters Saturday at a "victory rally" event in Vancouver, saying that it's time to change directions in Washington, D.C. Photo Gallery

U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi and 3rd District Congressional candidate Jaime Herrera appeared together Saturday morning for the first of several “victory rallies” the pair had scheduled in Southwest Washington.

The energized candidates spoke to about 200 equally enthusiastic supporters at the Herrera/Rossi headquarters in Hazel Dell. The packed room erupted with applause numerous times as the Republican candidates spoke during the morning event, which focused on taking control away from the federal government and putting it back into the hands of Americans.

“We the people know how to live our lives better than the folks in Washington D.C.,” Herrera said. “It’s time to change directions.”

Herrera said her goal is simple: Restore the concept of free enterprise. Given an even playing field, hard-working Americans will be able to pull the country out of the recession, she said. Citing a recent report, Herrera said that under the current laws and policies, it could take until 2020 to restore job numbers to the level of two years ago.

Tip: you can interact with this map using your fingerscursor (or two fingers on touch screens)cursor. Map

Herrera said she wants the state and federal bailouts and government intervention to end. In the past, deficit spending left Americans with tangible results: Hoover Dam and the space program, for example. Current spending does not, she said.

“What do we have for $800 million?” Herrera asked, before the audience corrected her: “What do we have for $800 billion?”

When Rossi took the stage, he reiterated many of Herrera’s concerns.

“America’s in trouble,” he said simply.

The current condition of the country was “bad enough to drag me out of political retirement,” he said. “It’s not what I planned to do, but it’s what needs to be done.”

Rossi criticized U.S. Sen. Patty Murray’s support of the health care reform bill, which he said should be repealed in its entirety. Instead, he suggested, people should be allowed to purchase insurance across state lines or in pools to reduce the cost. Health care reform, stimulus projects and bailouts must end, he said.

“As government grows, your freedoms decrease,” he said. “It’s just the way it is.”

“We want our freedom back,” he said.

Rossi called the Nov. 2 election critical and said it’s time for this generation to step up and put the country back on track.

Many who attended the rally Saturday agreed.

La Center resident Doug Woltersdorf, a retired teacher and small-business owner, said he had never been involved in politics. For years, he said he was like many people who simply worked and trusted the government. That’s changed.

“We don’t trust the government anymore,” he said.

Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire would be a travesty, he said, because the wealthy people are the ones creating jobs. Woltersdorf, 67, also worries the country’s $13 trillion debt will mean his 16 grandchildren will grow up in a country starkly different from that where he grew up.

“This is one battle. Once Nov. 2 gets here, I’m looking to 2012,” he said. “We’re not going away.”

The current economy is also what spurred Vancouver resident Dick Sohn into action. Sohn volunteers at the Republican party headquarters and is working to get 49th Legislative District candidate Craig Riley elected.

“I was one of those people laying in the recliner until Obamanomics woke me up,” Sohn said.

“Progressive economics doesn’t work, and Obama proved that in less than two years,” he added.

Herrera and Rossi also held “victory rallies” together Saturday in Longview and Centralia. Rossi then went on to rallies in Aberdeen and Shelton.

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.

Loading...
Columbian Health Reporter