The above photo greeted me when I opened up today’s Virginian Pilot. So far, damage estimates from the category EF-3 tornado exceed $20 million. In an email yesterday, 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Glen Nye summed up my thoughts on this:
In the coming days and weeks, the full breadth of this disaster will be felt by hundreds of Virginia’s families. I hope you will join with me, if you can, in making a donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, so that we may all do our part to help our neighbors that have lost their homes.
Give generously. Our neighbors need it.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Who cares what Glen Nye has to say about this, people should give $ anyway. He is a wishful candidate. It is obvious he was hoping to make a statement for political gain, how sick! People don’t need to hear from Glen Nye or any other hopeful candidate (R or D) to understand the importance in donating $.
Jeez! Get a grip. I used his comments because they were close to what I would have written, anyway.
One of my wife’s client’s home was damaged, though not severely. They stayed with us for 2 days until the authorities could let them back in.
These are our friends and neighbors and we need to reach out to them. I have a list of supporting agencies here that one could donate through.
Do what you can to help.
vjp,
so no one else with far more relevant importance said anything close to what you would have written. I am sure it is just a coincedence that he happens to be running for office. How lame. I don’t think the people of Hampton Roads or Virginia need or want some hopeful political candidate telling them something they already know and most cases will do. I am sure it won’t be long before he has someone taking his picture picking up some of the debris. He will send it into the Pilot – 2nd Congressional Candidate Glen Nye gets dirty helping the people of Suffolk.
I guarantee he would not have sent an email or made any public comments if he wasn’t running for office. Who cares what he says, just donate $$, people already know this.
Rlewis,
I think it’s admirable that he sent that out. Why is wrong for ANYONE to support those in need- Democrat, Republican or other? A tornado has no political affiliation and I hope that his opponent also encouraged others to help as well.
His words were reflective on how many of us felt. I donated a little $$ to the American Red Cross, why don’t you consider the same? Look at the message and not the messenger. I also received the email from him and was glad to see it.
My boyfriend works in Suffolk and this came too close. He has co-workers who lost their homes and friends who were injured.
proudvadem,
I never said it was wrong to support those in need. Yes, I have already donated money. I never indicated that I have not given. I am well connected to this event through the insurance industry, so I will be involved with this event for many weeks and months to come.
His words were reflective on how many of us felt. – That is my point, we don’t need people to ask us to make a contribution, especially from a hopeful politician who happens to be running for a near future election, we are smart enough to make that determination by ourselves. It just stinks, in my opinion, Democrat or Republican.
rlewis,
Perhaps you do not need people to suggest you make a donation to do so, however appeals from leaders (or those running for leadership) evidently are helpful in raising additional money. Why else did former Presidents George H W Bush and Bill Clinton join together to try to raise additional money for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita? Would you suggest that it was wrong for them to do so or that they were just wasting their time or something?
Certainly Glenn Nye’s appeal did no real harm, and I also see no harm in him demonstrating ahead of time just how he might react if he were to be successfully elected and a major natural disaster such as a hurricane hit his district.
Don’t buy your logic littledavid, GHW Bush and Bill Clinton’s agenda were to raise money and they had credibility as former leaders.
Glenn Nye’s agenda (although he will not admit it) is to gain votes, this was a calculated decision to make these comments. At this point in time, in my opinion, he holds no credibility with regards to public office and representing people until he should get elected.
Wow rlewis,
His statement didn’t receive press and was just sent to people who are supporting him. I have received similiar messages from my Parish, local radio stations, a tv station and several businesses that I frequent. Are they only doing this to gain business? Or perhaps they are just getting this message out because it IS the right thing to do. Several years ago I set up a fund raising drive at my former company to help those affected by Katrina. I sent out a mass email to all current and former clients, plus vendors. I did this not for the PR or to generate business, but because often when many get together much can be accomplished. Because of the outreach, we raised a good chunk of money.
How is it “calculated” to be concerned about one’s community and encourage those around him to help others out?
Since you are so sure he is doing this “to gain votes”, what has his opponent done? I do hope that she reaches out to those who support her as well.
And furthermore, I don’t care if VJP quoted Donald Duck on this, the point is that Nye’s words reflected what many of us were thinking. If this is your rationale- could someone who has future political aspirations be in the wrong for encouraging others to help? I sent out emails to those at my university with the same message- am I just looking for a promotion? NO!
See how silly your logic is?
Finally, when there is a disaster, unscrupulous “non profits” surface soliciting funds to “help” victims. Nye did a service not just by encouraging people to help but also giving contact info to legitimate non profits who can help.
Y’all are wasting your breath on rlewis. He has his own agenda here and there is no way you can convince him otherwise.
Thanks for the heads up!
It seemed strange to turn a plea for help after a disaster into a plea for votes.. strange logic
Yes vivian, I have my own agenda just as much as you do with this site. How hypocritical of you!
Hypocritcal? Hardly.Of course I have an agenda, which is why I have a blog, which is why anyone has a blog. The difference is I’m not trying to hide my agenda, while you come out of the woodwork to do so, never offering anything positive, just negative, if the candidate is a Democrat. As proudvadem said, it is strange to turn a plea for help into a plea for votes. There is no logic in that argument.
The difference is I’m not trying to hide my agenda, while you come out of the woodwork to do so –
So I am trying to hide something when I have already written or gave my opinion!? Because I don’t have a blog= I am hiding my agenda. Because I disagree with what you say=negative!? That is your response to everything I write – “Rlewis, because you don’t agree with what I write or this sight, you are negative” insert pacifer and let the crying begin!