The Fighting 9th's Jeremiah Heaton - Would Boucher or any other candidate do this?
Check this out.
GRUNDY, Va. – Now, he has it on his business card: Virginia coal miner, underground and surface.
It’s part of an effort by independent congressional candidate Jeremiah Heaton to win a constituency long held by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, who’s served Virginia’s 9th District since 1983.
This week, Heaton is working in a coal mine to prove his understanding of the common man and his loyalty to the coal industry – a step he says Boucher, and Boucher’s Republican opponents, just aren’t willing to take.
“A component I feel is missing from leadership in America that has disappeared over the years is hands-on experience and real-world experience,” said Heaton, 33.
He has served in the Army, attended college on the GI Bill, and now owns a general store in Washington County.
“I don’t think I can adequately represent the district unless I understand energy policy from the face of the coal out,” he said.
Hell yes. Sorry GOP, but this young man is THE COALFIELDS. Be afraid Rick and others...
As an adage goes in Southwest Virginia politics, he who carries the coalfields, carries the district.
Heaton, working more than a mile into the ground, is striking at the heart of Boucher’s territory.
I'm on board. His Website is here.
Technorati Tags: Jeremiah Heaton, Rick Boucher
posted by Carl Kilo at 11:42:00 AM
Comments on "The Fighting 9th's Jeremiah Heaton - Would Boucher or any other candidate do this?"
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Over Taxed said ... (2:31 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (1:42 AM) :
post a commentAll of the candidates who oppose Boucher are pro coal. The problem with Heaton is his depth of the other issues he will be faced with in Congress. This feels like a political gimmick. There are excellent candidates in this Republican primary that not only are 100% pro-coal but have a much better depth in areas like the Constitution and National Defense. The Republican candidates will also have a better chance at winning than the Independent. Boucher need's to go but we need to be realistic and choose a candidate that has the best views and the best chance of winning. If we didn't have really good candidate's running for the Republican ticket I would get behind Heaton. That just isn't the case. Take a look at this candidate http://davidmoore4congress.com/ there are others too but this one stands out to me and has a real shot at getting Republican,Democrat and Independent votes. I've heard him speak, I'm a delegate and he will get my vote. All of these candidates are going to speak at the April 15th tax day protests in Bluefield. I believe it's around noon but you should look it up and attend. Then you can make an educated decision from personal experience. Just my opinion.
A lame gimmick if you ask me. At least one of the Republican candidates, Moore, has spent his adult life as a Green Beret combat arms soldier and now has a farm. Shake his hand and you will feel the calluses and see the cuts and scars. He knows what work is about and didn't have to spend a week pretending. He has a tough fight against Morgan Griffith but if he is successful, he has a much better chance of beating Boucher because of his depth of knowledge from personal experience at international and national levels to how negatively our federal policy is affecting all industry at local levels, not just coal. Heaton will probably only serve to re-elect Tricky Rick. Just my thoughts.
Heaton is a vet and a business man. He has my vote!
If you think the coalfields like Morgan your full of BS. He is not one of us.
Nothing lame about working in the mines there buddy...Coal is Number One in the 9th and the Miners and their fams will support Heaton when his name gets out.
The GOP ignored healthcare and no ones trusts them any more than the dems.
I was not referring to Morgan Griffith, but Dave Moore a retired career soldier and now farmer in Tazewell, not a part timer, who is running against Griffith for the Republican Nomination to run against Boucher in the fall. If you have not looked at the other grass roots candidates then your (or is it you're) full of BS.
No GOP/Dem for me buddy...We are sick of that.
There is absolutely nothing lame about working in the mines; I am a daughter and granddaughter of coal miners and very proud of that fact. However, working in the mines for one week for political gain doesn't qualify one as a coal miner. At least one Republican candidate, Adam Light, has actually worked underground for a living. He is a strict Constitutionalist and has the 9th district running through his veins, as he's lived in it his entire life. Mr. Heaton is a native of Georgia and has only recently moved to Coal Country. Adam Light is man who will get my vote as I, too, am a delegate. If you want to see someone with a real passion for their district, their state, and their country, I encourage you to check out Adam Light. His website is www.lightforcongress.com .
Most people are sick of the two party abuse. I dont care where he came from, I look at where he is now, and that is under ground working and learning.
Your GOP fringe candidates dont have a chance against Morgan Griffith. He will be the nominee after all the fighting and stupid shit people are tired of.
No one said there was anything lame about working in the mines. Miners are the heart and soul of this region. My point was that anyone can spend a few days working any job and then claim they have experience. Hollywood actors do it all the time. So? That does not make him a miner. It does perhaps help him empathize with the miners lot. But then so does understanding other similarly difficult and dangerous manual labor jobs. Along with Moore, Adam Light of Richlands has made a career of manual labor to include working underground with miners as a mine surveyor. That's all I'm saying. I'm sure Heaton sees this as a magnanimous gesture to the common man and recognizing that mining is a noble profession goes without saying. I probably would not have commented at all except he (Heaton) made the snide comment about the other candidates not being willing to do it. I have no doubt, based on their backgrounds, that at least Moore and Light would have no problem taking on that task however; playing miner as a campaign publicity stunt is akin to Michael Dukakis playing soldier in an Army tank in the 1980s as a campaign stunt. It didn't work for Dukakis and it won't work for any other candidate. Most folks see through it. Just my thoughts...again.
I really find it insulting that a person thinks he's a coal miner after spending a WEEK in a mine. As far as the Republican candidates not being willing to do this...Adam Light (republican, 9th district) actually spent 6 years in the coal mines earning a living (not just a week long publicity stunt). By my calculations that means that Mr. Heaton has 311 weeks left to go in order to catch up.
How long was Light in the Military?
Pretty awesome publicity stunt to Work, eat, and be side by side in the mines with men that understand what that means....Heaton has currant mining papers, Does your two whistle dick GOP candidates have any? Did they serve in the military in this war? Own a business? Been to the middle east?
No, They are GOP hacks, exactly what we are sick of...party followers, not Independent Leaders.
From the people I talk too, Heaton looks pretty damn good.
I agree Lee Co with most of what you said. people are looking for fresh leadership and independent thinking without party ties.
I am still not convinced anyone can beat Boucher.
He may be underground "working" and learning, but he still hasn't been here long enough to represent us. My guess is that the republican candidates stand as good of a chance, if not better, at beating Morgan Griffith (and more importantly, BOUCHER!)than an independent candidate. As history has proven time and time again, independent candidates stand very little chance at victory in political elections.
If you have any, show a little class and clean up your language.
Anon 2:22.....This is my house, not yours. I say what I please and mean what I say. I can delete you with one click.
I've heard both Moore and Light. I respect Light but he has not got the depth or breadth that Moore has on National issues nor does Light have anything on Moore when it comes to passion for or knowledge of the Constitution. Moore started his own grass roots Constitution organization, like the TEA Party but with a broader focus, long before this political run. Light would make a good Congressman but I think Moore would have a better shot a beating Boucher, particularly if there was a debate. Personally, I think the only way to take the government back is to make the Republican Party conform to the ideals of the founders and force them to nominate candidates that will strictly adhere to the Constitution. Third party and Independents, at least for now, only serve to dilute the vote and end up re-electing Marxist/Socialist/Progressive/Environmentalist Democrats. This could be their (Republicans) last chance though...if they continue to nominate old style party Republicans and not pay attention to the grass roots movement, I just may look to Independents or Constitution Party candidates in the future. Just some more thoughts.
And while the GOPers fight as the comments here prove, Heaton is Front Page news with a website that is getting so many hits it is amazing!
I hear the local TeaPartys will and are supporting him!
I think this publicity stunt will hurt Heaton in the long run. People of the 9th will not be fooled this easily. We were fooled with Obama's tricks. We were fooled by Rick Boucher. We won't be fooled again. No more tricky politicians! Can I get an Amen?
I know several Tea Party folks supporting Heaton. Not all I am sure.
The problem with the tea Party is they are believed to be made up of Republicans. If they endorse Independent candidates that would give them credibility.
Tea for me is right.If you don't believe people are sick of the two partys then you are living in a glass cage.
In the coalfields you have to get Democrats and Indies to vote for the winning candidate. I don't see any GOP candidate that can do that. A independent, Maybe Indeed.
LeeCo,
It might interest you to know that Adam Light has his mining papers and that he also took and passed the Mine Foreman test. He didn't just play a miner for a week in order to promote his campaign. As for your question about whether he has a business or not...the answer is again, yes. He is the owner of a Land surveying and Engineering firm in Richlands Virginia. He has current mine papers because he and the field crews are on mine property almost on a daily basis. He spent 6 years setting mine spads and if you know anything about setting spads in a coal mine then you know how hard that is. Adam's father Doug Light also worked in the coal mines and is a Vietnam vet. Adam's grandfather, Nelson Light was a surveyor as well. So between them they would certainly have alot more mining experience than a week. Adam actually worked in the mine to make a living for his wife and children. You do realize that Mr. Heaton only worked in the mine for a week and that he is not actually going to continue working there?
Fooling who? He is clear in his intent. To understand mining from the bottom to the top. Dont spin what he is doing to fit your GOP needs.
The traffic at Heatons website has locked it up! GOP hacks are all afrearin the fresh face! I love it!
"The traffic at Heatons website has locked it up! GOP hacks are all afrearin the fresh face! I love it!"
I like that whoever you are..Made me smile.
As I said - This is my house, not yours. Respect will be shown or your comments wont appear.
Pretty simple, the forum is open to all but attacking me will not happen.
You da man hear Kilo...But Please share those Gop nut jobs comments with us voters!
This exactly why I will vote for Heaton! The GOP is not trustworthy and Boucher has let me down. Dont blame the GOP loss on people like me voting for Heaton. The fault lies with the GOP hatefulness in the comments above. I am sick of it.
Wise Voter-I understand that. To bad the two partys don't.
Best year to run as a independent ever! The GOP is mad because Heaton is not a party whacko.
I agree Anon 3:31.
After reader these Light supporters comments i would vote for Boucher LOL
Sorry NoGOP or Dem 4me-But I just click and poof they are gone. They can act like that in their house but not mine.
Readers know respect shall be shown to me here at Spark It Up.
I have no problem with Anon posters except when they get belligerent with me..Reminds me of a dog pecker gnat. A cowardly one at that.
Wise Voter- You hit the nail on the head with that comment.
WoW Kilo, I cant believe these comments.
Kilo,
After a rather lengthy absence, I'm back to make comment!!! Hope all is well.
I'm strongly considering endorsing Heaton. The reason being is that Delegate Griffith, while having some local ties to Emory and Henry, just seems like another Jay Katzen ploy. I like Mr. Griffith, but just can't seem to get my wheels out of the mud for him.
Welcome Back Charlie
Heaton has my support and everyone I talk to say they are impressed. Conservatives have been betrayed by the GOP and Democrats long enough.
I am telling my friends to check Heaton's website out. The rest of the field are just party loyalists. Why would a true conservative want to associate with the republicans? the comments on here about other republicans and boucher are falling on deaf ears.
Hit the road Rick! This young man has my vote.