Young Guns : A New Generation of Conservative Leaders (23 page)

Acknowledgments
 
 

ERIC CANTOR

I would like to thank all of my colleagues in the House Republican Conference for their ideas and commitment to America—together we can lead our nation back to greatness. I would also like to thank all my constituents in the 7th District of Virginia who have given me the incredible honor of representing them in Congress. I would also like to thank Mary Matalin, whose guidance and counsel made this book possible. Last, I would not have achieved anything without the love and support of my wife, Diana, and our children, Evan, Jenna, and Michael.

PAUL RYAN

I am grateful for the trust that the people of the first Congressional District of Wisconsin place in me as their representative in Congress. I am also indebted to my wife, Janna, and my children, Liza, Charlie, and Sam. They are my daily reminders of the importance and responsibility to leave a better America for future generations. Thanks!

KEVIN M
C
CARTHY

First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife, Judy, and my children, Connor and Meghan, for their love and support. I am also grateful to the constituents of the 22nd District of California that spans most of Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties and the northeastern portion of Los Angeles County who have entrusted me to represent them in Congress. Finally, I would like to thank my House Republican colleagues and all of our Republican candidates, who continue to fight every day for better solutions to our nation’s problems.

Index

Abbas, Mahmoud,
82

accountability: and automobile industry,
63

as bipartisan,
152

and Cantor’s first impressions of Washington,
30

and Contract with America,
26

and elections of 2008,
160

and elections of 2009,
66

fostering of,
43

lack of congressional,
152

and need for vision of change in Washington,
15

“report cards” about,
152

and Republican platform,
167

and Republican recommitment to principles,
135

and Republicans’ betrayal of principles,
148

and Republicans on offense,
168

and technology,
164

in Virginia,
30

and Young Guns candidates,
158
,
174
,
183
,
184
,
185
,
186
,
189

and Young Guns’ commitment to Americans,
191

Afghanistan,
85

Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud,
79
,
80
,
81

AIG,
40

Al-Qaeda,
83

Alabama: Roby 2010 campaign in,
186
–87

alternative strategies,
55
,
178

America Speaking Out,
180
–81

American Dream,
58

American Energy Act,
62

American exceptionalism,
67

American public: characteristics of,
119
–20

disconnect between Republican leadership and,
147

and elections of 2010,
179

empowerment of,
180

frustration of,
4
,
179

ignoring of,
180

legacy of,
125
–26

and need for vision of change in Washington,
4
,
12
,
15

referendum for,
15

and Republican candidates for 2010 elections,
174

technology as means of communicating with,
164
–65

trust of,
12
,
70
,
148
,
150
,
155
,
166
,
169
,
185
,
190

Young Guns’ commitment to,
177
–91

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
See
stimulus bill

American Red Cross,
188

arrogance,
6
,
10
,
26
,
28
,
98
–99,
135

automobile industry,
63
,
179

Bachmann, Michele,
149

bailouts,
63
,
70
,
87
,
157
,
172
,
182

Barnes, Fred,
155

Bennett, Bill,
109
,
126

Biden, Joseph,
81
–82

Biggert, Judy,
46
,
172

Bilirakis, Gus,
148
–49

bipartisanship: and Clinton administration,
28

McCarthy’s comments about,
146
,
152

and Obama,
8
,
41
,
62

and Obama–House Republican Working Group meeting,
52

and stimulus bill,
8
,
48
–52,
53
,
54

and strategy of Republicans,
178

blame,
153

Boehner, John,
48
,
166
,
180

borrowing,
118
,
168
.
See also
debt/deficit

Boyda, Nancy,
158
–59,
160

Bridge to Nowhere,
23
–24,
25
,
37
,
87
,
97
,
128

Bright, Bobby,
187

Broun, Paul;
149

Brown, Scott,
66
,
97

Buchanan, Vern,
149

budget,
26
,
63
,
71
,
74

Budget Committee, U.S. House,
109
,
177

budget reconciliation,
98

bureaucracy,
74
–75,
131
–32,
135
,
165

Burr, Richard,
166

Bush, George W.,
92
,
185
–86,
187

business: bailout of big,
40

building a,
33

and elections of 2008,
40

and experience of Obama cabinet officials,
34

government relationship with big,
40

government takeover of,
13

and health care,
106

pressures on congressmen from,
128

regulation of,
128

and stimulus bill,
54
–55.
See
also
corporations; small business

Byrd family,
32

cabinet, Obama: prior experience of members of,
34
–35

Cairo, Egypt: Obama speech in,
83

California; and McCarthy’s elections as representative from,
142
,
145
–46

California State Assembly; McCarthy in,
146
,
163

Camp, Dave,
46
,
49

Campbell, John,
152

Campos, Rachel,
181

candidates, Young Guns: benchmarks for,
171

for elections of 2010,
170
–75,
181
–89

and formation of Young Guns,
156
–57

Young Guns’ commitment to,
156

Cantor, Eddie,
31
,
32
–33

Cantor, Eric: differences and commonalities among Ryan, McCarthy and,
19
–20

first impressions of Washington of,
29
–30

and need for vision of change in Washington,
3
–16

as new-generation Republican leader,
155

personal and professional background of,
30
–31,
33

as Republican whip,
40
–41,
177

self-image of,
33