The REAL Tom Perriello

The italicized text below is excerpted from an email from Hab Baker of Brodnax, VA.  I have contacted Mr. Baker and confirmed the authenticity of the email and received his permission to use it in any way I choose.  This, along with the video link below, reveals the real Tom Perriello, which - to anyone who believes in free markets and limited government - should be very frightening.

I attended the “Tom in Your Town” event in South Hill, Virginia yesterday, April 7, 2010, along with . . .  my wife and . . . my mother-in-law. We got there early, so were first on the list. As it turned out, it was a series of one-on-one meetings, instead of a group meeting. At the appointed time, (5 PM), Congressman Tom Periello (Democrat, 5th District of Virginia) saw us in a borrowed office in the Southside Planning District Commission building in South Hill.

This is a summary of the five-minute meeting, so my comments, except for the direct quotes, are summaries of the gist of the comments, to the best of my recollection.

I reminded him that we had met him at one of his town hall meetings before passage of the health care monster, and that I had asked him how he found the bill to be constitutional, in light of the Tenth Amendment. His response had been that “constitutionality is up to the Supreme Court”.

Now I asked how he finds it constitutional, since it violates the Tenth Amendment. He responded that it is constitutional under the taxing authority of Congress, and that the insurance mandate is “really just a form of tax”. He said that further it is authorized under the commerce clause, which grants Congress the power to “regulate commerce between the states”. I responded that he seems to think that the Commerce Clause trumps the Tenth Amendment, which was added as part of the Bill of Rights, after the main body of the Constitution. In a rambling discourse, he said that he felt that the Commerce Clause does overrule the Tenth Amendment as to matters “under the Commerce Clause”, because the “Commerce Clause is a delegated power of Congress”. Further, he asserted that the Commerce Clause is not limited to “actual regulation of commerce between states, such as preventing tariffs between states.”

Then came the astonishing clincher: I asked him if he thought there were any actual limits, under his interpretation, to Congress’ ability to intrude upon, and dictate the details of, our economic lives. He said, “Well, certain areas of family matters would be off-limits…”

I interrupted with, “No, I am referring to economic matters. Are there any areas of economic life that are off-limits to the Congress under the taxing authority and the Commerce Clause, according to your understanding of the Constitution?”

His response: (and this is as nearly verbatim as I can get it without having had a tape recorder, and after confirming the recollection with Kerry and Mary):  “None that I am aware of, but I would consider each case separately.”

. . . . . his vision of the Constitution, we are headed directly for a Socialist Dictatorship, wealth redistribution, and a full-blown centrally-planned economy, with all of the disasters that entails.

Incidentally, during the conversation, I said that his interpretation meant that the Congress could order us to buy a hybrid car, and order us to insulate our houses, . . . . .  we would wind up working for Congress instead of Congress working for us. He shrugged and said, “There are many things the government has us do that are good for us.”

Please note Congressman Perriello's convoluted response regarding the 10th Amendment and the Commerce Clause - whoa, I'm dizzy! - and his implied acceptance of the premise that Congress could order us to buy hybrid cars and insulate our houses.

To view an episode from another of his meetings with consituents that reveals the real Tom, please click on:  www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/03/18/dem_congressman_if_you_dont_tie_our_hands_we_will_keep_stealing.html

If you disagree with Mr. Perriello, it is your duty to spread the word . . . . write letters to the editors, talk to your family, friends and neighbors and get involved in every way you can, especially after the primary on June 8th.  I intend to do all of the above immediately, including the letters to the editors.

If you have more documented evidence of our congressman's leftist views - from Town Hall Meetings or one-on-ones - please share it with me.  I will post it here and do my part in spreading the word on that as well.

My thanks to Jim Miller for sharing the video link and to John and Jean Snidow for sharing the email from Mr. Baker.