One of the most important things you need to learn when you enter politics is how to deal with adversity. Based on the most recent comments by Supervisor Ron Meyer, it is a skill he has yet to master.
Upon learning of Senator Dick Black’s impending retirement from serving Virginia’s 13th District, the eager young Supervisor jumped into the race with both feet, hoping to win the seat and make the annual trip to Richmond as a member of the VA General Assembly. Things were smooth sailing for awhile. There were rumors of other candidates looking at the race, but Meyer, who had previously lost in a primary bid for the 33rd Senate seat in 2013 to John Whitbeck, and dropped out of the primary for the 33rd against Stephen Hollingshead in 2015, was looking pretty good and seemed to be gaining steam. Until yesterday.
On Tuesday, Feb. 12th, Loudoun Supervisor Geary Higgins announced he would be running for the 13th Senate seat. Higgins is a well-liked and respected veteran of Loudoun politics who has served nearly 8 years on the Loudoun Board of Supervisors as well as 4 years on the Loudoun County School Board. He enters the race with years of experience and a well deserved reputation as a committed Conservative.
Higgins also enters the race with Senator Black’s endorsement.
Earning the endorsement of the retiring incumbent is quite a coup for any candidate in this situation, and losing out on this appeared to be too much for Ron to take. He also did not appear to take too kindly to some of Senator Black’s reasons for endorsing Higgins. On his Facebook page Senator Black wrote:
I intended to remain neutral in the race for my successor. However, I have deep concerns about Ron Meyer’s support for late term abortions and gun control. Furthermore, Ron had to be escorted from a committee hearing in Richmond where he was extremely impolite and disrespectful toward a female senator. His incivility and behavior are not compatible with those of the General Assembly.
Most candidates, when faced with this kind of setback, would step back, assess the situation and refocus their efforts, but not Ron. Instead, Ron thought it would be a good idea to attack Senator Black, call him a liar, and repeat old Democrat campaign attacks made years ago against him. Then, in a move of dubious wisdom and particularly bad form, Ron posted this attack, along with a video he made, on Senator Black’s own Facebook page.
If Ron wanted to try and defend his record and his positions on the issues he is certainly free to do so, but you don’t do that by repeating ridiculous claims by Democrats that Senator Black supported spousal rape. More importantly, you certainly don’t make those attacks directly where all of Senator Black’s most loyal supporters will be sure to read it. Unfortunately for Ron, the facts are not on his side.
The facts are that Ron Meyer voted in favor of tougher restrictions on gun owners in Loudoun County.
The facts are that Ron’s behavior in verbally accosting Senator Amanda Chase was so obnoxious that the Chairman of the Transportation Committee, Sen. Bill Carrico, had to come down from the dais and ask him to leave.
The facts are that, in a separate thread on Senator Black’s Facebook page, Ron Meyer stated that he would protect the unborn that “are scientifically proven to be viable outside the womb.” Most studies put fetal viability somewhere between 24 to 28 weeks. That is in the third trimester, which means that if you take Ron at his word, then he would support abortions into the third trimester. Furthermore, when pressed to be more specific on the issue of life, Ron repeatedly ducked the question.
The facts are that Ron does not want to be bothered by these pesky social issues. Ron has stated repeatedly that he doesn’t want to deal with them, and thinks talking about them will hurt his chances against the Democrats in November. At the end of his attacks on Senator Black he states, “Local issues, not social conspiracies, are our path to victory in November.”
When you go to Ron’s campaign website he makes no mention of any social issues whatsoever. He doesn’t talk about life, or the 2nd amendment, or illegal immigration, or even taxes. The only issues Ron seems to care about are tolls, parallel roads, and parks and trails.
That’s right. Parks and trails.
While Kathy Tran is introducing legislation to allow a single abortionist to slaughter a baby moments before it is born, Ron will be fighting for more bike paths.
While Democrats are pushing to force private companies and elementary schools to allow men to use the little girls bathroom, Ron will be fighting for more parks.
While Democrats push to ratify the disastrous Equal Rights Amendment, or try to force a job killing $15/hour minimum wage on small businesses, Ron wants you to know he will be working to make sure we have enough green spaces.
In every way and at every level of government, liberal Democrats are pushing their extreme social agenda on Americans. The people of Virginia and the Republican party needs fighters who will stand up for what is right, not people who refer to social issues as “conspiracies.” We need people that can walk and chew gum at the same time, and are not afraid to stand up for what is right.
There are no conscientious objectors in the culture war, Ron.
It is hard to say if Ron can come back from this disastrous blunder so early in his nascent campaign. Insulting the retiring incumbent Senator and making an enemy of both him and his supporters displays an incredible lack of judgement for someone looking to win a Republican primary. This inexperience, combined with his lack of commitment to conservative issues, does not sound like a winning formula for the 13th District.
Author’s note: It is no secret that Senator Black is my father in law, but I wanted to make sure I noted that here in the interest of full disclosure.
