Anthony Riedel
Anthony Riedel was a 2014 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 1st Congressional District of Virginia.[1] Incumbent Robert J. Wittman defeated Riedel in the June 10, 2014, primary election.
Biography
Riedel earned a B.A in communications from James Madison University. He is a public relations specialist at the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation in Springfield, Virginia. Riedel worked on Ron Paul’s presidential primary campaign, interned for Virginia state Senator Mark Obenshain and he has volunteered for several local, state and federal Republican campaigns in Virginia.[2]
Campaign themes
2014
Riedel highlighted the following campaign themes on his website:[3]
Spending and Debt:
Excerpt: "America is over $17.3 trillion in debt. That’s the equivalent of almost $55,000 per American citizen. Our debt is roughly equal to our GDP. The political elite has a spending problem and it’s time to send them a message to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington. I will:
- Never vote for a debt increase;
- Work to cut corporate welfare, agricultural subsidies, and eliminate government waste; and
- Support a Balanced Budget Amendment, the elimination of the costly government accounting practice of baseline budgeting, and efforts to reform entitlements that will include long-term budgets that require a yearly up-or-down vote."
Life:
Excerpt: "I believe we must do our best to protect innocent life. I believe:
- Without life, there can be no liberty;
- The Constitution protects all people regardless of race, color, and gender and all individuals have the right to life; and
- Socially and morally conscience citizens should not be forced to subsidize abortion."
Liberty:
Excerpt: "Our Founding Fathers experienced firsthand the dangers of an all-powerful, intrusive government. I will work to:
- Roll back President Obama’s unconstitutional spy and data collection program targeting law-abiding American citizens;
- Ensure that all America citizens have the right to a fair and speedy trial and eliminate the President’s power to indefinitely detain American citizens; and
- Protect personal property rights from search and seizure, including farm and food freedom."
The Pursuit of Happiness:
Excerpt: "Americans should be rewarded for their efforts and free to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I will support efforts to:
- Eliminate burdensome, job-killing regulations and special benefits that benefit the politically-connected few at the expense of the many;
- Eliminate an income tax that punishes hard-working Americans; and
- Establish a sound currency, and other proposals that encourage a free and fair market in which the government is not picking winners and losers or punishing job producers, including a National Right to Work Act."
Second Amendment:
Excerpt: "I believe the Constitution is clear: A citizen’s right to own firearms shall not be infringed. A citizen’s right to defend him or herself, their family, and their property is a fundamental liberty."
Foreign Policy:
Excerpt: "The Founding Fathers warned us of the dangers of foreign entanglements. We must embrace the philosophy of “peace through strength” without interfering in other countries’ affairs. We should embrace free trade and diplomacy with all nations. America should:
- Only go to war with explicit Congressional approval;
- Stop giving billions of dollars in foreign aid and weapons to America’s enemies and other rogue nations and groups; and
- Keep its promises to our military veterans and ensure they receive the care they rightfully deserve."
Immigration:
Excerpt: "America is a nation of immigrants. America is a land of opportunity that should welcome immigrants from all regions who want to contribute to society and embrace a republican form of government. I will:
- Oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants;
- Support efforts to streamline the process for law-abiding immigrants to achieve U.S. citizenship; and
- Support the expansion of visas for immigrants seeking opportunity and education for themselves and their families."
Federalism:
Excerpt: "To quote former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, 'All Politics is Local.' In order to protect liberty and ensure government efficiency and accountability, we must embrace federalism and ensure that the rights reserved to the states and the people are retained with the states and the people. While I may personally disagree with certain state actions on drug legalization, marriage, and other social and private matters, I believe the federal government’s powers are limited to those explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution.
Accountability:
Excerpt: "We must hold our politicians to the highest moral and legal standards. I promise to:
- Serve no more than three consecutive terms;
- Post every vote on Facebook, with an explanation, so you really know what’s going on in Washington; and
- Prohibit corporate lobbyists from influencing my voting decisions."
Elections
2014
Riedel ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 1st District.[1] Wittman easily defeated Riedel in the June 10, 2014, Republican primary.[4]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rob Wittman Incumbent |
76.5% | 13,414 | ||
| Anthony Riedel | 23.5% | 4,128 | ||
| Total Votes | 17,542 | |||
| Source: Results via Associated Press |
||||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Anthony + Riedel + Virginia + Congress"
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- Virginia's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014
- Virginia's 1st Congressional District
External links
Footnotes
