WHEELING - Congressman Paul Broun believes Republican David McKinley should replace outgoing Democratic Congressman Alan Mollohan in West Virginia's 1st District U.S. House seat.
Broun, R-Ga., came to Wheeling Tuesday to support McKinley's efforts to win the Nov. 2 general election against Democratic candidate Mike Oliverio. Recently, several members of Congress, including Mike Pence, R-Ind., and Eric Cantor, R-Va., also have stumped for McKinley in the Friendly City.
"This just shows how important this race is with getting this much national attention," said McKinley.
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David McKinley, Republican candidate for West Virginia’s 1st District U.S. House seat, left, speaks with Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., Tuesday in Wheeling.
In terms of why the upcoming election is so important, Broun said, "We need to stop this steamroller of socialism that is being driven by (Speaker of the House) Nancy Pelosi and (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid and is being fueled by (President) Barack Obama."
Republicans need to win 39 seats to take the majority in Congress come 2011.Broun said there is a "very high likelihood" that GOP members will find themselves in the majority next year.
"I just see so much anger out there about the policies of Obama and Pelosi. People are afraid of where this country is going," said Broun.
Both Oliverio and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gov. Joe Manchin have vowed to oppose Obama and Pelosi on certain measures, most notably possible cap and trade legislation that may harm West Virginia's coal industry. However, Broun said Mountaineer voters should not buy into such promises.
"Whoever you vote to be speaker is your most important vote," Broun said. "Any Democrat elected is going to support Pelosi."
Broun said he wants to see someone like McKinley head to Washington, D.C., to help "repeal Obamacare," referring to the president's health care overhaul.
"Any Democrat will support Obamacare. It will cost jobs. It will hurt seniors because of rationed care. And it will be harder to even find a doctor," said Broun, noting he is a licensed physician.
"This whole thing is designed to push people into socialized medicine. We must repeal Obamacare, and we need people like David McKinley to help us do that," Broun added.
However, Broun admitted Republicans - even if they retake command in the House - will not be able to "repeal Obamacare" because it seems very unlikely Obama would sign such a bill.
"We hope to have a Republican president after the 2012 election who will sign a bill to replace Obamacare," Broun said.
In addition to the health care plan, Broun said the Republicans must retake Congress to help create jobs.
"We need people who know how to create jobs in the private sector. David McKinley has a good, common sense business background and offers the kind of change we need," Broun said.
"It is all about creating jobs. That is the most important thing we need to do right now is focus on creating jobs," McKinley added.
