Conservativa

At the YRFV convention this weekend, Delegate Chris Saxman spoke first on the Delegate/Senator roundtable. Afterwards the Times-Dispatch reporter who was there asked him to do an interview, and these pictures are from that. Note from the Times-Dispatch interview: the reporter asked Saxman about the Iraq war (as if it were up to a state delegate to decide)… Saxman answered well though, along the lines of “We didn’t ask for this war,” but we know that it must be fought.

Then over lunch, Saxman, who serves as John McCain’s Virginia campaign co-chairman, spoke for the McCain campaign. He is genuinely inspired by McCain. Saxman said one of his sons asked him, “Why do you support McCain?” and he answered, “Because he inspires me to serve others.” I think as early as a year ago Saxman must have been leaning McCain, since in a campaign email he sent a reference to an excellent Financial Times article by McCain, from April 2007.

Saxman appreciates that McCain will take an unpopular stand if need be. For instance, “He had the guts to go to Iowa and say that ethanol subsidies are wrong.” Besides, if McCain says something unpopular, “For five and a half years he was beaten every day,” as a prisoner of war, so he’s hardly likely to be bothered by a hostile op-ed. Saxman also took a moment to contrast that with Obama’s oh-so-courageous “present” votes as a state senator in Illinois.

Saxman said, “I will be proud not only to be a Republican when John McCain is president, but I’ll be proud to be an American.” I suspect that would be true in any case.

Photo notes:

Photo 1: Nikon D40, 85mm, ISO 800, 1/100 at f/4.5

Photo 2: Nikon D40, 55mm, ISO 800, 1/100 at f/5.6