Where’s Eric Cantor?

…or, The Sad State of the Virginia Republican Party

I managed to make my way into the annual 7th District Republican Round-Up (featuring special guest Eric Cantor!) today at the Innsbrook Pavilion in West End Henrico. It’s not like I snuck in or anything. I was invited. Three times, twice by mail, once by phone.

The event was completely free, with free barbecue, free beer, free wine, etc. Kinda fun, actually, a lot of families there with kids playing on a variety of large, inflated things. Even a local magician/juggler made his rounds table-to-table, doing various card tricks and generally over-staying his welcomes. There were even one or two black people! Fun!

Like any such political event there were numerous tables set up promoting all the candidates, including Mike Wade for Henrico Sheriff, Jimmie Massie of the 72nd District, Eric Cantor, and even tables for the presidential candidates Romney, Giuliani, and Thompson (whose literature I noticed is beautifully designed, by the way). Sadly there were no Ron Paul freaks. Apparently they’re just an internet phenomenon.

But the mood of the whole thing was really depressing. I went there to scope out the scene, maybe get some video of Cantor doing something embarrassing, generally just to stir the shit a little bit. But there was nothing to stir. It was 2,000 or so people (based on Cantor’s stated head-count, so take that for what it’s worth), practically all either old couples or families, politely eating barbecue and wearing stickers for candidates. Some of the luminaries got up on stage to give a little pep talk, and it mostly amounted to a plea to vote Republican and, as Cantor himself said, to let Tim Kaine know that we don’t want taxes. The Jimmie Massie literature spoke nothing real about what he intends to do for Virginia, simply fighting crime and eliminating taxes. There was even one lonely volunteer milling about (whom I unfortunately did not get a chance to talk to) giving away literature about the so-called “Fair Tax,” a far-right plan to make the tax system even more regressive.

After the pep rally some of the “luminaries” hung out around the tables, speaking to constituents. A man who on stage I had briefly thought was George Allen was hanging out by the presidential table, and when I finally got within ten yards, I realized it was him. And he looks bad, tanned but older than his years. A group of six or so old codgers hung around him and his wife, seemingly offering condolences. Not far from him was Jimmie Massie, speaking with one supporter. And across the way from the tables was the face-painting booth. And the thirty or so people in line. (Cantor didn’t hang out long; apparently he had some children’s health to vote against or a Beverly Hills fund-raiser or something.)

I went there hoping for just a little bit of action, to get under the skin of a Republican or two, or even maybe let some of my feelings be known to Cantor or tell Allen how glad I am that he is no longer my senator. But being there and seeing what this party, in arguably the most Republican area in the state, has become was just a little bit sad. It’s a party with no energy, with the wind taken out of its sails after losing so many consecutive state-wide elections and with many signs pointing to disaster this November. The Democratic events I’ve been to of late have been smaller, of course, but energized, with thoughts on the future and plans concocted for how we can make even the most seemingly out-of-reach elections competitive. The Republicans drew 2,000 people to a massively-funded event which they advertised ad nauseam, held on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, with free food, drinks, and local celebrities, and they drew less than the Gin Blossoms at the same venue.

I saw a party on the ropes today, and I have to tell you, it was absolutely beautiful.