Talk to Rep. Tom Davis

Fri Oct 20, 9:20 PM ET

We received hundreds of comments and questions for Virginia Rep. Tom Davis. His responses to some of the most interesting posts were filmed on Thursday; the video will be posted on Friday morning. Thank you for your posts and to Rep. Davis for participating.

Rep. Davis, who represents Virginia's 11th district, is known for his work on the National Republican Congressional Committee, the party's national campaign organization. He chaired the NRCC from 1998 to 2002, making a name for himself by spotting elections with open seats and helping get Republicans elected.

Rep. Tom Davis

The early posts to Rep. Davis covered a wide variety of topics, and although there was no single theme or thread dominating the comments, many readers expressed anger or frustration with the GOP, raising concerns about the Foley scandal, the war in

Iraq, and the budget deficit, among other issues.

Below are some of the questions raised by Yahoo! readers.

On the budget deficit

Government finance was a prime concern for many readers.  One wrote: "Representative Davis: Will you please tell us why is it that the Republican Party has departed from basic conservative principles such as smaller government and balanced budgets. In the past 5 years our debt has grown by 3 trillion..."

Another expressed concern about spending programs generally, and health care spending in particular: "How do you as a member of congress address the mandated deficit spending of both Medicare and [Medicaid] which was recently enacted as law under the current administration? Yes, we all want to support the elder and poorer members of this great nation in their quest for health care, but how do you propose we pay for it now instead of by future generations?"

On energy

As with previous guests on Talk to Power, energy policy, and specifically oil policy, was raised by a number of different readers.  One wrote: "Normally, I adhere to a policy of letting supply and demand operate as freely as possible. However, our dependence on foreign oil seems to keep us involved in ancient hatreds better left to the politicians of the area. Why is it so difficult to structure a coherent energy policy that will get us off our oil habit?"

On the online gambling ban

As a rule, Yahoo! readers tend to be interested in matters involving the Internet. The recently enacted law banning online gambling spurred this comment: "Rep. Davis, my question is about the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. How can congress and specifically Republicans who always say that they want a smaller government pass a law that restricts my freedom to do what I choose with my money?"

On Iraq and Congress's role in declaring war

The war in Iraq is always a focus on the Talk to Power boards. This week, one reader offered a comment and question with a somewhat different spin, asking about Congress's role in declaring war and in managing foreign policy.

"Why does Congress take such a back seat to the Executive Branch on matters of foreign policy? There was nothing sudden (or urgent, in my mind) about Iraq--so why didn't Congress insist on a war declaration prior to authorizing force? Why have we still not declared war? More important, what can we do as a country to restore the powers of the legislature on matters of foreign policy to those intended by the Founders?"

On staying in Iraq 

Another reader wondered about the Iraqi government's ability to maintain order, writing: "Rep. Davis, the administration has been saying all along that the US military will stand down in Iraq as the Iraqis stand up. Reports are that over 300,000 Iraqi forces have been trained, but we have yet to see a decrease in the number of US forces in Iraq. If so many Iraqis have been trained why are we still there? Is our training inadequate or [were] the administration's promises far too optimistic? If we haven't been able to leave after training 300,000, when will we be able to leave? Is there a quantifiable trigger to allow us to withdraw? 

On openness in government

One reader, citing recent books arguing that the current administration is overly secretive, asked:  "Should the Bush administration and the Republican majority in Congress be much more open about what they are doing in government? Why all the extreme secrecy?"

On gay rights

As with previous guests, the issue of gay rights was raised by a number of readers.  One wrote: "Rep. Davis, I am a conservative and my son is gay. He and his longterm partner are raising a son. I don't appreciate the Republican party, which I support and view as standing for limited government, hurting my family. Gay people make up a small percentage of this world and it doesn't hurt anyone to let them raise their families in dignity.... I believe government should get out of the business of families and concentrate on defending us."

On jobs

"Representative Davis, I am from Michigan, and while the rest of the nation is experiencing a boom economically we are still stuck in a depression. Is there any way the Federal gov't could bypass our own state's stubborn leadership to find a way to create jobs. We currently have a business man in the election running on the republican ticket, but even if he is elected what can he do to turn our stale economy around. I am currently in college and although I don't want to bail on our automotive industry I feel that for my futures sake I will have to seek employment elsewhere."

On representation for the District of Columbia

"Rep Davis: I wanted to know how likely that the District of Columbia will get its voting powers back in the House? Do you think the Nation's Capital should only house the federal government as it was intended by the founding fathers? Thank you..."

Next: Sen. Richard Lugar responds
Previous: Talk to Sen. Richard Lugar

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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
Dear Rep. Davis, I am a Special Educator and autism supporter from Illinois. I have several questions. First, is anything being discussed to improve education in general and special education specifically (training, facilities, pay, curriculum)? Next, is anything realistic being discussed to help teachers and school districts comply with NCLB? Finally, what are your feelings regarding the autism issue, and the effects (mentally, emotionally, financially) it has on families? Thanks!
Posted by babybrowneyes1152002 on Sat, Oct 21, 2006 5:47 PM ET
2
Rep. Davis, What is your opinion on why Congess has lost touch with those who have elected them? With approval ratings in the low 20's for Congess. Why do the members continue to ignore the American people and continue to cater to big money, governments that do not like us and the illegals in our country. This is both parties. At election time everyone talks and say's what the voters want to hear. After the elections are over its back to business as usual and to hell with the voting public. You all say your independent from big business and for the little people. Will you comment on this???????? Or is this just another lie floating around the halls of congress..........
Posted by brknqc@verizon.net on Sat, Oct 21, 2006 8:01 PM ET
3
Representative Davis: Do you have plans to distance yourself from the deplorable environmental record that the current administration has? Please do not patronize the general public with a reply that actually endorses the policies and actions of this administration. What do you see as priorities for the North American and global environments?
Posted by dsdevlin on Sun, Oct 22, 2006 5:14 PM ET
4
Representative Davis, Your party, in general, seems to have chosen military might and war over any other means of settling our problems with other countries. You have spent 1/2 trillion dollars on a losing cause, and now seem to be heading to the same situation with Iran. Has the republican party lost its bearing on what politics really means?
Posted by haywoodwhy on Sun, Oct 22, 2006 5:33 PM ET
5
Hello Rep Davis, What is the party doing to stop the media from trying to supress conservative turnout on election day by all these stories of how democrats are motivated and the constant trumpeting of any whiff of scandal (real or imaginary) I am black (there goes one stereotype) and conservative. The party needs to wake people up to the nightmare and loss of and hostility to the religious (Christian really) The media is necessary to reach people but for the most part the mainstream media (aka the fourth unelected branch of government) is not the friend of conservatives. As tragic as event are in Iraq, Can we really think the other party and their cohorts in the ACLU and other organizations like to protect America? when they don't have a clue of the depths to which these extremist will go.
Posted by payper1c on Sun, Oct 22, 2006 5:43 PM ET